ESTABLISHED 1876
LINCOLNTON. N. C, MONDAY AFTERNOON. JANUARY 17. 192J.
5 Cents Per Copy, $2.00 Per Tear.
COTTON EXPORT
MOVE
LAUNCHED
ANNUAL SESSION OF AMERICAN
COTTON ASSOCIATION GOES ON
RECORD ENDOR8INQ EXPORT
CORPORATION.
Raleigh. Delegates to the Second
Annual Convention of the American
Cotton Association held In Raleigh
January 13th went on record as unan
imously supporting a co-operative
marketing association and the newly
organised Cotton Export Company. L.
8. Tomllnson, who has been at the
bead of the State Association during
the past year, was re-elected Preil-
Over a thousand delegates were in
attendance at the meeting which was
addressed by Richard I. Manning,
former Governor of South Carolina,
Aaron Saplro, Attorney for the Cali
fornia Fruit Exchange, and Holllns
Randolph, Attorney (or the Federal
Reserve Board, sixth district
Governor Manning dwelt at length
on the advantages that the Export
Corporation would 'offer Southern
farmers and Southern people gen
erally. When the American Products
Export and Import Corporation was
organised about two months ago, Gov
ernor Manning was chosen its Pres
ident. Joseph Walker of Columbia, S.
Ch formerly of the cotton firm of
Hollowell ft Walker, Is General Man
ager for the corporation. The
Corporation plana to stabilise the do
mestic cotton market by shipping the
South' surplus staple to Europe. One
shipment has already been made and
others will follow very shortly.
Of considerable Interest to the con
vention was an address by Mr. Sapiro,
who has had extensive experience in
marketing problems. He sketched the
work accomplished In California and
urged the State of North Carolina to
be one of the loaders in the co-operative
movement. Mr. Holllns Ran
dolph explained the difference between
the American Products Export and
Import Corporation and the bankers
export corporation, formed under the
Edge Act. The Edge Corporation is
limited primarily to discounting and
cannot deal in commodities, whereas
the organisation headed by Governor
Manning is actually buying and selling
cotton and the other chief products
of the South.
A State-wide campaign in the Inter
est of the Export Corporation has been
launched, and meetings vfiil be held
la practically every cotton growing
county in North Carolina. Mr. L. 8.
Tomllnson, President of the State As
sociation, has already arranged a num
ber of meetings which he will address.
Wednesday, he will speak in Albe
marle; Thursday, January Nth, in
Trey; Friday, January 21st, In Shelby;
and Saturday, January 23nd, in Ruth
orfordton. Mr. 0.. C. Manor of the
Export Corporation will also speak at
the Shelby and Rutherfordton meet
ings and Mr. H. L. C. Stevens, alio
a representative of the Export Com
pany, will address the Albemarle and
Troy gatherings.
Realising that the European coun
tries are not absorbing anywhere near
the amount of cotton- they used to In
pre-war days, cotton men of the
South have for month past been
looking around for a way to remedy
conditions. Indications are that the
American Products Export Import
Corporation will solve the question.
To enable Europe to secure the cot
ton it needs, proper credit facilities
moot be afforded and the Export Com
pany with Its $iv, ),oo0 capitalisation
will bo able to extend! such credits.
Stock of the American Products Ex
port A Import Corporation is being
at 110 per share and subocnp-
i are being received In cash or In
or liberty Bonds at the market
The company's North Carolina
Otoe la located In the State Agricul
tural Building at Raleigh.
Endorsements of the Cotton Export
Corporation have been received from
many sources. Governor W. P. 0.
Harding of the Federal Reserve
Board and Governor M. B. Wellborn
of the Federal Reserve Bank of At
lanta have come out In support of the
program. Former Secretary of the
Treasury, W. G. McAdoo, has en
dorsed the movement enthusiastically.
Among the North Carolina organisa
tion that are actively supporting the
campaign are: American Cotton As
sociation, Raleigh Clearing Howie,
North Carolina A. ft . College, Ex
tension Department; North Carolina
Association Of Life Underwriters;
forth Carolina Prow Association;
Interstate Tobacco Growers' Associa
tion; North Carolina Association of
Hosiery, Manufacturers; Charlotte
Chamber of Commerce; Rocky Mount
Chamber of Commerce, and many
banks and prominent individuals.
