The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1910-11-01
GOV, G|LCHR|ST
WRITES LETTER
TO SHERIFFS
URGES THEM TO MAINTAIN LAW
AND ORDER ON ELECTION DAY
AND SEE THAT SALOONS ARE
CLOSED.
Special to The journal.

Tallahassee, Fla, Oct. 31.-Goyern-
Or Gilchrist. has today mailed to the
sheriff Of each county in Florida a
letter of which the following is a
copy:
Your attention is invited to the fact
that the general election to be held
November s, 1910, will be an election
throughout Florida bob for national
officers and for state and county off,
GERS, and upon the adoption or rejec-
ton of certain amendments to articles
D and 10 of the state constitution.
Sections 224 and 226 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 a 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
terrupton Of good order. Such dep
uty sheriff is given power to summon
? posse from bystanders to aid in
maintaining peace and order at the
polls. Any person failing Or refusing
to so aid is subject to heavy pen
atty under section 1884.
Section 1896 Of the general statutes
provides heavy penalty against any
person attempting by bribery, menace,
threat or other corrupt means Or de-
\ -Ir- -hlfC
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 all sale Of intoxicating
liquors, under heavy penalty, through,
out the day of election.
Section 1918 and 1925, general stat.
utes. impose severe penalties upon
deputy sheriffs and upon election Off
GERS for failure Or refusal to faith
fully perform their duties prescribed
| by the laws relating to elections.
Upon the shreiffs as chief executive
officers Of the several counties, rests
the chief responsibility for enforcing
full compliance with these and Other
| sanitary provisions Of law respectins
the peaceful and orderly conduct Of
elections.
1t is not assumed or anticipated
that the provisions of law will be vic
lated or disregarded in any election
precinct of the state; yet, in view Of
the somewhat natural and perhaps un
avoidable excitement felt among some
OF the people concerning issues in
Folved,. Il deem 1t incumbent upon me
to specially invite the attention of the
| sherlffs Of the state to the above pro
visions of law, and such others as
have been enacted to govern the con
duct Of elections: and to call upor
the sheriffs to make careful and ade
quate provisions, by the appointment
Of reliable deputies for each pollins
| place, to the end that the election tt
be held on November Sth may be con
Quoted i'll every precinct in Florida il
all orderly manner, and in strict com
| pllance 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 ap
preaching election. However, it is no
| incumbent upon me to invite You
| special attention to this
Yours very truly.
! ALBERT w. GILCHRIST,
| Governor.