The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1910-06-21
LIVELY DAYS AHEAD
FOR THE LEGISLATURE

St Augustine. Fla, June 21.-Like a
lull after the storm all Florida is now
enjoying brief respite from the
strenuous days which characterized the
close of the senatorial campaign. SEN
ator-elect Broward is receiving con-
gratulations from all over the state
and is getting his full share of space
from the larger newspapers Of the
country and his friends are still put
ting the u told YOU SO" racket over
their opponents good and plenty
An interesting little after election
piece of gossip that comes from a
seemingly authoritative source is that
many months ago just before making
his personal announcement for the
Senate, Capt. Broward held confer
ence with nine of his friends from va
rious sections of the state. Every one
but former Senator W. Fl. Milton of
Mariana advised him that the time
was not ripe for him TO run and urged
that he wait a few years longer and
in the meantime take another term at
the governorship. But Senator Milton
urged that he enter the race. If this
is true it explains many of the pro-
phecieS made early in the campaign
with very full assurance that the for
The fight for the presidency of the
next Senate iS on in earnest between
Fred p. Cone of Columbia county and
James Perkins of Volusia. Both are
level headed and square Floridians,
who have forged their way to the
front in the affairs of the state. At
the present it seems that Cone has
little the best of it for the presidency,
but Perkins is popular and close race
is expected when the vote is taken in
the pre-seSsion caucus of the Senate
next April.
There are number out for the
speakership of the next House. 1t is
doubtful if all of the candidates are
out yet and that race cannot be said to
have settled down to the real pace yet
The next Legislature taken altogeth-
er is going to be one of the best the
state has had. The personnel as a
rule is made up of citizens Of high
standing in their various communities
They will have full opportunity to
prove their mettle for they will be
confronted with some of the most i'm
| portant legislation in the states his
| tory.
| The convict lease system doubtless
! will come up for consideration. The
! lease expires before the succeeding
| Legislature convenes and there is a
strong sentiment growing throughout
the state that Florida should follow
| the lead of her sister states and do
| away with the leasing out Of her con-
! victs. Aside from the moral phase Of
| the question there is a growing sem
| timent in favor of the state construct
| ing trunk highways and this will de-
| mand the use of the convicts on the
| roads.
| There is no doubt but that the sys-
| tenn is doomed in Florida. A close
| watch has been kept on Georgia since
| she made the change and as it has
proven we'll in Georgia the feeling for
| following suit in Florida is stronger
| than ever before. Before the Legisla-
| ture adjourns it undoubtedly will take
further steps looking towards prohibit
ing the further leasing out of the con-
| victs.
| The state soon will be embroiled
| from end to end in the prohibition
fight The forces are now ralIyfng
| upon every hand And if the amend
ment carries next November it will be
up to the next Legislature to enact
such legislation as may be necessary
| to make the constitutional amendment
effective.
If on the other hand the fight should
be lost and the saloons allowed to re-
main in the state a demand will be
| made by the temperance people that
stringent saloon regulation laws be
enacted. The prohibition question will
be a live one before the body regard
less of how the November election
goes.
| The fee system also will have to
fight hard to remain. There is a strong
sentiment in many counties to place
all county officers upon a salary basis
There Is plenty on for the Legisla-
ture and already proposed Legislation