The American Cotton Association at
Ks mooting in Raleigh faced squarely
the fact that the total cotton exports
of the South had fallen off 73 since
(he pro-war period. In the past the
Southern States hare looked to for
eign capital to finance their exports.
Appreciating that this m no longer
possible, the cotton men of this State
and of the South generally are banding
together fo assure the Joint success
of the Co-operative Marketing Men
BUDGET COMMISSION'S REPORT
SHOWS EFFECT OF THE
PRUNING KNIFE
Requests Of State's Institutions
Mercilessly Slashed.
Raleigh. Jan. 12. Guessing at the
budget commission s report, ended to
day when that body laid its recom
mendations before the general assem
bly, which was to the effect that the
University ot Nortn Carolina wouut
get about $1,000,000 instead of $5,
000.000 and that cutting had been
deeply done. Against the $19,918,490
asked by the institutions, the com
mission recommends $4,995,000.
For Maintenance.
For maintenance of the institutions
during the present year a total of $3,
606,760 was recommended. For 1922
the recommendation is the same ex
cept in the case of the national guard,
which would receive $76,000 instead
of $60,000.
Gardner's Last Word.
When-the senate covened this after
noon, Lieutenant Governor Max Gard
ner said this very kindly thine about
the people, Democrats and Republi
cans, with whom he has been working
10 years:
"It has been my good fortune to
serve in the capacity of senator, presi
dent pro tempore and presiding of
ficer in six assemblies of the North
Carolina state senate. In a moment
my official relations with this general
assembly will be terminated. Before
my successor takes his seat 1 crave
your final indulgence, not to pronounce
a formal valedictory or pessimistic
lamentation, but to bid you an official
and affectionate goodby. My short
association as your presiding officer
during this term has been delightfully
congenial and happy, and has served
to insinuate each of you into the
warmest affection of my heart.
"In the range and vicissitudes of
my life I think I have mixed and
mingled with all the types and ele
ments that compose our comnositc
citizenship. I fancy that I know North
Carolina pretty well ,havmg touched
her life in almost every county, city,
hamlet and village throughout the
length and breadth of our state, but
it would be a most difficult task if I
would undertake to approximate an
accurate picture of a typical North
Carolinian. How would you describe
such a person ? What manner of man
is he
"If through the alchemy of conden
sation we could blend, fuse and con
solvate the combined character, abil
ity, vision, weakness and strength of
this general assembly and divide the
mass in 170 component parts, each
separate, human, unit would possess
most nearly the splendid attributes
of body, heart and mind of a typical
North Carolinian, and at the same
time reveal, the truest possible type of
a real American! tor after all, North
Carolina in her racial integrity and
Anglo-Saxon purity is the embodiment
and incarnation of true American and
genuine Americanism.
Some cynic has said that "if a trav
eler wishes to relish his dinner he had
better not go into the kitchen to see
where it is cooked, and rf any man
wishes to respect and obey the laws of
his state he had better not 'go into
the legislature to see where his laws
are cooked." The person who deliv
ered this scripture knew nothing about
the wholesomeness and sanitation
the legislative kitchen of North Caro
lina, and my answer to his reflection
is that the more intimately I have be
come associated with those -who have
molded and shaped North Carolina
state policy, the greater has become
mv respectful admiration for the un
selfish end exalted purpose of North
Carolina legislators. In my extende 1
experience in the general assembly I
can truthfully and proudly say that
I have never known a member of the
North Carolina legislature, Republi
can or Democrat, who was even sus
pected, direct or indirectly, of brib
ery, or corruption in the performance
of a public duty. It is quite possible
that there are deliberative bodies nf
greater learning, deeper insight and
broader vision than is possessed by
the average North Carolina general
assembly. To be frank, I thi-.ik there
are, but I challenge the representative
assemblies and parliments of the
world to surpass North Carolina in
the homely and fundamental virtues of
common decency, ami common sence
the three essentials of popular govern
ment that will always keep clean er.d
clear and unpolluted the channels of
our boated civilization.
