The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1912-01-19
WOMEN MAY HOLD OFFICE ~
FLORIDA

The supreme court of the state OF
Florida has handed down a decision
affirming that women may hold ONCE
in Florida. and in pursuance OF SAID
decision Gov. Gilchrist has appoint
ed Mrs. Anna L. Creech treasurer OF
Palm Beach county, for which onice
she received the unanimous recon-
mendation of the democratic execu-
tive committee of that county.
The decision of the court follows:
an the supreme court of Florida,
Tallahassee, Fla, Jan. 8, 1872. 10 HIS
Excellency, Albert w. Gllcnrlst, GOV
ernor of Florida Sir-We have your
request under section Is of article 4
of the constitution, as to whether
woman is qualified, under the consti-
tuition and laws of this state, to hold
office of county treasurer, made va
cant by the death of the former in
cumbent.
THE constitution provides that the
legislature shall provide for the cleo
ton by the qualified electors in each
county of a county treasurer.
Section of article s. When any Of
fee. from any cause, becomes vacant,
and no mode is provided by this con-
stitution or by the laws of the state
for filling such vacancy, the governor
shall have the power to fill such va
cancy by granting a commission for
the unexpired term The statute pro-
vides that every office shall be deem
ed vacant by the death OF the
incumbent and in such a case 1t
shall be the duty of the governor to
fill such office by appointment. Sec
tions 298 and 301, General Statutes.
While the constitution confines the
electors of the state to male persons
having stated qualifications, it does
not prescribe the qualifications OF
those who may hold office, under the
state government, except in few IN
stances not material here.
1.-THE constitution requires all coun-
ty officers, except assistant assessor
of taxes, to give a bond before they
are commissioned by the governor,
and this may debar married women
who are not authorized to execute
bonds that are binding on them per-
sonally.
I'm the case of state ex. rel. Attor-
ney General VS.. George, 23 Fla, 5o5,
text 594, South. Rep. 81, 1T is said:
There is no absolute connection be
tween voters and officers, by Wnlcn
the qualifications for the latter should
necessarily be determined by those
for the former Each is regulated to
it's own end, the former always by spe-
cial provision, the latter sometimes
not at all, except, as in this state the
more important political and judicial
places; so that, as to all other OIL
GERS, the people, in the absence or otn-
er requirements, are left to their own
discretion, limited only by a common
understanding, equivalent to law,
that prohibits electing to office any
person who is not in some wise
member of the body polite.
The office of county treasurer, SUI
perintendent of schools, member Of
the school board, judge of probate,
mayor, member of the city council,
notary public, ETC., are offices that
could easily be filled by our lovely
women, and the decision of our SUI
preme court comes in time for women
to apply for these places at the ap-
preaching primary.
Will our big, able-bodied men, who
are robust enough to split rails, build
houses, forge hammers, plant crops,
fell forests, and make living in an
hundred different ways that require
masculine strength and activity. be
gallant and chivalrous enough to give
way and let our gentle women hold
these important but nevertheless sine
cure positions?
During the next decade we shall ex-
pect to see our women occupying
many of these important offices, nor
shall we expect to see the public SER
vice suffer the least injury by this ex-
tremely radical change. Indeed, in
many instances we shall expect to see
it improved immensely.
Never in the history of our country
have our women been slaves to the
cup nor to the filthy tobacco habit,
nor to painting the town red' at I'M
seasonable hours of the night
Neat and tidy, and punctiliousness
personified, they will work an evolu-
ton in the looks and management of
these offices.
Let's give the women the right of
way to these soft and easy places.