The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1906-09-14
vOrE AcAMsT THE AlIENDnRET.

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The proposition laid down in
Governor BroWard's veto Of the bin
passed by the last Legislature requir-
ing the Trustees of the Internal Inn
provement Fund to turn into the State
treasury all fumes IN their hands or
that they may hereafter receive from
the sale Of State lands-that the Legis-
lature is not clothed with power to
regulate the actions of the autocratic
Board, is the most silly argument that
has eminated from the present admin
istration. The Governor contends that
though the Internal Improvement Fund
Trustees were created by an act Of the
Legislature the latter has no power to
abolish the Office or say how the affairs
Of the Board shall be conducted. In
other words, the Board is perpetual,
with no responsibility to the legislative
branch Of the government. But If this
be the case, why did they ask for the
passage Of the drainage law? Why did
they not go ahead with their drainage
scheme on their own responsibility?
The Trustees sell the State land,
without giving public notice, at what
ever price they see fit, and to whom
they choose, thus giving opportunity to
show favOritsm to friends OF the adj
ministration at the expense of the
people.
Should the people adopt the COnsti-
tutional Amendment making these
Trustees a Drainage Board they would
then be clothed with additional powers
without responsibility to any other
branch of the government and could
build up in Florida political ring that
would put the South Carolina dispen-
sary ring to shame. Will the people
do this? We believe not. Gainesville
Sun.
The drainage of the Everglades has
so enthused the Governor that his every
action tends to the attainment of this
end. The climax of inconsistency, how
ever. was probably reached when, above
his own signature, Broward addressed
personal letters to q number of the pa
pers of the State, enclosing copy Of an
editorial on Florida drainage, from the
Louisiana viewpoint, with the sugges-
tion that it might be published, all or in
part. Does Broward think the press
cares what is thought of Florida drain
age by people who know nothing Of the
cOnditions?-Orlando Democrat.
Anumber caught at and took the bait,
too, in publishing these articles just as
they were furnished ready-made for
use. A few, however, were courteous
enough to publish them, with editorial
comment, fully showing they had not
the least bearing on the Governor and
his Boards gigantic Florida scheme. 1t
is refreshing to note that many Of
Florida's editors are not gifted to
"kissing the hand that smites," are
not worshippers of officials NTH mighty
powers, fawners at the feet of men be-
cause they are high officials, whether
such officials are right or wrong in pub
lie affairs. There are a few of US in
Florida yet who do not bow down and
worship as idols those whom we have
full and good right to mistrust, and
who see through some gigantic schemes
for wrong-dOing and building up a
mighty political machine in Florida.
Some of US are still determined not to
be or become a bump on-a-log, even
if the railroads and corporations do
own US soul and body, and we sell our
editorial space at so much line, with
sentiment thrown in" as is always
charged when we oppose the beauties
and their schemes. A day of reckoning
is fast approaching, and we opine a
clean sweep of these powerful tricksters
will be made about two years hence.
You can't fool all of us people all the
time
Some men believe the Everglades
should be drained, while others urge
the annexation of the moon. Orlando
I