The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1919-08-23
THE GOVERNORS DUTY

endanger life destroy property anc
demoralize business, Immediately,
upon cognizance of the fact it be-
comes the paramount duty of govern
ment to assume charge and give to
the people concerned that constitu'
tional enjoyment and right they are
deprived Of.
Whenever such condition gets be-
yond control of the civil authorities
o. the state wherein the territory az
feced lies, it Immediately becomes
the duty of the federal government,
upon request Of the legislature. or the
governor, of that state to intervene.
When contempt for civil authority.
destruction Of property, assault on
human life, and murder, became reg
nant in Shoshone county, Idaho dur
irg prolonged mining strike there,
Governor Frank Sternenburg issued
proclamation to the effect that ShO.
snone county YVES beyond the control
Of the civil authorities, that they
could not prevent destruction of
property and acts of violence, and he
made request Of the President that
federal troops be sent to preserve law
and order in that county. The Pres
ident Of the United States, on receiv-
irg that proclamation and call Of the
governor for help, sent troops tc. She
shone county.
From all reports, rumors and ac-
counts of what has already transpired
there exists a. similar condition lin
Mulberry, and perhaps other sections
of one county in this state. Contempt
for civil authority is supreme in the
minds of the strikers, murder has
been committed, property has been
destroyed, and lives Of inhabitants of
the region are openly and daily
threatened.
Governor Cats has held there is no
state militia in Florida. Either
| through political messing up or fear
Ut the situation, he has not demanded
or assisted the civil authorities to do
their duty, without favor to any man.
There is but one way left whereby he
may relieve himself o. the resonsibil-
ity for continuance Of conditions
there-that is by a proclamation de-
claring, as it is in truth that county.
or part Of it, to be beyond the con-
troll of the civil authorities" and call
ing for federal aid.
Mayor Carter, Of Mulberry, realiz-
ing the seriousness of conditions in
his town and in the region about him,
petitioned the governor to call for
federal assistance The governor is re.
ported as having replied that he "has
no authority to ask for federal inter-
ference
Section 4, article A, Constitution Of
the United States. provides:
1.-THE UNITED STATES SHALL
GUARANTEE TO EVERY STATE IN
THIS UNION A REPUBLICAN FORM
OF GOVERNMENT, AND SHALL
PROTECT EACH OF THEM
AGAINST INVASION, AND UPON
APPLICATION OF THE EXECUTIVE
WHEN THE LEGISLATURE CAN
NOT BE CoNvENED) AGAINST Do
MESTIC VIOLENCE"
The supreme court of the United
States has repeatedly held that such
provisions as when the legislature
cannot be convened means, and is to
De held to mean, in such reasonable
time as to prevent the danger, de-
struction and interference with civil
authority for which federal aid is
asked.
II Governor Cats is in earnest, and
honest, in his statements that he
wants speedy peace and law-abiding
conditions again in his state, let him
either put unreservedly and unham-
reredly the civil power of Florida be-
hind the sheriff of Polk county, or
else let him issue a proclamation de-
claring the district is beyond the con-
troll of civil authority, and send a call
to the President for help.
He can do either. He must do one
or stand forever branded as COVER.
nor in name only, who, as an accom-
plice before the fact, and particeps
oriminis' permitted and encouraged
rather than endanger supposed DO.
litical opportunity, what may end in
the bloodiest, most destructive reign
o. lawlessness history has recorded in
the South. Tampa Tribune.