"It I were called upon to give a
formula of action for a successful
legislative career I would condense it
into a liberal interpretation of these
four comprehensive words: Confidence,
Concert, Construction and Consecra
tion. Plant yourselves firmly upon
these four pillars of political faith;
and though the winds may blow and
the storms may rage, your destiny
and the destiny of your state will rest
secure."
Lieutenant Governor Gardner lay
ing down the gravel today after six
sucessive years as- presiding officer
of the senate, was signalized by an
outburst of enthusiasm, in which Re
publicans joined the Democrats and
asked the majority to sent Gardner
back to the governorship four years
hence.
Raleigh, Jan. 12. Retiring Gover
nor Thomas Walter Bickett, who pre
sented Governor-elect Morrison for the
oath of office today, takes up the prac
tice of law in Raleigh, and today ac
cepted employment as attorney for
Congressman R. L. Doughton of the
Eight North Carolina district ,in the
contest started by Dr. Ike Campbell,
republican, of that District, for the
seat in Comrress to which Mr. Dough-
ton was declared elected by a majority
of approximately 1,300 votes last fall.
Major Bulwinkle's offer of three
free trips to Washington next Decem
ber to boys of the Nii.th district is
commendr.ble. Already a good com
growing district, this offer ought to
result in keen competition and result-
ling good among the farmer boys of
the district (iastonia utsstte.
bUYUWUK MUKluMJN &
FIRST ADDRESS
Raleigh, Jan. 12. With bands play
ing, guns roaring, and ruiiroad wnis
tles screaming at intervals throughout
the inaugural prelude today, Cameron
Morrison was inductei" into olfice,
Thomas W. Bickett ushered out, and I
Raleigh, even as Richard, is herself
again.
The ceremonies that took place to
day in the city's great auditorium, in
substantially 11 respects surpassed
any gubernatorial event in North Car
olina's history. Oldtimers went back
to Zeb Vance, January 1, 1877, whon
in snow a mile deep and temper
ature 10 below zero the warmest
heartest son of Carolina took hold of
a government vastley smaller than
which Cameron Morrison assumed to
day. It was a day for memories and
the state's great institution, Col. Fred
Olds, recalled the day as but yester
day.
Reading back to that time when
Vance opened his message with the
famous: "There is retribution in his
tory,'' it was a wonderfully warmer
political atmosphere than that sur
rounding Governor Morrison today.
The Vance speech hadn't a word on
the courageous utterance of Morrison.
The Charlotte leader quite met and
surpassed the best expected by his
friends, he more than confounded his
worst enemies who eavesdropped him
for plattitudes, for worshin of the
past and satisfaction with the pres
ent. The ceremonial itself was but an in
cident. If there was one thing that
touched the great human heart of this
old Mammoth Cave which they call
Raleigh's auditorium, it was the spec
tacle of little Angela Morrison march
ing down the long aisle with one hand
on the arm of her governor father and
the other on Governor Bickett'3. She,
a diminutive angel of eight years,
strode along with the men, kept a per
fect step and brought the house to
its feet. On the stage was another
little miss who stepped across tho
rostrum with a bunch of Ameriaiii
Beauty roses and gave them to the
governor as he ended his message to
tne people, rnis child was Miss Mar
garet Clarkson, daughter of Governor
Morrison's campaign manager.
Of the marching soldiers, the roar
ing gun, the playing bands , and the
administering of oaths, programs com
plete have been in the hands of the
state. The important aspects of the
day were the incoming governor's
angle to the issues of state that im
mediately concern everybody. Every
body knew that the bands would play
Dixie and that the crowd would yell;
that it might articulate "The Old
North State" and the populace would
becomingly cry. But not everybody
knew that Governor Morrison would
become the intrepid champion of the
state's very best and richest for
schools, roads, health and taxes, but
everybody knows it now.
The first man to reach him as he
took his seat was Lieutenant Gover
nor Max Gardner who went out with
Bicket today. Mr. Gardner, as Gov
ernor Morrison's opponent in the pri
maries af 1920 was early to the new
chief executive to wish him power and
opportunities to do for North Carolina
all that a large-hearted leader might
wish.
The crowd was in gonerous mood.
It seemed uncertain whether it loved
Gardner the loser, Morrison the win
ner, of Bickett the vanishing voice of
the state for the past four years.
