The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1917-07-11
PerniCiOuS
Politics

Developments III inc dpPoin
of new members of the State Boarc
of Control do not make good reading
to the average citizen of Florida.
Evidently, politics and politics on
ly has dominated and directed the
selection of members of this mos'
important body, charged with the re
sponsibility of conducting the insti
tutions of higher education in the
State
A shock of surprise was felt
through the State when it became
known that the Governor had chosen
as a member of this Board man
who had never been identified in any
particular with the cause of educa-
ton, but who had, on the other hand,
been for an active lifetime affiliated
actively with the whiskey business.
1 This shock was intensified when it
was admitted that this man received
the appointment because he had col
! lected money for the Governors
campaign fund from his associates in
the sale of whiskey.
Not only, it appears, was it the
Governors purpose to reward this
service by placing this man on this
most important Board, but also to
have him made the executive head,
! the chairman of that body.
This intention was disclosed when
the Governor asked for the resigna-
ton of H. Clay Armstrong, one of
his own appOintees to the Board, be-
cause Armstrong was unwilling to
vote for the Governors pet for the
craftsmanship.
Armstrong resigned, which was
greatly to his credit. and he was sue
ceeded by DeFuniak Springs adher-
ent of the Governors who doubtless
placidly agreed to vote for Earman
and to be otherwise subservient to
the Governors will.
Another item of the picayunish
political character of the appoint
ments to this body is found in the
fact that the new members of the
Board promptly provided new lob
for Bryan Mack, a newspaper man.
one of the Governors favorites.
Bryan Mack is a good fellow. a hard
worker and will doubtless prove
good secretary-but the provision
made for him shows that agreement
to do the Governors bidding in TAX
ing care of his political debts was a
prerequisite to membership on the
State Board of Control.
Ability, both executive and in an
educational way, high sense of
duty. familiarity with the work and
organization of the State colleges
these, it appears, ought to be the
principal qualifications for member.
snip on this body-and such have
been considered by other Governors
DIS the main qualifications. If any,
state Board ought to be pre.eminent.
~ above petty politics, this is tho
one Yet we find that its member
ships have been made dependent nm.
on supine subsetviency to the die.
'ates OF the cheapest variety of mol.
i'ics-a matter of barter, of "trad. !
ing, conditional on paving off cam.
paign workers for services rendered.
we md it impossible, knowing |
niin as we do, to charge Governor
0a''s with the responsibility for this
sort OF business. We believe that be |
Is in the hands of as dangeror
ciique OF political traders and tricr
sters as ever connived against tho
"ell-being of State. These fo,,o
nave influenced him to make a series
u lamentable mistakes. We believe
nat he will not long be deceived ~,
VIII see the lightor-s 1inetoainsbrdu
hese self-seeking persons-that be
VIII see the light, realize how thew
ire trying to use him and. with tbo
Weapons OF his awakened wrath
rive them from the capitol as tho
noney-changers of old were driven
rom the temple.
For the Governors own good ,na
or the good of the State. we homo i:
nat this awakening is not far die L
Tampa Tribune. 5