The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1905-02-23
the CASE OF Mr.. BROWN,
FORMERLY OF MARION.

Some months ago, the Honorable
@. M. Brown, state senator from Mari
on county and late candidate for gov
ernor, issued an affectionate fare
well address" to the people of good
old Marion, folded his tent and hied
himself over TO the little principality
Of Dade where, in the city Of Miami,
he announced that he intended max
ing his permanent home.
This was altogether within the
right and province of the distinguish
ed gentleman from Marion and his
departure, duly announced and as
ouly made, was accompanied by the
conventional tears and regrets from
the inhabitants of his old-time BALI
wick. -
There would probably have been
nothing more heard of the distressing
incident had It not been for the fact
that Senator Brown, who was elected
for a four-year term and who had
served but half that time, seemed to
think he could live in Dade county
and still represent the district which
elected him but from which hs had
permanently withdrawn his residence.
The people of Marion county
thought different, and as their distin-
guished former fellow-citizen refused
to go through the perfunctory pro-
cedure of resigning his Office, the
county democratic executive commit
tee very naturally and very properly
issued a notice calling Governor
Broward's attention 10 the fact that
a vacancy existed and asking the gov
ernor to call a special election to fill
it before the state legislature con-
venes. This the governor has done,
Just as he should do, and so far as
Marion is concerned, everything is
lovely and the election will, in due
course, be held.
But now comes more talk, and the
following from the Miami Metropolis
indicates the drift thereof:
Sam Russ, the short talk" man of
the Times-Union, its chief editorial
writer. and one OF, If not the best, in
formed political writer's in Florida
asks the following question and VOlun-
teers this assertion, evidently intend
ing it for the action of the Marion
county democratic committee in de-
claring vacant the seat of Hon. G. NJ.
Brown as state senator from Marion
county, and petitioning the governor
to call an election to name his suo-
ceBsor: Has a county executive
committee the authority to declare
vacant a seat in the state senate?
Isn't the senate the Judge of the
qualifications of its members? Ger
ts1nly Y is demoralizing to find dem
ocratic committee beseeching the
governor to take authority never
given him by law. If governor had
the power TO purge a legislative
BODY would he not become a Crom-
well on occasion? And how can DEM
oorats advocate such usurpation?"
We have a slight acquaintance with
afr. sam Russ. the alleged author of
the quoted remarks IN the above. He
is a bright young man, stands well
all over the state, and he has prospects
Of an exceptionally promising charac-
. ter. We may be wrong but we don't be-
lieVe he wrote it, or if he did, he did
so without consulting that inner
consciousness of his that everyone
knows forms such a characteristic
element IN his makeup.
II we understand the matter Alright,
the executive committee is not as
suming any authority" other than
that of officially informing the gov
ernor of a self-evident fact. No one
is denying that "the senate is the
Judge of the qualifications Of its mem
bers"-it will no doubt take care of
that feature of the case itself when
Senator Brown attempts to butt in at
the coming session. The governor is
not trying to purge the legislative
body and no democrats are "advocat-
ing usurps+ion-"
One of the most important and time
honored principles Of democracy is
that embOoied in the institution of
local self-goveTnment, and certainly
the people Of Marion county are as
much entitled TO local self-government
as are the people of any of the other
counties Of the state. 1t is only 20 be
reEetted that Senator Brown does