The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1905-12-08
SELECTING GOOD HEN.

gested the imperative necessity OF
choosing the best men Of every COM
munity for the duty Of representing the
people in the next Legislature. Several
Of our exchanges have commented on
the matter, and we rejoice at the inter
est that il being taken in the subject.
Among those that have given expires.
sion TO their views we gladly quote the
following from the Arcadia News:
Several papers of the State are urg-
ing that care be exercised in selecting
members Of the next Legislature, spec
ial stress being laid on the need Of men
possessing purity and integrity. AS TO
that nothing may be said. At every
election men, corrupt in every sense,
are entrusted with the duties Of legis-
lation, yet they are exalted both by
press and public as the Finest, etc.
At least one point should be noted I:
Choose men Of sufficient intelligence 10
enact laws which will stand the test Of
cOnstitutonality, and who will pass
measures that will not be repealed by
the next succeeding Legislature.
To the same effect is the following,
from the Gainesville Sun:
There is one thing certain, and that
is that the people of Florida will have
10 be more careful in selecting members
Of the Legislature, or else submit the
measures brought before that body TO
committee Of investigation, before they
come up for passage.
Some years ago special joint com
mittee on the style and substance Of
bills was created, the effect of which
upon the legislation of the session was
decidedly marked Why not try the
experiment again?
The Quincy Times takes a rather
novel view Of the matter. 1t says:
The question is, why should people
need such advice regarding candidates
for office, whether for the Legislature
or for constable? Every one should
realize that not only this age but every
other age requires the best men for any
office. Personal feelings should not
control votes when personal feelings
lean toward the weaker candidate, yet
strange 10 say. i'm many cases personal
feelings are the main issue. In cOnneI- ,
ton with the numerous arguments for !
strong minded and honest Representa-
tives, we hear that such are especially |
desirable two years hence, for the |
reason that matters Of great Importance
will come up for action, DO hot mat !
ters of great Importance come up for
action at every session of the Legisla-
ture? We see no more oc-
casion for urging the voters 10 select |
good representatives in the Legislature
than in any other Office. Hence. we be- !
lieve that while all this good advice is
being cast out upon the 'unapprecia- !
tive" voters, ii should not be confined |
TO one office, but should be sent broad !
cast down the line, showing partially |
70 none, neglecting none.
The Jacksonville Times-Union quotes
our original paragraph and says;
This is good advice, but the trouble
Is in getting people to take It. The |
average elector does not vote for the |
man because he is the best man. He |
votes for him because he likes him bet
ter than he likes other candidates This |
Is true of Florida and Of every other |
State. 1t is not true Of the Legislature |
alone. II is true Of all Offices. And so
il often comes TO pass that the man who |
ideas of how he can best serve the peo- |
pie and who intends to leave self out of |
consideration Is often defeated by one |
who has no ideas at all except the adj |
vancement of self. The latter wins |
some voters by remembering their
names and processing great friendship !
for them whenever he meets them. He |
wins others by drinking with them or
sharing in their vices. OF course the |
best man is often elected, but he Is not |
often elected because he il the best |
man. The demaRogue has the advan- |
tage over the statesman in running for !
office. unless he is too manifestly dem
aROgue This Is the evil What are
we to do about It? We confess that we |
see no remedy. II does not prove the !
failure of republican institutions, for
even the demagogue chosen by the peo- |
pie and responsible to the people Is |
more apt TO serve them faithfully than !
one would be over whom the people had !
no power or influence. The trouble lies
rs deep as the imperfection of man.
and cannot be remedied until men be-
come perfect.
Rather discouraging and pessimistic,
but we do not despair. We have an
abiding faith in the concrete virtue and
good sense of the people en- masse. We
believe that, as whole. they do the
right thing. They may be deceived
and betrayed, at times. but do they
not hasten TO correct whatever errors