Lieutenant Governor Gardner presided
over the joint session which came to
gether on the stage and immediately
in front of the speaker's stand. As he
rose to call the assembly to order the
house sprang instantly to make its
manners to as gracious a loser ac ever
ran a race in North Carolina, Gardner
was smiling, but he wis too full to
risk a call then. The cheering con
tinued until he had himself under con
trol, then his musical voice rang high
above all of those who talked today.
Senator Delaney, of Mecklenburg,
nresent"d all the state officials, Com
imssion of Labor and Printing M. L.
Shipman; Corporation Commissioner
A. J. Max .veil; Commissioner of Agri
culture W. A. Gram; Attorney Gen
eral J. S. Manning; State Superinten
dent of Public Instruction E. C. Brooks
State Auditor Baxter Durham; State
Treasurer B. R. Lacy; Secretary of
ouhb o. nryan urimes; Lieutt. Gov
ernor Morrison.
The oath of office was ndniiniut.ml
by Chief Justice Walter Clerk, The
absence of a Bible tied up the cere
monial for a moment. When Gover
nor Morrison was announced, Gover
nor Bickett was introduced, and the
crowd again was on its feet cherrring
iui outgoing cnampion.
The band struck up Dixie, and again
there was a season of riot. Then
Bickett guitely, audible said: "The
people or rorth Carolina have called
into service as the chief executive of
the state for the next four years, the
Honorable Cameron Morrison, of
Mecklenburg. The oath of nW win
be administrated by the chief justice
oi me state oi worth Carolina, and
immediately thereafter Governor Mor
riaon will deliver his inaugural ad
dress." Following is tho text of Governor
Morrison's inaugural address in full:
I warmly thank the General As
sembly, the city of Raleigh, the
gracious committees and all friends
participating in arranging for our
inauguration. It is all so handsomely
aim generously planned that I am
both grateful and delighted.
I also desire to express my deep ap
preciation to all the people of the
State, of both races, and of both politi
cal parties, for the many acts ami ex
pressions of good will coming to me
from every section of the State since
my election as your governor. Under
our American system of free
and tumultuous party nomina
tions and elections we havs
tne most intense and angry
primaries and elections held anywhere
in the world, where then is orderly
government, bat after the tumult
and shouting of our primaries and
elections have passed, and in perfect '
liceuuiu ui nioi-uaaiuii ouu ni-vivii, wic
people have chosen their officers, we
yield to the choice of the majority and
most united, generous and ; whole
hearted loyalty and supnort .
We are in complete accord in North
Carolina devotion to the basic rtrinci-
pie of orderly democratic government,!
that the minority should submit to the !
majority, but because we realize that
the questions involved in the primaries
and elections, about which we differ,
while important, are of far less im
portance than the great principles and
policies of government about which we
agree, and which are never involved in
our elections.
We are in complete accord in North
Carolina about the more important
questions of government, but we allow
ourselves to become excited and divid
ed over the lets important questions
about which we differ, and fail to
agree upon plans and methods to have
done the things we have moct at heart.
If for only a few years we would give
united effort to having well and glori
ously done those things which all
Christians and patriots vant done,
and refrain from angry division and
diverting excitement over tho com
paratively unimportant things we dif
fer about, North Carolina cduld be
made the strongest and happiest de
mocracy in the entire world.
On this, to me, very happy occasion,
I want to forget the few things wo
differ about, and beg for deep con
sideration and broad co-operation from
all the people of the State in the ac
complishment of some great anil noble
purposes of State, which, above par
tisianship and petty division, all good
men and women desire done, and
about which they differ only as to the
methods and plans best adapted to
their accomplishment.
As your duly chosen governor. I ap
peal to all the people of the State to
unite in a great spirit of Christian
concord and patriotic co-operation to
write into the life of our State the
program I am about to suggest. It is
one I have found in the hearts of the
good people of this State, and which
has been disclosed to me by years of
intimate toucn with their heartthrobs.
Law Enforcement.
