The champion. (Arcadia, Fla.) 1895-1911, 1908-08-20


Florida has had for eleven years law, put there by
the efforts of the Hon. j. N c. Stockton when he
was member of the legislature, that makes crime
of the methods resorted in the last primary election
in this state The law is as follows: Sec. 1886
To Prevent the Use of Money for Political Purposes
by Corporations. No foreign nonresident corpor-
alton or corporations organized under the laws of the
United States doing business in this state nor any
domestic corporation, shall pay or contribute, or
offer consent or agree to pay contribute directly
indirectly any money property, or thing OF value to
any political party organization committee or indi-
vidual for any political purpose whatsoever or for the
purpose of influencing legislation of any kind to
promote or defeat the candidacy of any person for
nomination, appointment election to any political
office. Any officer, employee agent or attorney or
other representative of any corporation acting for and
in behalf of such corporation, who shall violate this
section shall be punished upon conviction by fine of
not less than one thousand more than ten thous
and dollars, by imprisonment in the state prison
for period of not less than two or more than FIVE
years. or by both such fine and imprisonment in the
discretion of the court or judge before whom such
conviction is had; and the corporation if domestic
corporation, is dissolved if after proper proceedings
upon quo warranto in either the circuit or supreme
court of the state to be prosecuted by the attorney
general of the state, the court shall find and give
judgment that this section has been violated as
charged, and if foreign nonresident corporation
its right to do business in this state ceases. The
violation of this section by any officer, employee,
agent, attorney other representative of corpo-
ration shall be prma facie evidence that such officer
employee, agent, attorney other representative Of
such corporation is acting for and in behalf of such
corporation.
The race war which has been looked forward to
with prophetic fear by our wisest statesmen on &C.
count of the rapid increase of the negro population
in the southern states seems at our very doors The
dailies have, during the past week, reported up
rsings in Illinois and Tennessee that required state
troops to quell. Our Pensacola troubles are still
fresh in minds and these are only the beginning
The negro race is growing in numbers, wealth and
intelligence. 1t is part of America not by choice
but by destiny. Are the white Americans wise
enough to settle with these who are also Americans
and will someday rise to demand the right of self
government We can see other solution possible
and peaceable than that given by government to
the Indians They (the Indians) have territory
set apart for them, where they are allowed self
government and representatives in the National
Congress. They are in no wise the superior Of the
negro, and deserve no better treatment Give the
negro territory where his kind may learn statesman
ship and have the privileges of the Indian to state
government. In our opinion it is the only peaceabe
solution Of the negro problem that will shortly con-
front us,
We had no intention of stirring up neighborhood
strife such as is between the Barlow Courier
Informant and the Lakeland News over the matter
of official patronage OF the county. But the COM
missoners-it seems to us--in any county that per-
sst in handing out to single newspaper that patron
age that should be divided among the newspapers of
the county are not alone guilty Of avoritism. but
they foster by so doing spirit Of disgust among fair
minded citizens that causes neighborhood ealousies,
county division schemes and general dissatisfaction,
that under fair treatment by the county officials
would find no voice through the public press But
unfortunately county commissioners, are seldom
statesmen and do not realize the far reaching in
huence their favoritism engenders.
X is given out that the New York banks are full to
Overlooking with gold and other money and that we
may look for that revival Of business that such
condition would warrant What good does it do the
people If the banks have got the money and will not