The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1905-04-14
PRIpaARY Law ApfENDnENTs.

Some Of the amendments to the pii
mary election law purpOrting to have
been recommended by the State execu
tive committee appear to be well worthy
Of consideration by the Legislature
while others are not.
The paymentof the expenses Of party
primary elections by the State, from
public funds collected from the whole
people for the support Of the State gov
eminent and State institutions, is too
grossly irregular to merit serious notice.
The suggestion that all contests of
primary elections shall be decided by the
courts, instead of the political commit
tees, county and State, is also irregu-
lar, but not wholly impracticable.
Nevertheless, the idea of appealing to
the courts, except in extreme cases,
where the jurisdiction is natural and not
arbitrary, is repugnant TO cur system of
jurisprudence, as we'll as to our political
system.
To exempt, by statute, the receiver
of bride, in order that the giver there
of may, by the receivers testimony, be
convicted, is a curious and somewhat
startling misconception of the existing
rules Of evidence; but If that is the only
way to reach cases of bribery in pri-
mary elections, and If such law would
stand the tests applied by the courts, an
experiment in that direction might pro-
duce some interesting results.
The proposition to require all candi-
dates to file sworn statements exhibit
ing their actual expenditures in primary
contests is a most excellent one, and
has been tried with good effect in other
States.
So, also, is the one prohibiting any
persons from soliciting from candidates
contributions for charitable or other al
legged purposes, the inference being that
arefusal may be used to the candidates
damage. The prohibition should be ex-
tended, however, to include the prohi-
/bition of soliciting loans of money from
candidates, the inference being that the
borrower will effectively assist in the
election Of the lender.
With respect to the prohibition by law
of ALLEGED wholesale contributions by
corporations of money, free passes, ="
etc, "for the purpose of influencing
voters" the fact appears to be that in
dividuals do a great deal more of that
so,t ~ tb;v,o tbap ooryo,a%;ons TF zo.
sonal and individual friends Of candi-
dates can be prohibited from assisting
ing in the payment of Campaign ex-
penses," surely corporations could and
should be thus prohibited. So, it seems,
the prohibition should be made 20 in
clude any friend of candidate who de-
sired to contributed that can be done.
Tax collectors should certainly be for
hidden by law to receive poll taxes from
any person other than the tax payer,
duly identified as registered and 9TH
erwise qualified elector. Much Of the
irreguarity complained of in elections
could be eliminated by such a wise and
wholesome provision.
The proposition that the State COM
mittee be authorized to appoint one in
spector in every election precinct in the
State is too wildly absurd to be worthy /
Of moments consideration. So, also,
is that requiring the commissioners of /
each county to redistrict, so that not
not m IRE than 200 voters may be in each
district. That there should be needed .
changes in the registration law, and a
new and complete registration in each
county, is too patent proposition to be
denied, and is a reform
more urgently needed than any other
that has been proposed.
Finally, the change recommended in
the form Of me ballot, so that all can
didates for State and Federal offices
shall be in one column and those for all
county offices in another, making the
ballot twice as wide and half as long as
that now used, needs no argument 10
demonstrate it's reasOnableness.
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The Jacksonville Metropolis complains
" the quality of the work that is being
turned out by the State printer, and
urges that more money be appropriated
for this purpose. A mistake, esteemed
sufficient funds are