We must enforce the law Against?
crime in our State with God-lBce im
partiality end justice. We must let
the criminal in our midst know that
organized society in this State will
make no quarters with crime; that our
Mates conception of justice though
seasoned with mercy," is inexorable,
and that in our practices of mercy.
justification for lawlessness cannot be
found. The legislative department of
our government must provide ample
courts of justice, and sufficient police
power to enforce the law in this State
witn such majesty and thoroughness
that the criminal m the darkest cor
ners of the State will know that our
state is one of law and order, and that
he who defies the law. either by stealth
or overgrown power, will be made to
sutler tor his selfish contempt of de
cency ana ngnt.
Our Institutions for the Unfortunate.
We must take human carp nf nil
our defective and unfortunate people,
whose defects and misfortunes are of
a character that they cannot care for
inemseives, or be adequately caret! for
by the private efforts of loved ones.
In order to accomplish this God-like
purpose, the institutions and organi
zations set up by the State for the
care of our defective and unfortunate
people, must be made adequate for
the treatment, care, and training of
these helpless and defective ones with
in our border in a manner worthy of
a people who love deeds of mercy
above all material things.
And the delinquent girls and boys
of our State must be cared for and
trained as the conscience of a Chris
tian civilization demand. Our institu
tions for this sacred and patriotic
work must be strengthened and made
adequate to carry out this noble pur
pose. The institutions and organizations
which wc have set up for these noble
purposes are well designed for the
great work to be done, but we have
discovered that the work to be done
is so much greater than we knew that
they must all be strengthened and
equipped to do larger work than here
tofore. Health.
We must throw around the home
and life of our people an enlightened
world's knowledge of preventive me
dicine, and make ceaseless war upon
sickness, suffering and death in this
State. Our Department of Health
must be generously nourished and
equipped for this human service. Dis
ease cannot be sucessfully prevent
ed by individual effort alone. Modern
statesmanship demands that every
practical efforts shall be made through
organized health boards and expert
officers to protect the health of the
people. Our health department has
accomplished wonders with the means
furnished. I believo I express the
deep desire of our enlightened people
when I urge increased strength for
this great department of our govern
ment. Education.
We must make the common schools
u'ii '"""'"I? ""d education of our
children as good as any in the world.
We ought to glory in the difficulties
overcome and nrooress mW l
sacred and patriotic work in the last
twenty years, but we want to go on
and ever on, until the precious boys
and girls of
chance with any in the v'de world for
u monern and up-to-date education
Criticism of nast ach Woman !. ok
solutely unjust, and will nnt h
ated by the battle-scarred veterans of
mo war on ignorance in '-his State, be
gun twenty-odd years ago under the
leadership of Charles B. Aycock,
Charles D. Mclver, Alexander Graham
and other leaders of our education is
a glorious one. Our present weak
ness grows out of our success. We
have attained such o-lorinns rnit
j that our equipment and organization
is inadequated. There is honor to the
State in the fact that our high schools
;will annually graduate some 4,000
boys and girls and send to our univer
sity and colleges many hundreds more
than can bo comfortably cared for and
educated there. The number must be
increased and will be increased. The
common schools and standard high
schools are just beginning to fulfill
the vision of Charles B. Aycock that
all the people of North Carolina should i
be educated. It is no disgrace that our
common schools have been so success
ful as to overcrowd our institutions
of higher learning. But it will be a
badge of shame and degradation of
the higher institutions of learning are
not promptly made adequate for the
demands which the success of our ef
fort to educate all the people have so
rapidly made upon thesemstitutions.
Until recently it would have been an
apparent waste of public funds tohave
expended the money upon the
State's institutions ot nigner iearin,r
which we now know to be imperatively
demanded. Public sentiment would
not have justified it, but today with
the higher institutions oi learning
public and private, totally inadequate
to give the boys and girls of our State,
annually trained by our common
school system the opportunities to go
higher, which they demand, we must
act generously and without delay.
The condition is unfortunate, but
could not have been reasonably fore
seen. The splendid work of the stand
ard high schools exceeds all expecta
tions, and this coupled with the un
paralleled prosperity enjoyed for a
period until recently by our people,
placed unexpected responsibilities up
on these institutions for higher learn
ing. The grand army of young men
and young women marching to our
University and institutions for high
er learning from the standard high
schools of our State, and other pre
paratory schools asking the State to
furnish them training and higher
learning, will be tremendously in
creased year by year. So, now the du
ty is clear and cannot be escaped. We
must make the State's University,
the Agricultural & Engineering Col
lege, the North Carolina College fcr
Women the Teachers' Training School,
every one of its institutions for high
er learning, adequate to discharge the
glorious opportunities which oar pro
gress places before them.
