The St. Lucie County tribune. (Fort Pierce, St. Lucie County, Fla.) 1905-1920, 1910-02-04
DEMOCRATIC
PRINCIPLES
Governor Albert GiIchrist Gives
State Committee a Hint
QUOTES THE OLD LAWS
Governor Has No Desire to Shrink Re-
sponsibiIily but Questions Committees
Power to Override State Laws.

Declaring that while he has no desire
to shirk responsibility in the appoint
ment of Judges or State attorneys, but
inferring that he believes that the State
Democratic Executive Committee over
stepped its power at the recent meet
ing held in Jacksonville. Governor Gil
christ has addressed an interesting let
ter to Chairman VIM. II. Price. He
quotes State law as well as party law
and leaves the rest to he inferred. The
letter is of special interest because of
the general commotion raised over the
State relative to the committee action
several county committees having as
serted that they will place the names of
candidates for judgeships and attorney
ships on the ballots regardless of the
State committee. The letter follows:
"Hon. Will II. Price. chairman Demo
cratic Executive Committee,
Dear Sir: l would respectfully in.
vite your attention to the following:
Section q of the Platform as adopted
by the Democratic convention of 1900:
"We believe that true Democratic
principles require that the people be
consulted in all matters where practi-
cable. and that they, as directly as pos
sible, be permitted to make known their
wishes. We therefore favor the nom
nation of all candidates for Office, both
State and county, and of United States
Senators, by majority vote in white
Democratic primary elections, held UNI
der the provisions of law, which shall
provide all possible protection against
fraud, bri cry, intimidations and other
vicious influences; said primaries to he
uniform and held throughout the State
on the same day, and we pledge the
Democracy to the passage of all laws to
that end. and instruct the Democratic
State committee to provide for and sup.
erintend the holding of an1 declare and
certify the results of such primary cleo
tions, whenever it shall become neces-
sary by end Of term, death, resignation
to elect or appoint any such officer
"Section 33 of said platform request
ed three Democrats to prepare and
present for passage by the legislature
proper primary election law.
Section 255 of the General Statute,
taken from Section of Chapter 5Ol4,
Acts of 1901, provides:
Whenever the State Executive or
standing committee Of any political par
ty in this State or any congressional dis
to take by primary election the sense of
the members of said party as to the
proper persons to he made delegates to
any convention to be held for the pur-
poses of that party, or to take the sense
of the members of said party az to their
choice for United States Senator, or as |
to the proper person or persons to be
presented ON behalf of that party to the
voters OF the State, congressional dis
trct or county, as the case may he, at
any election to be held in the several
counties under the laws of this State,
at least thirty (30) days notice shall be
given in some newspaper published in
the county or counties in which such
election is to he held, or by posting
notice OF such primary election in each
ward or precinct of the county, If there
be no newspaper published in said cOun-i
ty, of the place wnere the voters be-
longing to hat party are requested to
meet for lGa purpose of acting in rela-
ton to tie nomination of delegates or
candidate as hcreinbefOre stated.
"Section IS of Chapter 1929 of the /
Acts of 1888, provides:
THAT where the payment OF poll or
capitation iaX is necessary to quallfy
voters for participation in the primaries
herein provided for, that such poll or
capitation INK shall he paid not later
than the second Saturday il the month
preceding the month in which such /,
primary is held.
''At a meeting of the State Demo-
cratic Executive Committee held in
Jacksonville, January 18th the follow
ing was adopted:
"'Thr Democratic State COMMITTEES
Df the State Of Florida hereby call and
provide for the holding Of q Democratic
primary election to he held in cOmpll
ance with the laws Of Florida, said prl-
mary to be- held in each county ct the
State Of Florida, at the legal polling
nlace in each election district, during
he hours fixed by law for the holding
Vt elections, on Tuesday, the 10th day
IT MAY, A. d. 1910. for the nomination
Ut all Democratic candidates for office,
State and county, to be voted for ny
he Democratic electors at the general
election to be held November 9th. 1910.
md to be appointed by the Democratic
Governor of the State for the ensuing
.wo years. including the State Auditor,
md excepting Circuit Judges OF the
respective judicial circuits and States
Attorneys for said circuits. I'D
who have paid their poll taxes legally
hue, not less than ten days before such
primary election IL held.
Examining Section 200 OF the Gen.