The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1911-11-10
~REsIcN BEFORE RUNNING

The Jacksonville Metropolis is ex.
ercising itself considerably because
some of the candidates for office are
holding on TO other offices while max
ing their campaigns. 1t cites. speci-
fically, n. Hudson Burr, railroad
commissioner. who is a candidate for
representative in the second district,
Park Trammell, attorney general,
who is a candidate for governor, and
Herbert s. Phillips. state attorney Of
this circuit, who is a candidate for
representative in the first district.
The Metropolis thinks these gentle
men should step down and out Of
their present jobs before beginning
the candidates. for other positions.
In this connection, the Metropolis
makes The following pointed observa-
tiOns:
Each office-holder mentioned is
now drawing a lucrative salary from
the state. which will be continued
throughout the campaign period of
several months, and it is evident that
none of the gentlemen can attend to
their duties and at the same time
spend a long period in touring Florida
In behalf of their candidates..
furthermore, these positions can be
used as big sticks" in forcing GER
tain people to vote for the holders,
and they place other aspirants for the
same office at a decided disadvant-
age.
These big sticks" may not be
welded, but failure to use them is
hardly probable, Florida's past polit-
ical history being taken in con-
sideration. There may be a land
where such tactics are not resorted
90. but that land is not fair Florida
not yet. nor soon. Probably this ideal
realm is the Beautiful Island of
Somewhere" about which a widely
discussed hymn was recently writer's
These lines are not written for the
purpose of discrediting any of the
gentlemen named, or of injuring their
candidates. in any way. They are
written in the interest of fairness and
In championship of the square DEAL"
which the primary system of cleo
tions should represent.
II the Metropolis should succeed in
bringing about the general observ-
anee of these considerations in Flor
ida politics. il would effect a wonder
full change II has been the custom
I'm this state to hold on TO the bird
Ia the hand while reaching out for
the two I'm the bush In only a few
instances. which were so exceptional
as 20 be conspicuous, have Florida Ct
hce-holders given up their offices to
make a race for another.
That the Metropolis is right in its
contention. as an abstract PROPOSE
there bay be exceptions. 1t is mani
testify wrong for a man holding an
office to use the privileges and the in,
fiuence of that office TO obtain anoth-
Grand yet, what a large list of
wrong-doers have We in this respect!
II was with this idea in view that
the trainers of the constitution of
Florida prohibited man succeeding
himself as governor-in order that
he might not use the prestige of the
governorship. its appointive power,
etceteras, TO assure himself of re-
election But what is the difference
between a man using the governor
ship TO strengthen himself for anoth-
er term as governor and a governor
using the same method to advance
his aspirations for United States Sen
ator or other office? The principle is
the same. and extends down through
the entire list of public offices. 1t
II also manifestly improper that a
man. paid to perform public services,
should neglect those duties and de-
vote the time which the people pay
him for 10 a campaign in his own
selfish interest. Yet how many in
stances of this have We known in
Florida politics?
In our own county, We have already
several office-holders who are cam
paigning for other offices and who
have manifested no intention of re-
signing from the one in order to con-
test for the other Nor will we see
the views expressed by the Metropo-
Dis carried out by all candidates until
IL is made a matter of law or else
until millennium arrives.-Tampa
Tribune
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