The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-07-01

friend in Florida, and while some OF
the opinions therein expressed are
hardly in accord with those of many
who have studied the subjects, never
theless the Astorian is glad to pub
lish the article, as an interesting and
lively letter in the old South;
WINTER HAVEN, la.,-To be a
voter man must have been resi-
dent OF the State two years and the
county six months. He can then run
for any public Office by making pub
lie announcement Of his intention to
do so, AT every political meeting he
is expected to tell his own story OF his
qualifications for the Office he desires
without any help from anyone, and he
never has a good word for any office
holder or office seeker except it is
for the man who is running for thte
same office he wants,
Polk County is about to elect
County officials,
The County Judge and all officials
are elected by popular vote and all
hold office two years or more,
have attended two political meet
ings; every Office holder and those
seeking Office sit on a raised platform.
The present tax assessor was the only
man who didn't have an opponent. The
high Sheriff had FIVE men who wanted
his job. He was called to give an
account of himself and told what he
had done, while in Office and what he
would promise to do in the future.
His oponants told the people how he
had pass, and had in many ways
neglected his duty. If candidate for
Office ever did anything in an official
way, any suspicious act, he is asked
at these meetings to explain it and
if not made perfectly clear to his
hearers that he had done no wrong
to the county or any man in it, he will
get no votes.
The primaries are held in May, and
the candidate getting the most votes
there is the only candidate at the reg
ular election. The qualifications for
Office here are honesty and ability
and without them one had better not
try for Office. There is only one party
in local politics but in National | find
many white men who vote with the
G. 0. P. The high Sheriff is one,
but that wont stand in the way of his
getting more votes than any of his
five oponants-which he is sure Of
and reelection.
Judge Preston came from Iowa
years ago, and is sure of reelection.
am indebted to him for a few court
records-Many think up north" that
in the solid South" there is no re-
spect for law, that every man carries
gun and settles his troubles on the
spot
We believe in no part Of the United
States where the laws are more re-
spected and better enforced, where
honesty virtue and character are more
highly priced or better protected than
in the "Solid South. An ex-Judge
was arrested and fined $40 for not
fishing according to law.
A great temperance war is going
through the south and the next legis-
lature will try and pass state pro- +
hibitory law. 1t is now on the local
option plan and out ride the cities,
the laws are very strict. They say
the home and family are never safe
where the bar-room exhists.
There aer plenty Of Blind Tigers"
here but the Sheriff, and Judge Pres
ton, have made it very hot for them
during their years Of holding Office.
IS convictions have been made.
fines collected-$6 to 800 and 2l years
of time served. Total convictions for
three and one half years, 640-hnes
paid $l9,85000 time served 81 years.
All convicts are let out, mostly in the
Phosphate mines, and are quite a
sorce of profit to the County, which
get 5000 per month and board for
each convict, so you see this is quite
an item.
There are very few Negros in Polk
Co. but over 80 per cent OF the crime
is committed by the Negro; the white
man pays 9S IL per cent of the taxes.
The County has no bonded debt, or
debts of any kind and has money in
the treasury. Judge Preston tells me.
There is Negro at Bartou who is
a good machanic works in a lumber
and has $4 day the year round, who
is the envy Of every negro in the city.
One negro told Judge Preston: III |
could get $4 day | wouldn't work
but one day in week and that is the
way about every niger in Florida
looks at it. Good wages and the bar
room has made the "nigger" triAing
rascal, who can not be depended upon
where a steady laborer is needed. He
wants to go to the cities and do few
odd jobs, and just earn money enough
to buy whiskey and gamble little
Only Is per cent of the cotton raised
in the South last year was made by