The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-01-27

Sentiment For a State Convention is Growing
If may judge public sentiment by its express
sion in the press of the state there is a growing
sentiment in favor of state convention of the DEM
ocratic party. 1t has been many years since the
party got together to consider its policies and pur
poses In the meantime the professional politicians
those who make their living off the taxes paid by
the careless Indifferent people, have not been idle
They have waved fat at the expense of the common
people, who have been too busy with their con-
Germ to watch their servants at Tallahassee Num-
berIess barnacles and demagogues have attached
themselves to the party, not because of any
devotion to its principles, but because they found
profit in doing New offices and commissions
have been created to make places for needy bench
men of those who sat in the seats of the mighty.
Taxes have been largely increased to pay the sal
aries of unnecessary officials
The primary system of making nominations while
ideal in theory has not worked out well in prac-
tce. Suppose to give every equal chance in
the for public office. honorable ambition in
itself it has resulted in the sef-nominaton of a null
tude Of nobodes. and horde of hungry candidates,
to whom the "spoils of office the great incen-
tive Better men who could have rendered the state
some service have held aoof from the unpleasant
scramble. The muddle resulting from the second
choice feature of the Bryan primary has shown it to
be possible for candidate to be chosen who does not
represent majority Of the voters. The last legis
lature had splendid opportunity to repeal the abor-
ton, but faled to do 1t is not the only time that
It has failed to respond to the viii of the people.
1t had excuse in the fact that the people have
never spoken in authoritative way. Since the
primary system has been in vogue they have had no
opportunity to get together and express their wishes.
They are beginning to feel that the time has come
when they should resume control state affairs,
and relegae the professional politicians to the beck
ground The latter have had their chance and the
result has not been pleasing Taxes and officials
have been multiplied and Florida has been made the
laughing stock of the Union We are threatened with
further disgrace and disaster persist in the old
course The only remedy is for the people to get to
gether and express their wishes and then make sure
that the candidates nominated for the various state
and county offices pledged. to carry out those
wishes.
1t may be that the state democratic executive
mitee has authority to call such convention. II
that be true. then of the prominent democrats
of the state should take the matter in hand and call
mass convention of democrats at central point,
not to make nominations but to outline policy to
which future candidates would be expected to adj
here. We have been wandering in the wilderness of
no mans land too long already. The people have
grown careless and indifferent to their political du
ties, and the politicians have assumed control The
republicans are becoming yearly active and ag
gressive, and already Boosting Of their ability to
make Florida a republican state. If they succeed the
/ people will have themselves to blame a few years
of such msrule we have endured for the past few
years in the of democracy will work the trick
The present time is critical period in the history
of the democratic party in Florida. Only state
vcntion of the best representative of the party
can set its feet in the path of safety. viii they
call it, shall continue sleeping at the switch
until we awakened by successful wave of re-
publcanism? We could name fifty
whose words would be as law to the democracy of
Florida. and whose suggestions would bring out
of the morass of Indifference and disgust into which
we are sinking. VIII they speak the words Tam
pa Times