The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1910-10-09
Special to the Journal.


Mariana, Oct 8.-Chairman Will
H. Price, of the state Democratic
executive committee, who has been
queried by many as to what will be
done by the state committee to select
a nominee for United States senator,
sent out today letters to the chairmen
of the various county committees in
the state asking them if they will hold
primaries in their respective counties
without cost. the state committee to
furnish the ballots and all necessary
stationery. Mr.. Price believes tIis to
be the only feasible plan for nominat-
ing candidate. In his letter he
says:
Owing to the death of Honorable
Napoleon B. Broward, who was re-
Gently nominated for the position of
United States senator as successor to
Honorable James P. Taliaferro, it will
now b necessary to re-convene the
state Committee for the purpose OF
determining some method of selecting
a successor for this important posi-.
ton
I'm the last primary the people OF
this state, by their vote.y expressed
themselves as being heartily in favor
OF the Nprimary system for the pur-
pose OF nominating candidates for Of
fee, ana 1t is my view, II it can pos
sibly be arranged, that this means
should Be A604ted for nominating some
one to- 4sthe position rs which Gov.
Broward va nominated at the last
primary. Should the respective coun-
ties. however. II primary should be
called, make the usual charge of hold
ing primary election, that is, if the
county committees, inspectors and
clerks are to be paid 1t will require a
an election.
Cost Would be Heavy.
There are now four candidate for
the ONCE of United States senator,
and probably others will enter the
race. The probabilities are that no
election will be had at the first pri-
mary, il it should be called, and that
a second primary will, therefore, be
necessary. There are forty-seven coun-
ties in the state of Florida, and if the
usual charges are made for holding a
primary election to nominate United
States senator, 1t will require at least
$4,000 in each county to defray the
expenses of such election, or in the
aggregate, $9,400, and if a second pri-
mary should become necessary, it will
require approximately $19,OOO.00 to
defray the expenses Of both primaries.
The state committee has in its pos
session between five hundred and
seven hundred dollars, and has no
method by which it could raise the
necessary funds to defray this large
expense which would be absolutely
necessary.
There is no method provided by
law to require the candidates for the
office Of United States senator to pay
more than five per cent. Of the first
years salary, which would be S375.O0
each, and to request them to put up
this large amount of $19,000.00, it
seems to the writer would be unfair
and unjust, and would have a ten
dency to eliminate from the race all
candidates not possessed of great
wealth. ! do not think such an ar
rangement would be just, as some of
the brainiest men We have in the state
are men who are not in affluent cir
cumstances, and to request them to
put up five or six thousand dollars for
the purpose of holding a primary
would be an act of great injustice, and
probably would eliminate them entire
ly from the race, although they might
be better qualified for such position
than these who might aspire to sucn
position who had sufficient funds to