We must not look upon this condi
tion as a liabilitv and financial diffi
culty. .It is our State's greatest as
set, and splendid as our accumulation
of material things has been for twenty
years, it is all of less value than the
triumph of our great educational
awakening. It is not a duty which
must be performed, and can only be
performed in sacrifice and self-denial,
but it is a glorious opportunity to
make an investment wh:ch is absolu
tely certain to result in greater pro
fit than any investment which our peo
ple could possibly make, and which
will result in increased prosperity
and strength to every industry in
North Carolina. ,
Good Roads.
We must Have good surface roads
in the State. The main highways must
be of hard surface, and dependable
every day in the year. The construc
tion of the main highways must be
forced by the State, and constructed
under its agents in order to get them
through a few unprogressive counties
that will not construct them, and
through a few poor counties which do
not have sufficient wealth to justify
their construction. We have few such
counties, but the few make a complete
system for the State impossible with
out State action. It, therefore, be
comes imperative, if ve are to have a
reliable system of highways in the
State over which the people can travel
at all seasons of the year in safety
and confidence, for the State to de
part from its time-h6norcd policy of
leaving the construction and main
tenance of roads to the counties. In
my judgment, we should not depart
from local self-government in the
matter of road construction and main
tenances any farther than practicality
and necessity require. It would be
very unwise for the State to under
take the whole duty of building and
maintaining public roads, and it
should be distinctly understood that
except these main highways, the coun
ties exclusively must provide roads.
These main highways, in my judg
ment, should be constructed without
delay, and as a whole system, and not
stretched over a long period of years,
during which the whole State will be
paying for, and only a part of it en
joying good roads. There is too much
danger of injustice in a partial sys
tem under which roads will be con
structed in some sections, and post
poned in others, subject to a change
in legislative intent, and which could
result in some sections for many years
or possible never done. And then I
believe there is strength and sound
business in constructing this entire
"system of State highways as promptly
as possible, it is unwise to start
across the State with a road under a
plan that may result in our building
ano wearing out one end or the high
way before the other is constructed.
We ought to plan for a complete sys
tem, under which there can be no in
justice to any section.
We will build this State highway
system. The judgment of our people
is formed about it. The only question
is: Are we going to build it by piece
meal, and in a large measure dissipate
the advertising benefit and strength
of it, or will we construct it, as speedi
ly as sound business principles will
permit, as a glorious whole? The
piecemeal system is one of weak
ness and timidity in front of a great
duty; the complete system is a policy
of courage and wisdom in the dis
charge of high duty. It is a great
question, and involves millions of dol
lars, and yet I believe the nart of
wisdom requires that we should bold
ly move forward and under the wisest
plan we can work out and reach con
cord about, proceeds with courage and
celerity to construct a complete sys
tem of hard surfaced State highways.
ine piecemeal system will involve
the expenditure of hist as much mon
ey. and in my judgment, more , and i lie indebtness of our State is trifling
will largely defeat the only excuse fori when compared to that of most of the
State action at all, which is to have a States. If we credit our State's in
complete system for the whole State.' debtedness with the value of our rail-
There is no argument against author -
izing and empowering, through wisely
devised agencies, the construction of
tho whole system, except cowardly
distrust of the judgment of our people
in standing the shock of authorizing
at one session of the General Assem
bly the great sum of money involved.
We need not fear to trust the people
to approve wise action though it may
involve some boldness.
We ought not to be too sure of our
own plan, but put all of our plans be
fore the committees of the General
Assembly, and submit our individual
judgment and plan to the wisdom of
the General Assembly s hnal action.
But I believe I voice the high purpose
of the enlightened thought of the
reactionary and do battle with him in
our determination to build this great
system of State highways upon the
wisest plan that we can agree upon,
and as quickly as it can be done upon
sound business principles.
I am very confident in my own judg
ment that the counties through which
these highways go should be forced by
the sovereign power of the State to
pay a portion of the cost of building
these highways; that when they are
unwilling ot do so, the State with its
unquestioned power, ought to make
them do so, and not allow an unpro
gres'ive county to stand up against
the rest of the State and stay the
march of progress through it. The
amount which the county ought to be
made to pay should be conservative
and safely within the ability of the
county.
