The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1913-04-11

| Idea entertained by few that publ
Office is chattel to be sold at publ
, outcry to the highest bidder. TIL,
law should be such that poor maj
; who is upright and capable may ru,
, for public office without financial EN-
!, barrassment, and the electors of tn,
state may have the privilege of vot
, ing for such man. A free and un
corrupted ballot is the supreme safe
guard upon which rests the perma
nency of our free institutions and tn,
nope OF the future destiny of our stat,
and nation We must make certain
the purity of the ballot. Every form
OF election corruption should be Sc
verely punished. Candidates SHOULD
be restricted in the purposes fol-
which money may be expended anc
should be limited to a specified sun
which can be expended for such pur,
poses.
Voting In Primary Elections.
The primary elections, being re-
stricted to the white voters, mere ir-
Irregularities in marking the ballot, if
the intention of the voter is clearly
indicated, should not be cause for
throwing out the ballot. The primary
law should be so amended as to pro-
vide that where a voters intention is
clear on the ballot, the vote should be
counted, though technically there
might be an error in the marking Of
the ticket.
Appropriation for Detection of Elec-
ton Frauds.
A law should be passed providing
an appropriation of reasonable sum,
which may be used by the governor or
the attorney general, for the purpose
Of employing detectives and special
agents to detect and have punished
any violations of the election or pri-
mary election laws. This measure
may also provide for the sheriff and
other police officers to report to the
governor or attorney general any sus-
pected violations requiring special in
vestigation.
Direct Election of United States Sem
atOrs.
Under date of May II, 1912, the
secretary of the United States, trans
mitted to the governor Of this state
certified copy Of resolution of con-
gress, entitled Joint Resolution Pro-
posing an Amendment to the Consti-
tuition Providing that Senators shall
be elected by the People of the Sew
eral States" The text of this propos-
ed amendment to the constitution of
the United States is as follows:
Resolved, By the senate and house
of representatives of the United
States of America in congress as
sembled (two-thirds of each house
concurring therein), That in lieu of
the first paragraphs of section 3 of
article l, of the constitution of the
United States, and in lieu of so much
of paragraph two of the same section
as relates to the filling of vacancies.
the following be proposed as an
amendment to the constitution, which
shall be valid to all intents and pur-
poses as part of the constitution
when ratified by the legislatures of
three-fourths of the states:
'The senate of the United States
shall be composed of two senators
from each state, elected by the people
thereof, for six years; and each sena-
tor shall have one vote. The electors
in each state shall have the qualifica-
tons requisite for electors of the
most numerous branch of the state
legislature
When vacancies happen in the rep
resentation of any state in the senate.
the executive authority of such state
shall issue writs of election to fill such
vacancies: Provided, That the legis-
lature of any state may empower the
executive thereof to make temporary
appointments until the people fill the
vacancies by election as the legisla-
ture may direct.
This amendment shall not be so
construed as to affect the election or
term Of any senator chosen before it
becomes valid as part of the consti-
tuition"
| strongly recommend that the said
proposed amendment of the United
States constitution be ratified by the
Legislature at the present session. The
direct, popular election of the United
States senators is demanded by the
public sentiment of this day. There
is no valid reason why our senators
should not be directly elected by the
voters of the respective states.
The Common Schools.
The great masses of the children of
this state are dependent entirely upon
the common school for their education.
But few comparatively ever have the
opportunity to acquire a collegiate
education. Whatever educational ad-
vantage great majority of our fu-
ture statesmen, our farmers, our bus
mess men and all others who are to
later assume the responsibility for
the welfare and prosperity of the
state, are to have, must largely be
extended through the common schools.
The hundred and fifty thousand
children in the common schools will
have no special delegations before you
to plead fer them, bat their ambitions
for an education, the anxious hopes of
fond parents for their success in life,
and, in fact, the future welfare. and
happiness Of our people aud the des-
tiny of our state must appeal to you
for a liberal and just consideration of
their cause.
additional Inspector for Rural
Schools.
We have now one high school in
spector and one Inspector for the ru-
raj schools. The salary of the latter
L.. L. l. L. -. -