The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1907-08-09
SHALL THIS THING
BIZ DONE SO?
A Natter In which the People Of the
State, the People Of Tallahassee,
Especially che Ladies are
Interested.

ases" and an innocent, dncommunicat-
i've title. or, more properly speaking, a
secretive title, reinforced with an allur-
ing something for nothing" PROPOSE
ton bait, was concealed one of the most
repuRnant. one Of the unkindest acts
ever offered In. or adopted by a Florida
| legislature. The people were ignorant
Of its provisions when the bill was in
PRODUCED, they are ignorant still Of its
provisions and Of its real intent, and it
Is q question IL more than half a do z
en- members knew what were the con-
tents of the bill. That this is true, Is
evidenced by the vote. Senator Hender-
son and Representative Hartsheld vot-
ed for the bill, Wells was not present.
This bill with its uncommunicative title
and something for nothing bait lay
quietly in some ones possession until
May 30th, the next 20 the last day of
the session. Then IL was introduced and
under the plea that 1t was a measure
urged by the Governor, It was rushed
through the House, certified to the Sem
ate and pushed through that body with
out allowing any time for consideration.
The members did not apparently recall
the fact that the Governor in his mes
sage, page IL, had called their attention
to this very matter or that there was
| in each house a committee on Militia
and State Troops, created for the ex-
press purpose Of looking after the in
terests of the military in the State and
] that the plea of necessity was without
value as a reason for such sudden haste.
! This death bed method" is common
practice with what interested parties
think will prove unpopular measures.
The engineers take snap judgment on
their co-legislators. Enrolled with sur
prising celebrity it was sent to the Gov
ernor on the last day of the session
when confusion worse COMPOUNDED al
ways reigns supreme. With an enor-
nous amount of important legislation 10
examine, the Governor had nos the time
TO examine into the provisions of the
bill, but seeing from it's title that it
was seemingly what he had recommend
ed, the Governor signed R
| Here is the title Of Chapter 567l: IAN
act to provide for the establishment of
la State Arsenal and General Military
| Headquarters. Innocence itself, in APP
! pearance, isn't it?
This innocent looking little title is fol-
lowed by six ponderous and impressive
''whereases" wherein is cunningly made
prominent a something for nothing"
/ feature and the recommendation Of the
Governor. This last is exploited as a
seperate whereas. 1t is set apart
and made conspicuous in three line
whereas" so that it will be impossible
not to see that the Governor advises
the measure and believes 1t to be for
the best interest of the State that an
arsenal should be established at some
/ central point, but in that recommends
| tim hn nnaa Vnf Word ahOnt a
general military headquarters because
he knows that the military headquarters
is wherever the CommandeT-in-Chief is
and that, by the Constitution, is fixed
in Tallahassee. This whereas forgets
TO mention one of the principal reasons
for the recommendation or his insist
ance on 'sOme central point in the
| State. Here are his words: II deem
il of the utmost Importance that you
should provide for the erection Of
suitable State Arsenal at some central
point in the State, both for the economy
involved in handling and safe keeping
Of the States military supplies and
equipment, and for the additional Sc
curity that would be furnished for the
protection and safe keeping Of such
stores by the military organization
stationed at such point
4 ne next whereas pOllLo Oul ~
Francis Barracks at St. Augustine as
the most desirable (centraD point for
the State Arsenal and the last where
as" holds out the alluring something
for nothing" bait to catch the unthink
ing legislator and secure quick action
on the bill.
Some central point St. Augustine is
not even central in St. Johns county,
and as far as the State Is concerned II
is as far to one side as il can get and
keep out of the Atlantic ocean. In the
matter Of transportation, Tallahassee
10 much better fixed than st. Angus
tine. That place has but one railroad,
and that the most notoriously unac-
commodating road in the State.
Now about military protection. II
Is generally understood that the Blox-
ham Rifles in Tallahassee we're organ
lied for the express purpose Of Afford
ing this very protection, and the organ
iLatiOn was stimulated by an intimAtion
that IL the company was not organized,
the stores would be removed. Where
this intimRtion came from Is not pub
hcly known but It was common talk
and bore the appearance Of truth.
But, this central point 10 not the
pith Of the matter The 'nigger in the
WOOd-pile" is hidden away In the last
! rfrrt,N Haas - C..VsnV, 'Iha - tatIlp .