The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-05-05


them prior consideration for jobs.
More adequate salaries should
be provided teachers, the platform
went on, the health program for
children should be improved,
teaching facilities should be ex-
panded and 1--WE must spend more
rather than less"
OF highways, "a war casualty"
the platform said they should be
repaired as soon as conditions per-
nit, every dollar now in the high
way fund and all the sums that
might accrue in that department
should be expended solely on high
ways, and other funds should be
provided for their Improvement.
Follows Broughton
The platform generally follow
ed Governor Broughton's proposal
Tor a tour-year medical course
at the University of North Caro-
Lima, establishment Of large hos
pital center IN connection with the
school, and the. establishment Of
regional health centers where
adequate medical services now are
not afforded.
Il favored better maintenance of
charitable and correctional insti-
tuIions, institutional training for
the deaf and blind, and financial
assistance to the needy aid to de-
pendent children.
Continuance Of the war bonus
to state employees and increases
were favored, and the party pledg-
ed its continued interest in the well
fare of agriculture.
1t praised labor for its record,
especially it's cooperation with
management.
Kerr, the keynoter, praised the
record of the democratic party,
saying that under its leadership,
North Carolina ''has gone for
ward until today it is recognized
as one of the great states of the
union"
He dwelt especially upon the
record Of Gov. J. M. Broughton
and said "his leadership has cleo
trified the state and impressed the
nation. Our governor has become
a national figure 49,
Under the Broughton adninistra-
ton, Kerr said, the 18th grade and
ninth month have been added to
the public school system and "the
public debt has been reduced $22,.
693, 0OO."
The general assembly, follow
ing the recommendations Of Gov
ernor Broughton, have enacted
many far reaching reforms and
progressive laws, among which es-
pecial attention is called to the
law providing a teacher retirement
system; legislation increasing
teachers salaries approximately 20
per cent; increased appropriation
for vocational education; the en-
actment of the soldier voting laws
which are recognized as probably
the best in the nation:' appropria-
ton of state aid to public libraries
for the first time in the history
of the state; legislation carrying
out a complete program Of reor-
ganization and rehabilitation of
state hospitals for the insane, to-
gether with the consolidation I'M
der one board of our correctional
and training institutions; increased
appropriation for public schools
by an amount of approximately
$40, 100000 year; increased ap-
preparation for agriculture by
more than so per cent; and now
the state ranks among the first
four states in the nation in the
total volume and value of its farm
products.
Tax reductions amount to about
So, 900, 900 a year; and the relations
of labor and the races have been
harmonious, Kerr said.
eve recognize" he continued,
"that in time of war it may be-
come necessary to impose regi-
mentation, red tape and bureau.
cracy, and this is disturbing both
to business and the citizenship, but
as soon as victory has been Sc
cured North Carolina will insist
upon the abolition of all agencies