The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1917-07-12
PERNICIoUs POLITICS

PERNICIOUS POLITICS
Developments in the appointment Of
new members of the state board OF
control do not make good reading to
the average citizen of Florida.
Evidently, politics and politics only
has dominated and directed the selec-
ton of members of this most import
ant body, charged with the response
bility of conducting the institutions
of higher education in the state.
A shock of surprise was felt thru
the state when it became known that
the governor had chosen as a mem
Der of this board man who had
never been identified in any partic-
ular with the cause of education, but
who had, on the other hand, been for
al active lifetime affiliated with the
whisky business. This shock was in
tensified when it was admitted that
this man received the appointment be-
cause he had collected money for the
governors campaign fund from his
associates in the sale of whisky.
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, because
Armstrong was unwilling to vote for
the governors pet for the chairman
ship.
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 subsequent to the
governors will.
Another item of the picayunish POI
litical character of the appointments
| to this body is found in the fact that
the new members of the board
promptly provided new job for Bry-
an Mack, newspaper man, one of the
governors favorites. Bryan Mack is
a good fellow, hard worker and will
doubtless prove good secretary-but
the provision made for him shows
that agreement to do the governors
bidding in taking care of his political
debts was prerequisite to member
ship on the state board of control.
Ability, both executive and in an
educational way, high sense of duty,
familiarity with the work and organ
ization of the state colleges-these, it
appears, ought to be the principal
qualifications for membership on this
] body-and such have been considered
| by other governors as the main quail
fications. If any state board ought
to be pre- minently above petty poll
itics, this is the one. Yet we find
that its memberships have been made
dependent upon supine subserviency
/ to the dictates of the cheapest variety
of politics. matter of barter, of
trading" conditional on paying off
campaign workers for services rem
! dered.
We find it impossible, knowing him
as we do, to charge Governor Cats
with the responsibility for this sort
of business. We believe that he is in
the hands of as dangerous a clique of
/ political traders and tricksters as ever
connived against the well -being of a
state. These fellows have influenced
him to make a series of lamentable
mistakes. We believe that he will
not long be deceived by these self
seeking persons-that he will see the
light, realize how they are trying to
use him and, with the weapons of his
Weakened wrath, drive them from the
capitol as the money-changers of old
were driven from. the temple.
For the governors own good and
for the good of the state, we hope
that his awakening is not far dis
tant.-Tampa Tribune.
The Tribune's denunciation of the
politics in the board is correct and
highly creditable, but its effort to ex-
cuse Cats is funny In one place it
| says, Armstrong resigned, which
was greatly to his credit, and he was
succeeded by DeFuniak Springs ad-
herent of the governor, who doubt
less placidly agreed to vote for Ear
man and to be otherwise subservient
to the governors will"
Then it says of Bryan Mack, "the
provision made for him shows that
agreement to do the governors bid
ding in taking care of his political
debts was prerequisite to member
ship on the state board of control"
After these plain and, we believe,
truthful remarks, the Tribune tries,
but without avail, to reverse itself by
/ eoxy;y stVUa 6rd II ivapacoihIo lnoxy