Bradford County telegraph. (Starke, Fla.) 1888-current, 1910-09-23
LOCAL OPTIONISTS ISSUE ADDRESS.
Appeal to People to Defeat CORSlltH
tiOnal Amendment.
To the People Of Florida:

nPP"1A ~ AGVktS " B6A6ot UUUStltu'
tiOn0l Amendment.
To the People Of Florida:
On November the 9Th, 1910, the people
OF Florida must determine by their bal
lots whether they will preserve the
right Of local self-government, or de.
stroy it BY Incorporating statewide pro-
hibition in the constitution Of Florida.
On the election day, therefore, every
voter in Florida becomes in effect S
member Of . great constitutional con.
vention, which possesses aud exercises
powers that are broader than those of
the legislature. Power implies reepon-
sibihty, and no voter who exercises this
vast power to alter the fundamental
law Of our state should act without a
clear appreciation of the result of his
decision.
The proposed amendment seeks To
abolish the system Of local option which,
for more than genersuon, has pro.
tected the liberties of the people of this
state, without interfering with the night
OF majority of the voters of each
county to prohibit the sale OF LIQUORS.
This Just and equitable solution of the
liquor question has worked well in this
and other states. 1t better preserves
the rights Of individuals and communl-
ties than any other known system. II
secures laws which are backed by pub
lie opinion. 1t has proved to be efficient
because under this system no commun-
lty has unwelcome laws forced upon it
by strangers.
Are the people of Florida willing to
exchange the fair and reasonable plan
of local option for the drastic, rigid and
Interchangeable system of statewide pro-
hibition? Not merely this. Are they
willing to write state prohibition in
their constitution, where it is practi-
cally beyond the reach of change if
hereafter found unwise and undesir-
able?
We ask Won not only to vote against
the amendment, but to use your active
influence in accomplishing its defeat.
for the following reasons:
LIST. Il is m experiments in Florida.
supposed 70 be wise here, although q
failure in all states where tried. You
cannot afford to embody in your consti.
tuition q measure which you may, after
trial, desire to change or modify.
End. The constitution is q lasting.
iron'clAd Limitation on the power of the
Legislature. The people should not hold
out their hands to be shackled by q con-
stitutiOnal amendment they cannot re-
move, and which those who fasten and
bind you, cannos take of.
Bird. 1t is unwise to Absolutely pro-
hibit by perpetual constitutional pro-
visions, the manufacture OR sale of ANY,
thing. No one knows when the time
may come when such a course would be
regretted and even disastrous.
4th. The constitution already pro.
vldes for local option, whereby the peo-
pie of each county are given the
night to prohibit or license the manufac-
ture and sale Of liquor as they deem
best from time to time. This system
permits full and adequate expression
OF popular opinion on the subject.
5th. = Statewide prohibition by con-
stitutional amendment violates the
principles of free government.
9th. Local option has proved a sue.
cess. 1t would be disastrous 10 dis
place it by system which is offensive
to many of our counties, aud which
cannot result otherwise than a failure.
We appeal TO the people of Florida by
their votes to strike down this attempt
to deprive them of the right Of local
government.
We ask you 10 go to the polls on cleo
ton day and record your disapproval of
this agitation. The issue is in your
hands.
H. W. LONG, Chairman.
D. ]. HERRIN, Secretary.
QJY IL