The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1915-09-06
Selecting the Men
Best Qualified.

That the people Of Florida are
making q more careful study Of the
qualifications of the various candi-
dates Offering themselves for public
once Is demonstrated by the man
ner IN which the newspapers are call
ing for men fitted to perform the
duties Of the several important posi-
RiOns to be filed next year.
~Pick the Men Best Fitted" is the
eapt3on Of an editorial recently ap-
pearing IN the Washington Verdict,
edited by Chas. E. Wilson. It refers
DO candidates for governor. A can
didate should have q platform. He
should let the people know where he
stands ON matters Of interest to the
people OF the state and what reforms
he fsvurs. He should let the people
know where he stands on matters of
inberestto the people Of the state and
what reforms he favors. He should
acuuaint them with his ideas on all
public questions and how he will deal
with these matters If he is elected to
Office. However, q candidate should
confne himself TO the questions that
viii be dealt with by him in the event
of his selection. He should not en-
brace In his platform matters with
which he has nothing to do and over
which he would have no jurisdiction,
in the hope Of catching votes. Along
this line the Verdict says:
The chief stock in trade Of some
aspirants for political prefermen;
seems to be an appeal to the sup
posed ignorance of the people. But
the people are not SO dense as some
candidates suppose. One candidate
for governor, for instance, is pronis-
ing less taxes; a reduction in income
In the same breath he promises larger
salaries to school teachers, better
roads, etc., which means expenditures
Besides being q mathematical i'm
possibility, these things are not II
! the power of the govern to effect
| Teachers salaries are controlled By
the school boards Of each respective
county. Tax rates are fixed by the
Legislature, and he can do no more
good for roads than q private citi.
zen.
The poor farmer and the things thai
Ecan be done for him have for tins
immemorial, been q favorite theme
with the demagogue candidate. Rura
credits, farmers banks, etc, are fav
orite bowls. But where is the none,
coming from that the obliging can
didate is to put at the poor farmert
disposal? Nothing Of this natur.
could be done except by bounding tn,
state. This would require a chang,
il the constitution, and a constitu
tional amendment can be submitted t,
the people only through the legisla
ture. The governor has not ever
the power to approve or veto such
measure. It is the same with state
wide prohibition, suffrage, and othe
vote-catching propositions. The gov
ernor has no more influence over then
than the humblest citizen, unless h
uses the power of his Office to coerct
or intimidate the legislature, and il
this he would violate the constitution
he has sworn to uphold.
Temperance people naturally wan
a temperance governor, but do the,
want a deceiver? A man who prom
ises to do something which he know
will not be in his power to do?
The man for governor should b
one who understands the needs an
the business of the state; a ma,
whose experience, ability, good jude
ment and practical common sens
and honesty are such that the peopl
can trust him with any seen or un
foreseen issues that in his power t
control Such man will faithful
perform the duties of governor, an
leave to the legislature the dutie
that belong to it. He would not sto
to deceive. He would not defile him
self with the vote-catching method
that belong to the ubiquitous dems
gogue. The intelligent and informe
voter prefers this kind of man. an
viii not run after the fellow who !
rocking the boat and crying @Storm.
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