The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1913-04-04
WOULD Perfect
STATE PRIMARY
Governor TrammeII Will Rec
Ommend Primary and
Election Reform.

the necessity of perfectng the pri-
mary and election laws so that cam
paign expenses would be reduced to
minimum, and that every feature
of fraud and corruption would be
eliminated He not only advocated
such policy, but in his own candi-
dacy put the same into practice, hav-
ing made the race upon an eXpendi-
ture of only about $4,000. The gov
ernor has championed the idea of
prohibiting excessive expenditures
and all forms Of corruption in connec-
ton with the primary for a number
of years. In 1907 while a member
of the Senate he introduced and en-
deavored to secure the passage of
splendid measure to prevent corrupt
practices. As Nltorney-General
he also made a number of good re-
concentrations along this line. He
will recommend to the legislature the
enactment Of strong primary law.
Today the Governor gives out for
publication his proposed recommenda-
ton upon this subject, as follows:
"The primary and election laws
should be so perfected that all oppor-
tunity for fraud and trickery in cleo
tions shall be removed, and campaign
expenses reduced to the minimum. l
believe that very large majority of
the people of this State are heartily
| in accord with the idea that the man
and not the dollar should triumph and
will welcome for all time to come a
law that will stamp out the idea en-
tertained by few that public Office
is chattel to be sold at public out
cry to the highest bidder The law
should be such that poor man who
is upright and capable may run for
public Office without financial embar-
rassment, and the electors of the
State may have the privilege of vot- !
ing for such a man. A free and un-
corrupted ballot is the supreme safe
guard upon which rests the perma-
nency of our free institutions and the
hope of the future destiny of our
State and Nation. We must make !
certain the purity of the ballot.
Every form of election corruption
should be severely punished. Candi-
dates should be restricted in the pur-
poses for which money may be eX-
pended and should be limited to a
specified sum which can be expended
for such purposes. | respectfully
recommend the enactment of a pri-
mary election law which will provide:
a. A specified limit or maximum
which may be spent by or on behalf
Of or in any manner in furtherance
of the candidacy of any candidate
for each of the elective olfices-Fed-
eral, State and County.
"2. Specifying clearly the purpos-
es for which it will be legal for any
candidate, or for any person or COM
mittee or club or other organization
of persons, to eXpend, directly or in
directly, the amount authorized by
law to be spent in behalf of the can
didacy of any candidate for office.
"3. That as candidate, citizen, po-
litical committee or club, or other or
ganization of persons, shall be al
lowed to employ political speakers or
political workers, and shall not be
allowed to compensate any such
speaker or worker, directly or indi-
rectly, or to pay their travelling eX-
penses or other expenses.
81. That a sworn statement of all
campaign expenditures made by any
citizen or association of citizens or
club shall be made in duplicate and
filed within six days from the date
of the expenditure. One copy thereof
shall be filed with the Clerk of the
Circuit Court of the county in which
the expenditure was made, and one
copy shall be filed with the Secretary
of State at Tallahassee.
"5. That sworn detailed itemized
statements Of expenditures made of
contributions received and of out
standing obligations in any wise per-
tanning to a candidacy for public Of
flee, by a candidate or his campaign
manager or campaign committee,
shall be made in duplicate if such
candidacy is for i State or National
office, and one copy thereof shall be
filed with the Clerk Of the Circuit
Court of the county where the candi-
date resides and the other copy shall
be filed with the Secretary of State
at Tallahassee, not more than thirty
five days nor less than thirty days
prior to the date Of the primary. Il
similar statement shall be so filed not
more than twenty-five nor less than
twenty days prior to the day of the
primary, and another such statement
shall be made and filed not more than
twelve nor less than eight days prior
to the day Of the primary Within !
ten days after the primary another
statement covering all such items
shall be so made and filed. Said re-
Quirements to also apply as far as
to the second primary.
That if the candidate aspires to an
office to be voted upon by the voters I
of only one county, such statements
shall be filed only in the county
where he resides.
"6. That upon every piece of lit
erature or campaign article published
and circulated the name of the per-
son having it published or circulated !
shall thereon appear. If published !
Or circulated by club or commit !
tee, the name of the chairman and
shall appear
az. That every candidate, cam
Daign manager, campaign committee
)r political club, shall at least six s
lays prior to the day of publishing t
u circulating, any charge or attack !
against a candidate, serve a copy of ,
he same on the party against whom ,
he charge or attack is to be made and :
f the reply to such charge or at
,ack contains any charges that do
not directly arise from the attack I
which is being answered, a copy of S
he reply shall be served upon tine 6
,arty to whom reply is being made
1t least five days prior to its publ
'ation.
"S. That all persons who upon |
promise of pay or for pay does any ,
speaking or political work, for or I
painst a ramdihutn shnn hn nun :