The weekly true Democrat., 1907-11-22

tereSt OF TIE people that was possible 70
be done under the law.
There ere three members on the Com
mission and one man cannot shape and di-
rect lie policy Whatever the Commis-
sion did i assisted them to do, and am
entitled "a whatever credit the Commis-
sioners Individually or collectively may
receive. For whatever it failed TO do
am entitled TO my share Of blame IL any
attaches. / assisted in drafting every
change IN the Rules and Regulation OF
the Railroad Commission, and every
new Rule and Regulation, and an ex-
animation Of those adopted and amend
ed while was on the Commission, VIII
show that there was not a single one that
was not IN the interest OF the people and
In further restraint OF the powers OF
the railroads.
CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF
GOVERNOR.
Before stating my position on some
of the public questions that may be the
subject Of future legislative action, l
desire 70 make perfectly clear my views
on the rights and duties OF the Govern
or IN matters legislative. There nave
always been in this Republic advocates
Of two distinct theories OF government.
The expOnents of one, first determine
what they want TO do, and then try to
find law 70 Justify il. The others first
ascertain what the law is, and then
carry It out, whether they want to or
not One is AutOcracy, and an auto
crat has no right TO be in Office in this
republic, no matter how good or honest
his intentions may be, for ours is a gov
ernment Of law, enacted by constitu-
tionally prescribed methods, and en-
forced by those sworn to it's obedience.
No man IL good enough, or pure enough
to be vested with power outside the
law, which must always be supreme.
II elected Governor will obey the law,
in the minutest matter, as well as IN
the greatest, and observe it as humbly
as / shall expect to be observed by the
richest or the poorest citizen More
than this, ] will obey the spirit as well
as the letter of the law, for Chief Ex-
ecutive cannot set the example of being
himself above the law, and expect to
build up a law abiding citizenship
The Constitution of Florida provides:
1.-THE Governor shall communicate by
message TO the legislature at each regu-
lar session, information concerning the
condition of the state, recommending
such measures as may be deemed eXpe-
dient. Art. Sec. ".
1t also provides that: "The powers
of the Government of the State Of Elor-
ida, shall be divided into three Depart
ments: Legislative, Executive and Ju-
dcial; and no person properly belonging
! to one of the departments shall exer-
else any powers appertaining to either
of the Others, except in cases expressly
provided for by this constitution" "
Art. 2.
The spirit of this enactment prohibits
any interference by the Legislative,
Executive or Judicial Departments of
the government with any Of the rights
or prerogatives of the other, and / re-
gard this inhibition as most important
for the preservation Of true republi-
can form government. Despotism OF
the worst kind have always sprung up
when any of the prerOgatives of one of
the coordinate departments Of the gov
eminent are exercised or interfered
with by the others. Aristotle, and other
great writers on Government says that
| the worst forms Of DespOtism have
| fOurished in Democracies. My OBJ
serVation is that whenever men try
to impress their views and opinions
upon those to whom the Constitution
has given equal and coordinate powers,
they do il more for their individual ad'
vancement and popularity, than for the
general welfare. Mr.. Roosevelt is one
Of this type, and regret that we have
in Florida some Democrats who emulate
him, and assume that they are "ThC
People," and that their voice is the
voice Of the people, and indulge in vic
lent denunciations of those who diffel
with them on governmental politics.
DOES NOT DRAW INSPIRATION FROM 1
REPUBLICAN, PRESIDENT
My Dmocracy is not of the kind tina
draws it's influence from Republican
nor do sec suRht In the doctrines o.
Mr.. Roosevelt a Southern man can en-
dorse. He has undertaken to contro
and dictate to Congress he has at
tempted TO shape the decisions o.
the Courts, and has denounced judge
when they have decided accord
ing to what they believe to be tht
law, although not In accord with hi
wishes, he has violated every theory o
Republican form Of Government and Sc
up an Autocracy in place of Democ
racy, and seeks TO build up a dynasty
, by naming the man to whom shall pas
the presidential succession,
The exercise by State officials Of au
! thority not sanctioned by the cOnstitu
ton and law, no matter how pure tn
motive or how laudable the purpose, o
, what te npOrary benefit may be derives