The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1907-04-19
GOVERNOR WOULD
MUZZLE THE PRESS
What Our Florida Newspapers Think
OF His Proposed LeEis-
IatiOn.

A9AA9Ms
In his message the governor condemns
in strong terms the legislative lobby
and the legislative CRATER reminding
US that in many states these have been
proved deserving of all the odium
heaped upon them. But why has he
proposed no method of uncovering and
furnishing these corrupting influences?
He says their discovery and punishment
are alike difficult, yet he asserts that
this problem has been solved in other
states Does his reading of the eX-
periences of Pennsylvania and New
York and Missouri teach him no lessons
for his guidance? Surely Governor
BrowBrd should not find it difficult to
| follow where others have blazed path,
even though he could cut no road for
| himself.
But the constitution guarantees to
every citizen the right to be heard
when his interests are attacked Are
those who visit the capital 70 defend
themselves, their friends or their COM
munities to be condemned2 Some of
the first citizens of the state have
asked hearings on pending bills, the
board of trade has sent representa-
tives, ministers Of the gospel have not
ldisdained to appear, and N, b, Brow
ard, when sheriff and when seeking to
| Influence" the election of q federal
senator, has been seen in Tallahassee.
Have all these sinned2
During the last campaign Mr., Brow
ard had much TO say as to the iniquity
of a railroad lobby. Has all his thun-
der been toned down TO an association
of these sinners with good citizens and
reputable business interests3 Has all
this thunder in the index come 20 such
lame and impotent conclusion that we
are now denied a definition of the crime
and the name of the criminalf Have
the railroads done no more than the
cities, the counties and the trade
boards? Have the lobbyists Of the
roads" done no more than N. b. Brow
ard7
The other charge answers itself, and
may answer the other also. When the
people send honest representatives TO
the Legislature there win be no graft,
and then tl bad lobbyist of the gov
ernor's mess Ra will find his occupation
gone and must stay at home, for lack
Of argument, ae GlendOwer sheathed
his sword. How may we divide the
sheep from the goats7 The guilty
should be punished. but not by con-
founding them with the innocent.
After all, might not the legislature
be trusted TO cleanse itself from graft
and to protect itself from the obnoxious
lobby? The law gives each house the
power to do so much, and perhaps not
even the governor will deny them the
will Ii rs true there has been legis-
lative corruption, but Governor Hig-
gins failed TO take action against cor
Tupton, and Governor Pennypaeker
was more than suspected Of impllca-
ton in the capitol rObberies-s the
governor finds II necessary to recon-
mend honesty 10 the legislature, why
should not the legislature inform the
governor that some corruption IN other
states had not left the governors man
sion clean. st Augustine Record.
There is nothing remarkable about
the governors message. In It's Ian
guage and recommendations it is very
n remIndful Of his campaign speeches and
letters. II may be said OF MIN that he
il quite consistent. He is pushing the
subjects Of legislation he promised two
; years ago, but il is more than question:
able whether with as much success IN
the Legislature now as before the peo-
, pie then.
, The most noise will be made about
1 the section in which the governor
recommends the enactment OF some
laws restraining the press In the mat
ter Of personal publication, and favors
! authorizing public prosecutors TO pro-
! coed against editors criminally on very
slight CtoaLd. II Is quite true that
: editors ought TO be punished for print
ing lies ABOUT peopie-but the trouble
about most AL legislation OF the kind u
that the editors who lie tor the party
or factions in power and against the
other side are seldom or never prose,
, cuted. The punishment or attempts al
. punishment fall all on one side, jurors
generally decide according 10 their po
n litical conviction and the whole mattel
!, is a source of extended sore. 1t woulC
be better 10 let The law remain as II rs
and reform the editors by kindness o.
club, as the case seems TO require. -
@ Tampa Times.
+ Some of the suggestions made b.
d Napoleon Bonaparte Broward in his bl
J. ennial message to the legislature ar
e proper and meritorious, but Others ar
hardly feasible, and one Is evidence o
Y his cEagrin. The latter is that sectio
d wherein he takes shot at the news
= papers and asks the legislature to pas
laws to further restrain publications.
II has always been customary for news