The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1910-10-31
ORDER At ELECTIONS
Rules to be Observed ut the Polls and
the Penalties for Violating

Tallahassee, Fla, Oct. Ex-Governor
Gilchrist has mailed to the sheriff Of
each county in Florida a letter of
which the following is copy:
State Of Florida, Executive Chamber.
Tallahassee, October 90. 1910.
Dear Sir-Your attention is invited
to the fact that the general election
TO be held November 8, 1910. will be an
election throughout Florida both for
national officers and for state and
county officers. and upon the adoption
or rejection of certain amendments to
articles Is and 10 of the state consti
tuition.
Sections PA and 22S of the general
statutes prohibit any person from
coming within fifteen feet of any door
or window of any polling room from
the opening Of the polls to the COM
pletion of the count Of the ballots and
certificates of returns. under any pre-
text whatever. except as specifically
provided by law.
Sections 237 and 23S of the general
statutes give inspectors full authority
to maintain good order at the polls
and provide that deputy sheriff shall
be required to be present at each poll
ing place throughout the time of the
election. and see that there is no in
terruption of good order; such deputy
sheriff is given power to summon a
posse of by-standers to aid in main
tanning peace and order at the polls.
Any person failing or refusing to so
aid is subject to a heavy penalty un-
der Section 1894.
Section 1926 Of the general statutes
provides a heavy penalty against any
hx- h~;H
threat or other corrupt means or de-
vice whatsoever, either directly or in
directly. to influence any voter in
casting his ballot, or attempting to
deter or disturb or injure him in the
free exercise of the right of suffrage.
Section 1913. general statutes, re-
quires the closing of all saloons and
prohibits the sale of intoxicating liq-
uors. under heavy penalty, throughout
the day of election.
Sections 1918 and 1925, general
statutes. impose severe penalties upon
deputy sheriffs and upon election Of
ficers for failure or refusal to faith
fully perform their duties prescribed
by the laws relating to elections
Upon the sherifs as chief executive
officers of the several counties, rests
the chief responsibility for enforcing
full com pllanCe with THESE and other
salutary provisions OF law respecting
the peaceful and orderly conduct OF
elections.
1t is not assumed or anticipated tina,
the provisions of law will be violated
or disregarded in any election pre-
cinct of the state: yet, in view of the
somewhat natural and perhaps un-
avoidable excitement felt among some
of the people concerning issues involv-
ed, I deem it incumbent upon me tC
specially invite the attention of the
sheriffs of the state to the above pro-
visions of law, and such others as have
been enacted to govern the conduct
of elections; and to call upon the sher-
IFS to make careful and adequate pro-
vision, by the appointment of relia-
BILE deputies for each polling place. to
the end that the election to be held
on November 9Th may be conducted in
every precinct in Florida in an order
ly manner, and in strict compliance
with the provisions of law.
BY reason of the election of mem
bers Of Congress, the federal laws
providing for the protection of voters
and against their intimidation will be
applicable to the conduct of the APP
preaching election. However. il is not
incumbent upon me to invite your spe-
cial attention to this.
Yours very truly.
Albert W. Gilchrist, Governor