The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1909-11-07

olution, which was adopted by a vote
of 10 to Il. This resolution, which
pOrtrays the sentiment of the people
of Florida, is as follows:
Miller Resolution.
Whereas, 1t is a self-evident truth
that the people themselves are SOW
ereign, and in them is vested irreVO-
cably the inherent right to rule; and,
that all governments derive their just
powers from the consent of the gov
erned, and
Whereas, The present system OF
nominating candidates by primary
elections secures a fuller and freeT
expression of the peoples will, than
by any other method yet devised, and
Whereas, 1t is fitting that the repre-
sentatives of the people, assembled in
the popular branch of the legislative
body Of this state should lose no
chance to give expression to the great
principles of the Democratic. party,
and should improve the opportunity
now afforded them to, in their repre-
sentative capacity, register the viii OF
the people in favor of the primary sys-
TEN Of nominating candidates, and
Whereas, There has been, in times
past, and is now, opposition to the
primary system by those devoted to
the interests of the few as opposed TO
the interests of the masses of the peO-
pie; therefore, be it
Resolved, By the house of represent
atives of the state of Florida, a body
composed wholly of Democrats, That
the State Democratic Executive Com
mittee is respectfully and earnestly
requested not to take any action that
would in any way weaken or restrict
the operation of the primary system
OF nominating candidates in the state,
which is sanctioned by the laws Of
this state and usage of the Demo
cratic party; but, on the contrary, to
do everything that will strengthen
and extend the primary system, and
at the proper time to issue call for
primary election to nominate cahdi-
dates to the Democratic party for all
national, state and county Offices.
Declarations Absurd.
Every member Of the present SUI
preme court was elected by the peO-
pie through the primary system, and
it appears evident that the people
made wise selections. and that a con-
ventIOn is necessary to take them
out of politics" is absurd. No criti-
Cism has been lodged against any one
of the judges, or the body as a whole,
which was not always the case when
the old conventions kept the court
out of politics" If the people cant
be relied upon to select judges who
are honest and competent as those
who would be selected by politicians
at conventions, they should be denied
the right of franchise entirely and
held in a state of peonage by their
superior political members of the
tribe of Moses who infest this particu-
lar commonwealth in great numbers.
If the betterment OF the supreme court
is desired it might be a good idea to
give the judges salaries that are in a
mild degree in keeping with the re-
sponsibtlity and importance of their
Offices.
Senator MeMuIIen Talks.
The writer questioned a number of
prominent lawyers of the state with
reference to this convention PROPOSE
ton, among these being State Senator
Don c. McMullen, Of Tampa, who was
In Jacksonville on legal business this
week. Senator McMullen, who was
one of the pronounced leaders at the
last legislative session, and who has
long been regarded as one OF the
ablest lawyers in the state, said:
The suggestion that the supreme
court should be kept out of politics by
convention nominations is a decided
novelty, and the only object of such a
plan would be TO iRaugurate a move
ment against the primary in favor of
the convention. In the first place. |
do not know a member Of the supreme
court who is in politics, and who
made any strenuous and undignffied
effort at election during the last cam
paign- The present primary Law has
its defects, which viii eventually be
cured 10 q great extent and any e6ort