The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-05-19
BY ]. n. Reese.

by Js Fts Reese
Tallahassee May 18.-The ratifica-
tion OF the income tax amendment was
further deferred by the senate this af-
ternoon after the resolution had been
under consideration several hours.
Senators Malone, Finlayson, Dayton
and Henderson spoke against 1t. Sem
ators Stokes and Broonne made strong
speeches in favor Of the amendment
AT the afternoon session Senator
Dayton cited a section of the Florida
constitution which caused a suspension
of the consideration and the resolution
was made the special order for Tues
day. The citation was section nine
teen OF article sixteen of the constitu-
ton of the state of Florida, which
reads:
mo convention or legislature of this
state shall act upon any amendment of
the constitution of the United States
proposed by congress to the several
states unless such convention or legis-
lature shall have been elected after
such amendment is submitted"
Senator Dayton urged the point that
half the members of the senate were
elected before the amendment was
submitted. There was a conference
among several of the lawyers on the
floor while Dayton was speaking and
that considerable uncertainty exists as
TO the operation of the section was
that the further consideration of the
amendment go over and that a COM
mittee of five lawyers be appointed to
take the point under consideration and
report to the senate.
President Cone announced Senators
Dayton, Hudson, Davis, Williams and
Stokes as the committee.
STOKES LEADS FIGHT.
Senator Stokes, who led the fight in
favor of the amendment, stated that
the duty of the senators was plain un-
der an finland construction OF the
section, but he had am idea that the
section was invalid and he read briefly
from Jameson on constitutional con-
ventions suggesting the question.
QUOTED PENSACOLA JOURNAL.
In his speech against the amend
ment Senator Dayton referred to the
article in The Pensacola Journal which
suggested that there were traitors to
the Democratic party in the senate.
The senator exclaimed that the press
was taking liberties that it had no
right to take in condemning senators
as traitors in advance of action on the
matter. He referred to the bill passed
by the senate amending the libel laws
the first opportunity to club the senate
-. RACE QUESTION RAISED.
-. The race question, which seems in
evitable in every discussion in the SEN
ate, came into this also. There were
frequent references to inquistorial
powers that would be given the federal
government under the amendment
which would likely be exercised in the
persons of negro men in brass buttons
Senator Hudson said If he had to
choose between supporting the Florida
constitution and the Denver platform
that he chose the constitution.
ASSAlLS WIN. ]. BRYAN.
Senator Dayton also distinguished
himself by alluding to William Jen-
nings Bryan as that populist hybrid
engrafted into the democracy of the
country"
I'm opposed to the amendment and
shall vote against it's ratification and
no sheet Haunted into my face calling
me a traitor can keep me from II,
cried Senator Finlayson in the midst
of a speech against the income tax
amendment which was debated in the
senate this morning.
The reference was to an editorial
printed in The Pensacola Journal OF
Tuesday. The front page article re-
lating to the delay which had attended
the resolution in the senate was the
subject of much interest, and at least
twice did the senator from Jefferson
county allude to ii.
MIR. Finlayson led the opposition. He
was well prepared and spoke for some
time. He disclaimed the democracy Of
the proposed amendment, saying that
the Democratic party was composed
Of something more than platform dec
darations and that platform could
Continued on Page Six)