The Palatka news and advertiser., 1917-03-02
MAYOR MERR|AM'S
VETO EXPOSES PLAN
To Substitute Ring Nomina-
tiOnS for Those of the
Masses.

Last week The News told of the in
PRODUCTION in Council by Alderman
Austin, and final passage at one and
the same meeting, of an ordinance
which, were it to become law, would
deprive the people of the privilege of
making nominations; that instead
would require nominations to be made
by petition (in case of mayor by 5
per cent of the electors of the city,
and in case of alderman by 10 per
cent of the electors of the ward)
This ordinance was in the hands of
Mayor Merriam, and at the time of
going to press last week that official
had not fully considered the PROPOSE
ton. That he has since fully consid-
cred it would appear from the follow
ing veto which will be given to the
council next Tuesday night:
Hon. R. E. Neck, President,
City Council,
Palatka, Florida.
Dear Sir:
The City Clerk has referred to me
an ordinance entitled "An Ordinance
to Provide for the Nomination of Can
didates for the Office of Mayor and
Aldermen in the City of Palatka, and
prescribing the duties Of said Off
GERS" which was passed by the City
Council on February 20th, 1917.
This ORDINANCE provides that before
the candidate shall have his name
printed upon the ballot, that he must
have petition signed by at least five
per cent of the qualified electors re-
questing him to become candidate
for Mayor, and 10 per cent of the
qualified electors requesting him to
become candidate for Alderman.
The law as it now exists authorizes
the placing of the names of candidates
on the ballot by petition, but it does
not prohibit other means of nomina-
ting candidates to go on the ticket.
The ordinance above referred to at
tempts to prohibit all other methods
Of getting the names of candidates on
the official ballot.
If this ordinance becomes effective
there would be left no effective way
for the political parties to select the
candidates Of such parties. The pur-
pose of the primary elections and con-
ventions is to authorize the several
political parties to select their candi-
dates so that the vote of the party
may be concentrated on the nominees
of the party at the general election.
The proposed ordinance would destroy
this privilege, except of course, that a
political party might hold its conven-
ton, primary or caucus elections and
then proceed to get up petition for
the candidate selected, but even in
that case it might be contended that
he was on the ticket by petition just
the same as others, and thereby de-
prive the candidate of many votes Of
his party to which he would be enti-
tied. Even if the candidate be nomi-
mated by convention, primary or eau
Gus, he would then be put to the use
less necessity of irculating a petition,
and would in the end go on the ticket
by reason of the petition.
l consider the proposed ordinance a
most serious strike at the Democratic
organizations of the City. The con-
vention and caucus plan has been in
use by the Democratic party for more
than twenty years. By the caucus
the Democrats of the several wards
are permitted to assemble in mass,
nominate the aldermen for their res
pective wards, and nominate delegates
to the city convsntion to select a
Mayor. This seems to be representa-
tive of the masses of the people, and
can see no reason for taking from
the party this privilege, nor can l see
wherein any good would result to the
city by so doing. If the convention
and caucus plan, for any reason, is
Objectionable, then a primary law
should be provided so that each par
ty may select its standard bearers at
such primary election so that they
may concentrate their party vote at
the general election.
I can see where the proposed ordi-
nance would work grave injustices, il
lustrated as follows:
A half dozen or more Democrats
could be placed on the general cleo
IlUU DdllOG ny pCIlIlull, anu GHS btlil-
ocrats would have no way of knowing
which candidate to concentrate their
vote on to be effective The Demo-
cratic vote would be split up among
these candidates. Some other party
might put on the ballot by petition
one man, concentrate their vote on
that man and elect him by a plurality,
when in truth and in fact, he would
not be the choice of the people.
The Democratic party of the City of
Palatka has maintained its organiza-
tions for perhaps more than thirty
years, operating under what is term
ed by many as the convention and eau
Gus plan. The convention is composed
of Democrats who are selected at
A caucus such as l am re-
ferring to, means a collection of the
people of party at time and place
where they are notified to appear,
where they get together, discuss and
select the men of their choice for al
dermen, and select men to represent
their ward in a convention to select
a Mayor. This is a representative
body where all have an equal oppor-
tunity. The action comes direct from
the people, and just why there should
be objection to the people attending
to their business, cannot see. If,
however, as above stated, there are