The whole expense of building these
highways ought to be met upon the
sound credit of the State and the
counties and without one cent of any
kind of taxation at the present for
any purpose except to pay the inter
est on the bonds, and, in my judgment,
without one cent of ad valorem State
taxation for any purpose in connection
with it; the interest should be met
through automobile, gasoline and
kindred taxation and without one cent
upon the general property of the
State.
I believe the up-keep of these State
highways should be forced by the
State through county action. We will
necessarily have county organizations
for the up-keep of county roads, and
it will be duplication to make State
provision for the maintenance and
up-keep of these highways. Legisla
tion can be enacted under which the
counties will be absolutely forced to
keep the highways up, and in connec
tion with their local roads this can be
much more inexpensively done thaii
by the State, with an additional or
ganization and system. The State
should provide for inspection, for re
port and for prosecution of county au
thorities who fail to obey the State's
commands, and the State should give
the county ample authority to raise
the means with which to keep the
highways up within their borders, and
then provide through its Department
of Justice and through inspectors, to
force the exercise of this power and
the performance of this duty. I
would regret very much to see the
State adopt a permanent policy of
keeping up these highways through
State agencies. I am satisfied it would
be duplication of county effort, unnec
essarily expensive and very difficult
to carry out without corruption and
inefficiency creeping in. Experience
has demonstrated that things which
in their nature can be done by the
counties will be better done by them
than by State or federal agencies. The
State must force the ronntriipHnn rf
these highways for the reasons I have1
stated, but there is no reason apparent
to me why the state cannot and ought
not to force the counties to maintain
and keep the roads up after they are
constructed, and authorize and im
peratively direct the levy of sufficient
tax by the counties which to do so,
and require this fund to be kept sepa
rate and apart from all other funds.
The only necessity for State action
about the matter at all is because
some of the counties are unable to
build these highways without gener
ous State aid. But for this fact, I
would favor forcing action by the
counties in construction of the nec
essary highways to travel through
them. After they are constructed
with wise inspection and proper polic
ing by the State, the county authori
ties must be made to maintain them,
and it will be easily within their power
for the upkeep of the character of
road which the State ought to, and
must build, will be less than that of
the present roads.
It will be impossible, in my judg
ment, for the State to finance a plan
for these State highwavs which re
quires the State both to construct and
maintain the system without heavy ad
valorem taxation, and public senti
ment will not stand for ad volorem
taxation for State purposes.
After long reflection, I urge the con
struction of this system of highways
under a law by the present General
Assembly, providing for a complete
system to be maintained and kept up
when construction by the county au
thorities under careful drawn legisla
tion, providing for State inspection,
police protection, and cooperation of
county authorities failing in the mat
ter of maintenance and up-keep.
Cost of Entire Program
I am not unmindful of the solem re-
DntnoiliillK, -1 '- - - At. i a.
rin.nuj uj mivising me expendi
ture of the vast amount of money
which the program I have suggested
requires, but the things mentioned
ought to be done. Sound business
principles require that they should be
done speedily and without delay. We
cannot progress in our spiritual, in
tellectual, or material development
unless they are done. They will be
done, either generously and in a man
ner to give us as a State the full heno.
fit of doing them, or thev will h none
by patch work and over a period of
years, and in such manner as will
largely dissipate the benefit to tho
State of doing them and at greater
cost in the long run.
The entire program which I have
suggested will require great sums of
money, but in our ability to find the
mon?y we are one of the most fortu
nate States in the Republic. The pub
! road stocks, it would be almost wined
out.
The people are now burdened with
unparalleled federal taxation, and
many counties heavy local taxation,
Therefore, we ought not to levy ad
ditional taxation upon this State to
make any of the suggested improve
ments which are permanent in charac
ter. But the credit of our State is in
a most healthy condition and those
who are so solicitious of future gen
erations could not complain of the in
crease of our public indebtedness for
these great purposes when they re
flect that North Carolina has hereto
fore created practically no public debt
for future generations to pay; and
that we would, if this program was
carried out, transmit to those who
come after us a heritage nobler by
far with the indebtedness than it
would be without it.
