The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1919-03-22

! State press OF revlving the old pre- |
historic convention system for nomi-
mating State officers by the Demo-
cratic party in Florida, but you can't
revive the dead. The system is gone
forever, and very properly SO, for it
was crude, primitive and subject to
fragrant abuses and came pretty near
to being practical negation OF the
fundamental doctrine Of the Demo
cratic party that the people rule.
In the old convention days the pol
iticians ruled, and cliques, coteries
and factions dictated The nominees,
who were in no sense the selection Of
the people who make up the rank and
file of the party. They simply had
nothing to do with the matter, their
function being merely to vote for the
nominees chosen for them by the pol
iticians on election day. The pri-
mary has come and It has come to
stay for it is the nearest possible APP
proach to an exact registry OF the
will of the party voter and the peo-
: pie would rise in revolution before
they would see 1t overthrown and the
old convention system reinstated.
A few old-time politicians look
back with fond regret to that system,
investing it with imaginary virtues it
never possessed, as is customary with
old-timers who live In the past in
stead of the present, but outside Of
these there is no demand for it. Il
we are uncertain of what Florida
Democracy stands for and il we neel
new formulation of our party prin-
ciples it may be we'll enough to call
a convention for that purpose, but not
, to nominate candidates for Office.
The next governor of Florida will BE-
chosen by a Democratic primary and
1t is not too early to consider the
available material and pick the right
man for the job. There Is no lack
of good timber, but as is nearly al
} ways the case there is some one mai
so conspicuously qualified for the Of
fee that he unconsciously challenges
comparison with the rest and public
| attention has already been drawn
favorably to him more than to all thu
others combined.
Cary A. Hardee, of Live Oak, II
Suwannee county, is the man. ant
from long acquaintance with him WI
! do not hesitate to say that he com
bines all the elements that 60 inte
I the making of governor who would
.- measure up to the most exacting re
quirements of the office. Mere full
some praise in writing of candidates
| you are friendly to is easy enough
but Cary Hardee requires no sucl
doubtful aid as that, nor do we !ntent
to give 1t, for only full-sizec mai
should seek the big Office of governo
of Florida, and IL his character ant
fitness can't meet the acid test o
critical investigation no constellation
newspaper should support him Car
A. Hardee can not only meet tina
test, but he invites it, and in tn
many months intervening 5etwee
now and the nomination he stands
fair mark for the fair criticism Q
every voter in Florida and his friend
have no fear of the result
- He has in full measure the equiv
ment of an honorable man and use
full citizen faithful to every trust an
more-he has the thing called pei
conality, which differentiates the ma
stronger in character, attractivenes
mentality and achievement than til
:. others and which inevitably make
= him leader in counsel or in actio
Z or in both in the community in whic
z he lives. In addition, he is man
) excellent education and has the pc
y ish and culture that go with It, ar
z his progressive forward-looking mil
4 keeps him in touch with the be
3 thought of the age, which saves hi
X from the stagnation of the reactio
z airy who thinks the human race Dug
4 to stand still and turn down all IL
Z provement as the work of the dew
Y He has an intimate acquaintan
with Florida. her history, her r
sources, her needs and her people
every section of the State, for he
oil his life has been spent and as
native son of this great and rapid
developing commonwealth his highe
ambition is to see her reap the fl
harvest of her bewildering riches al
to contribute to that end to the lin
of his ability, His ambition to
governor is more than personal, (
he feels that in that position he won
have much larger opportunities
henefit his native state than in [