The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1913-02-16
Mr.. GONZALEZ REPLIES
TO Mr.. WALKER

TO Mr.. WALKER
Editor Pensacola Journal:
| Men are never so likely to settle a
question rightly as when they discuss
! 1t freely-Macaulay.
Before we enter upon any further
discussion of the commission form of
government, we desire to apologize to
Mr.. Walker If we have inadvertently
said anything that may be construed
as offensive to him through a mis-
take OF the printer.
| Inasmuch as his articles bear the
stamp of gentleman and scholar, we
shall endeavor to initiate his example,
and observe the same courtesy toward
him as he has observed towards US.
We We do not believe that he has
shown the commission form to be IN
! keeping with the spirit of a true dem
ocracy, We will quote what Webster
gives as a correct definition, and
which is sustained by the election of
all Of our state officers.
| Here is Webster's definition: "a
government by the people; form of
government in which the supreme
power Is in the hands of the people
and directly exercised by them"
/ Now does the supreme power ac-
cording to the Interpretation given lie
in the hands Of the people when three
commissioners retain the exclusive
right to appoint whom they please to
the Offices enumerated in our articles
prior to this? Does such a theory as
Mr.. Walker and his colleagues are
trying to fasten upon the people pro-
vide for a direct choice by them or
agree with the tenor Of true democ-
racy?
Is not the supreme power taken out
Of their hands when their voice is
silenced as to who shall fill all other
offices and what security have we that
the commissioners are better quail
fed than the people to say who is
competent and who is not? Why the
power centered in the hands of three
men is a contradiction Of their exer-
cising the direct principle to select
their own agents.
My friend insists that his theory is
progressive while that of ours is re-
dictionary. It seems to us that we &C.
cupy a vantage ground, and the very
reverse is the case.
How do we prove It? We do it thus:
Are not all the officers Of the state
from the commissioner of agriculture
up to the governor filed by the direct
vote of the people? There was time
when our senators were elected by
. our agents in the legislature, today
/ they are elected by the people direct,
: still our adversaries contend that We
are progressive. The election OF
senators by the legislature is a sec
ondary indirect method while that by
] the people is a supreme primary direct
, one.
l T.T -I-k
have said in defense of his pet theory
Are not BIG men frequently mistaken
: in their views? Do not politicians
| often embrace whatever novelty they
, think popular with the people and are
deceived? Mr.. Taft was sure Of sue
cess, but was ANONYMOUSLY defeated
5 Was not Mr.. Roosevelt defeated in his
, plans? To compare Mr.. Roosevelt
: with Thomas Jefferson is an absurd
ity. We regret to see our friend re-
: sorting. to such feeble reasons, in sup
port OF his form of government.
Ny friend says that the commission
a form makes cities prosperous and pro-
. gressive and refers us to New York
as one of the worst governed cities in
the world. This appears to us as ar
anomaly in logic. New York Is one OF
: the largest cities in the world and con-
sidered one Of the greatest money cen
ters of the world She has reached
the highest position in all the strides
of progress known to man. II the
4 plan OF government makes cities pros
i, porous and progressive how will my
friend account for New York's prog
ress? How has she accomplished
: so much? Certainly not through the
commission form, as she has always
g been under the aldermanic system
Taking things as we find them our
friend must be mistaken, as the very
point of progress New York and Phil
4 adelphia has reached was under tbs
: aldermanic plan.
We fear our friend has assumed q
major of Immense proportions, Travelled
over false premises, and brought ou
a a false conclusion. He asks US t.
n cite a single city that has tired Of the
commission plan. Have these tried
the plan for the length OF time thai
the aldermanic system has? What
I are twelve or thirteen years Of expert
: ment compared to that of century
= Ten or twelve years in the life of Z
city Is no more than a day in the lif'
i Of an individual.
o We do not think it necessary to ga.
d much more; we feel that we hav.
4 proven that the plan advocated by oul
opponents bears not even the semb
lance of a democracy, but is a depart
ure from it, and an arbitrary clasi
e form, that the people should defeat b.
e voting for the Jones charter.
1t is true Improvements have beef