The necessary improvement at our
institutions for the care of the un
fortunate, the large expenditure re
quired to place our university and
colleges for higher learning in a posi
tion adequately to meet the demands
upon them, and far the construction
of the State highway system of roads
ought to be met by a sale of the
State's bonds, and an increase of its
public indebtedness.
Taxation.
We must adopt a new system of
taxation in which State taxation and
county and other local taxation will
be completely separated. Under the
new system we should levy no ad val
orem tax whatever for State's pur
poses, and ad valorem taxation should
be confined strictly to local purposes.
It is my purpose to address the Gen
eral Assembley upon this subject at
an early date, and I will therefore, re
frain from entering into the subject
with any particularity at this time;
but we must adopt an entirely new
system, shot through and through
with justice, and one through which
the burdens of State and county
government will be placed equitable
and according to the consciences of
the State.
Other Subjects
There are other subjects in which,
as your governor.I am deeply interest-e-.',
but they are less important than
those I have mentioned, and some of
them being in their nature somewhat
controversial, I omit refrence to them
here, because I most earnestly desire
that we may unite for the larger and
more pressing purposes I have dis
cussed. As To Entire Subject
The program I have suggested does
not contain new or revoluntionary
ideas calculated to excite wild-enthusiasm,
but in my judgment, it is a
program which, if carried out, would
make North Carolina the fairest and
noblest habitation for men, women
and children to be found upon the
earth. Its adoption in completeness
and fullness will require political
courage of a high order, not because
we do not want the things mentioned
done, but because of the danger of dis
agreement of friends of the program
as to the method, manner and time of
completing it, and I appeal to the pro
gressive men and women of the State
to come together upon this program,
moderate their differences about other
public questions to such an extent as
to make impossible all diverting dif
ferences, agree to details and plans,
and courageously proceed to write it
into law.
The reactionary will whisper to the
timid that this is a bad time to expend
much money because of the depressed
condition oi our whole business life.
Business is depressed, and we have re
cently suffered severe loss and shrink
age in values, but North Carolina is
still rich enough to take humane care
of its defective and unfortunate, to
guard itself as far as an enlightened
knowledge of preventive medicine will
enable it to against sickness and suf
fering, to provide adequate schools for
the training and education of its
children, o build a system of roads
suggested by sound business, and to
do all other things reasonably neces
sary in the discharge of the high du
ties of a great State. Times are
hard, but thev do not approach the se
verity of conditions which we have met
with courage in the past. We are gi
ven in times of great prosperity to
think depression and bad times will
never come again; and in periods of
hard times we are given to think good
times are gone, never to return.
Twelve months ago we were rolling in
prosperity and expected the year 1920
to be the most prosperous in our his
tory. A year ago we could not have
foreseen the present depression and
dispirited now, but business is a com
plex and mysterious thing, and for all
the wisest among as may know, we
may in this depression be laying the
foundation stones for a structure of
business and prosperity the like of
which our country has never known.
We must not give up, prosperous times
are sure to return. The United States
is richer than any two or three coun
tries in the world, and we have more
productive energy and initiative abil
ity than all Europe combined. North
Carolina is one of the truly rich an !
great state or the Union, and nothing
can keep prosperity from soon return
ing to us except our own cowardice
and pessimism. Let us recall the
trials, sacrifices and triumphs of our
lathers and mothers, and unite to
futher upbuild our State and glorify
our God. In this hour of trial and de
pression I appeal to all the people of
the State to go forward with courage
and determination in every direction
in which Christians and patriots art;
looking. For twenty years we have
splendidly progressed in North Caro
lina, and under the assault of our
?:reat Christian democracy, under the
eadership of the democratic party,
we have made "Hell's foundations
quiver everywhere.' ' We are in sight
of victory on every battle field where
the flag of Christianity and piogres
sive democracy floats over the noble
and the good as they war for right
eousness with the reactionary and un
progressive forces of our State. We
must not march away and leave any
battlefiield where right, justice and
progress are contending with the foes
of enlightenment and progress be
cause of unexpected temporary busi-
, ness depression
we must go on,
marching as a mighty army, "with the
cross of Jusus going on before," until
in North Carolina is truly great and
nobly good.