The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1912-08-23
GOVERNOR CALLS
SPECIAL. ELECTION
In Six Counties To Fill Va
Cancies in Leqislature.

Since the last meeting of the Florida
Legislature three Senators have resigned
and two have died. One member of
the House of Representatives has died.
AS Governor GilChriSt has called a
special meeting of the Legislature for
October Isl next TO accommodate GER
tain Jacksonville promoters who had
promised to pay all costs OF the session,
il would now appear that His EXCellency
has had an after thought; hence the
calling of the special election in the six
counties to fill vacancies.
These special elections are 10 be held
on the third Tuesday in September.
Perhaps Gov. GilchriSt is not familiar
with The motto of Davy CroCkett-"Be
sure you're right, then go ahead. "
This unfamliarity with the principle in
volved in this trite American preCept
has caused him TO 'put his foot in it,
as il were, SO 10 speak.
Will the elections be held? This call
of the Governor must be supplemented
by action of the board of county com
missioners, who will have to pay the
bills eventually, even though the full
expense of the session together with its
concomitantS were TO be paid by the
Jacksonville board of trade
These special elections have been
called in the following counties;
Washington county TO fill the vacancy
caused in the Senate by the death of
Senator Buell. Cook.
Lake county TO fill vacancy in Senate
caused by the death OF Senator |. n.
WilherS.
Leon county TO fill vacancy in Senate
caused by the resignation OF Senator
John W. Henderson.
Putnam county TO fill vacancy in Sen
ATE caused by resignation OF Senator
Samuel J. HiIburn
Volusia county TO fill vacancy in Sen
ate caused by resignation OF Senator
James w. Perkins.
Monroe county 10 fill vacancy in
House of Representatives caused by the
death of Representative Peter T. Knight.
Here in Putnam county Senator Hill
burns term did not expire until January
lSt, 1915. He resigned last spring and
the Democratic primaries nominated
Hon. John p. Wall for the uneXpired
term. The general election will be
held in November, when Mr.. Wall
would undoubtedly be elected, even
though he will have Republican and
Socialist opponents This question ma
lurally arises: If Mr.. Wall should be
elected in September (being through
courtesy the Democratic Candidate)
would he have 10 be elected again in
November?
The News pumped this question at a
lawyer and he replied that he couldn't
answer il off hand.
The same question will occur in other
counties effected by this call where the
vacancies were long term senators.
Is the election fair 10 the counties
which will thus be called upon TO pay
a big bill for which no provision had
been made? a county election 10 fill
vacancy for one office will cost Just as
much as il would 10 elect ticket yard
long.
Would a refusal on the part OF the
county commissioners 10 make prepara-
ton for this special election place that
board in the light of defying constituted
authority?
Would not the failure of the county
commissioners TO supplement and pre-
pare for this special election open the
way for few socialists 10 elect man TO
the State Senate for the uneXpircd term
of S. ], Hilburn?
Where failure is made TO provide for
an election legally called by the COVER
nor, can not several men of like mind
get together in any ward or precinct,
organize and hold an election which
would count for the whole county pro-
vided other precincts neglected TO do
the same thing? They would be simply
carrying out the orders of the Governor
81 STSTzr<OrTr,~Fi,7,- Fl, 7---y,-sa.,.'