The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1907-04-12
UNWARRANTED Avn stslh-
III AegzE.

the school took question now going on
in TalIaha that merits the strong
est Dnation. Members Of the
Leg be who oppose the State uni
formity measure Of the administration
are being assailed almost daily in terms
that are absolutely untrue. Names Of
members who rank among the best men
in the Statesmen whose honesty and
disinterestedness have long been proved
beyond dOubt--are banded about in
reckless disregard of the truth, coupled
with threats of dire punishment If
those thus abused dare 10 vote against
the administration school book
schemes. This continued outrage upon
members of the Legislature justly pro-
vokes resentment.
Inquiry into the origin of the shame
full abuse referred TO leads the True
Democrat to assert, with all the posi-
tiveness possible, and all the emphasis
it can command, that much Of II comes
from hired lobbyists Of the school book
publishers working secretly, or under
the guise Of a disinterested regard for
the peoples welfare There are men
walking the streets Of Tallahassee to-
day, roaming about the corridors of the
capitol, and pervadng the lobbies of
the hotels-men who have turned on
those who have done them many acts
of Kindness when they were in absolute
need of friend at the same time
damning those who oppose it with libel
Gus insinuations Who pays these menu
That they are paid is certainly true,
for none Of them could afford to devote
their whole time to the exceedingly
questionable business they are engaged
m unless they are compensated. They
cannot afford, we repeat, TO do this
work for nothing.
The charge is made that the State
Superintendent favors one concern that
sells books in the State, and yet this
official is only following the lists set by
his predecessor, No better nor more
capable official ever filed this place
than the present one, and yet even he
is abused for doing what others have
done.
The True Democrat is the more OPP
posed to the administration school
book bill the more it studies features
1t is scheme, in many respects, as
villianously loaded for graft, and in
the interest of a political machine for
Florida, as the drainage, insurance or
State dispensary, all of which the peo-
pie decided they would have nothing to
do with The Legislature ought not to
enact such a measure into law. There
are already enough officers and office
holders in Florida, who, by reason of
their appointment by the Governor,
may be depended upon by whoever oc-
cupies the gubernatorial chair TO assist
him in his schemes. The people are al
ready sufficiently burdened with taxes,
without being made to throw away the
several hundred thousands of dollars
they have invested in school books.
If there is real disposition to help
the poor people of the State, let the
Legislature adopt the measure intro
duced in the Senate by MIR. HUMPHREYS
and in the House by Mr.. Watson.
These bills bear the stamp Of sincerity
upon them, and do not seem to have
the ear-marks of graft, nor the dan
gers that threaten us with the other
bills. The Legislature ought to read
the measure introduced by these gen.
tlemen, and il they are DESTROYS of
benefitting the poorer class, the pass
age Of it will do that.
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