The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-09-29


system of nominating candidates, AMI
necessarily the primary of that year
was an experiment Four such expert
ments have revealed defects which
render corrupt practices possible, and
Unfairness and discrimination evident
In the old DAYS it was possible to cor
Tupt conventions; today it is possible
to corrupt a majority of the entire
electorate
Many of our best citizens, TecOgniz-
ing the failure of the system to &C
complish the purpose for which it was
inaugurated-an honest popular ex-
preston OF the viii of the people
| favor its repeal But its success and
manifold advantages over the conven-
ton has been so amply demonstrated
in many other states that it needs no
defense. My purpose is to point out
some of the defects and suggest how
they might be cured.
Expense.
| The most universal and popular OBJ
lection undoubtedly is the expense to
the candidate
Consider first the expense of con-
Quoting the primary and how 1t can be
reduced. The proper expenditures I'M
der the present law are for, first,
printing and distribution Of ballots;
| second TRANSPORTATION of ballot boxes
| from polling places to court houses;
third, fees of sheriffs, and, fourth,
compensation of clerks and in
spectors. The first is a necessary ex-
pense the second and third proper
ones but the fourth can and should
be eliminated. What does it amount
! TO? There are about $50 precincts in
the state. Three inspectors and one
clerk in each at an average compen-
sation OF $500 per day for two pTi
maries amounts TO s12,000.00. The
| assessments are already larger than
necessary and with this amount de
Quoted from the expense of the phi
mary it should be reduced more than
| one-half. Any precinct unable to pro
iuce four men with enough patriotism
and party loyalty in their breasts to
serve the cause of democracy in this
capacity without compensation should
be denied a voice in the affairs of their
government.
Next comes campaign expenses
other than the committees assess
ment-
So soon as a man announces his
candidacy for any state or federal Of
| fee requests pour in upon him for
contributions and donations to a
| church here, an organ there, and wor-
thy charitable institutions everywhere
Later he will be surprised at the num-
Der of previously unknown friends he
has in the Temotest corners of the
state who want to vote for him, and
whose boys and neighbOrs also want
to vote for him, if he will only pay
| their poll taxes. Still later, when the
lines are drawn and the fight well de-
| fined, he viii be impressed Nth u tbs
grGs2211UI v Supporting him-Some because
they like him. and others because
they dislike his opponent-but their
work cannot be effective unless paid
for. Investigation has proved that
many Of the men who make these
propositions really do have a certain
amount of influence in their immedi-
ate neighbOThOOds- If candidate
ignores or refuses their requests they
Invariably fight him, and this affords
the wealthy candidate a decided adj
vantage over the poor one There are
many other types Of the political
CRATER from whom every candidate is
entitled TO protection.
Our primary election law should
contain a section prohibiting any
avOwed candidate from paving am
poll tax, donating or contributing, or
promising during the time of his can
dldacy to donate or contribute any
money, whiskey, cigars or other thing
OIL value 10 any person. association of
persons or corporation OF any kind
whatever
Every man who has been candi-
date before primary election in this
state viii agree that an account OF
every proper expense incident to his
candidacy can be kept under several
prescribed heads OF divisions. e. z
clerical services, 2 stationery, post
age, handling o: literature mailed,
pruning. o travelling expenses of
candidate, travelling expenses of 9TH
erS, advertising, 9 contributions and
donations, and possibly one or two
others
After striking out numbers , and
p because Of the manifest inconven-
renee OF keeping such accounts. and
number because to permit il works
a discrimination against a Door man.
the others should be prescribed and
the candidate not permitted to disbuTse
money IN any manner not properly
chargeaOle under one or another of
the accounts. Money spent under
number 4 should be confined to mail
ing point because a candidate. if so
disposed, might employ persons to dis
tribute literature when in reality
they would be paid workers Under
number IL would not be practicable
or necessary to require an itemized
statement Merely the name of the
person travelling and the amount paid
VIII sunce- but the candidate should
De required TO make an affidavit to
son so travelling has received any COM
penSatiOL other than actual travelling
expenses either from himself or from |
any other source of which he has /
knoWledge, or may reasonably be pre- |
stunned to have knowledge Number |
should be confined to newspapers |
and advertising political meetings A /
general affidavit should also be re- /
quaTed from the candidate that the &C /
counts are correct so far as known /
AID that no money has been spent ex-
cept as shown. An additional state
ment with similar afTidavits should be /
required from every agent of the can
jidaJe authorized to pay out money /
for him. and If there be no such per-
L. I. l