The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1913-04-28
Over the Coffee Cups
fBy Celia Myrover Robinson.)

take any part in the proceedings Of
a primary election, who is not a reg
uIarIy qualified voter. Having ones
name upon the ticket might very
/ properly be construed as taking part
| in the proceedings" therefore we are
introducing this bin, to be acted upon
by the legislature, SO that there may
be no question about 1t.
| Third: A law to authorize the en-
ployment of women as nurses, keepers.
matrons and physicians In state.
county and city institutions, having
the custody of women and girls.
The necessity for this act needs no
exposition
As to Wife and Child Dessrtion.
Fourth: A law to make wife and
child desertion a felony.
attractions Of the law are classed as
crimes. misdemeanors and felonies.
An eninent authority says: There
| is no lawyer would undertake to tell
what felony is otherwise than enurn-
crate the various kinds Of offenses
which are So called. In the United
States the term is generally used to
denote an offense OF high grade. pun
ishab1e capitally or by imprisonment.
Blackstone says: Grimes and misde-
meanors are synonymous terms: but,
in common usage, crime is used to de-
note an offense Of q deeper and more
atrocious dye, while small faults and
omissions of less consequence. are
comprised under the gentler name or
misdemeanor.'
Now, in Florida, in order that
crime may be extraditable. Chat is. in
order that it may be considered SUM-
GENTLY grave to send sheriff to an
other state and bring the criminal
ba ok to justice) would be classed as a
felony. and provision made by law for
the expenses incurred in catching the
culprit.
AS the matter now stands a man
may desert his wife and family in
Jacksonville or Tallahassee or any
place near the border line or elsewhere.
go over into Georgia. and be safe from
any pursuit or any punishment. Wife
and child desertion are not of suff1-
cient consequence in Florida, for this
great state of ours to disturb itself
about it. If the deserter chooses to
take himself beyond the borders One
would naturally suppose, since the
state Is so Indifferent as to the misde-
meanors of her delinquent husbands
and fathers, that she would take es-
pecia1 care to see that these deserted
families do not starve as a conse-
quence Of the fathers crime. and the
states indifference. Not at all. When
the deserted mother has given up the
struggle and lies down and dies. or
goes off with another man, who prom
ises relief from drudgery, leaving her
helpless children to fend for them
selves 1t is not the state who steps
in and says: This is my duty. ! will
look after these little ones Not at
all. It is private charity in the way
of rescue missions in Jacksonville.
Tampa, and other cities, which are
supported by the great-hearted citi-
zens OF the state, that comes to the
rescue and cares for these helpless lit
tie ones.
am reliably informed that nine
tenths of the children who are brought
to the children's receiving homo in
Jacksonville, that splendid charity
which owes its inception and support
to the large hearted generosity of the |
thoughtful citizens OF the entire state |
are the victims OF desertion on the
part of the father. He gets tired of
the struggle, or. from ignoble desire, |
calmly goes off, knowing full well that |
the state will not concern herself as
to his whereabouts IL he gets over |
the border
Law to Make Seduction Felony.
Fifth: A law to make seduction a |
felony.
II an ignorant, unfortunate young /
girl trusts too far to the honor of a |
man, and he, not willing to assume |
the consequences of his crime. betakes |
himself to another state, what redress /
has she for the wreck of her life? |
None whatever. She must bear her |
shame and humiliation alone. The |
man cannot be brought back. Seduc |
ton is only a misdemeanor in our |
great state, of such small value is a |
woman's honor We women say: no |
let him come back and share the |
guilt and the shame. and responsible |
ity! Let the offense be made fell /
ony. SO that the. long arm Of the law |
may reach out wherever he may be, |
and bring him back to Justice"
Juvenile Court Law.
Sixth: A Juvenile court law.
A law providing for separate deten- /
ton and trial of youthful offenders, |
and the appointment of probation
officer. and his salary, was passed by /
the last legislature. A probation off, I
Ger was Immediately appointed in |
Jacksonville and Tampa, and things /
were progressing fairly SATISFACTORY
~, when a good citizen of EIiIIsbor- |
ough county discovered that the con-
stitution provides that all salaries of /
such nature shall be fixed by the leg
lSldluIc- 1hS law DIS II SldHuS, pro-
vides that the salary of the probation
officer shall be fixed by the county |
commissioners Of the county in which
the juvenile court obtains. The COM
missioners were Immediately enjoined |!
from paying the salary OF the proba-
ton officer, and the court was at a
standstill. There was another dim
Guilty, however, which the probation
officer in Jacksonville had encountered, /
and on the strength of which, he re- /
signed his ONCE. There was no pro- I
vision made for a separate place of de- I
tention for the Juvenile offenders. The /
officer said the effort was useless,
without means to provide a place for |
those delinquents whom it was neces-
sary to confine, separate from the I
hardnnod rrirair,o L. W. nrn ..nrrr a rl-