The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1920-01-24
LOOK OUT FOR
THE LEGISLATURE

The Star reprodUces, with entire
approval, the following from Fridays
Tines-Union:
State Affairs are Personal
With the appearance in many Flor
ida newspapers of announcements |
and suggestions regarding the forma- |
ton of the next Legislature the peo-
pie of the state are reminded that |
the states business is their own bust |
ness. Probably never before have the !!
citizens of Florida felt the need of
! stl ong men in senate and house of
representatives as much as during the |
Cats regime which has kept every
one guessing what mischief might be
planned next. Taking advantage of
the power allowed the chief executive
| in the recesses of the legislature Gov
ernor Cats has lunged about. here
and there, removing men who had
been elected to office by their fellow
citizens, without taking the trouble to
lock into charges brought by parti-
sans, and placing men in office to pay
political debts, regardless of ability
or fitness. The legislature, during its
|
to correct the most glaring of the
governors errors, and the rebuke CIV
en- in more than one instance would
have been sufficient to shame any but
a man who is not long on feelings of
shame.
! 1t is, therefore, highly important
that good men and true be sent to the
Legislature next time. Too long the
people have thought. "well, why wor-
ry about the legislature? The body
does little or nothing and cannot in
terfere with my business or pleasure"
The mistake is easy to make, but
should not be continued. The legisla-
ture, if it served no other purpose, is
somewhat of a check upon the execu-
tive, and if Florida should be so I'M
fortunate as to have a second install
ment of misgovernment, bigotry,
nepotism and greed to follow that of
: the present, it would be we'll to have
some strong men in house and senate
to put on the brakes and prevent the
state from sliding down hill.
1t has been shown in plain figures
how the present administration is
spending money without regard to
> where it comes from. Useless offices
have been created, salaries have been
raised, and among other things the
cost of paying two salaries for one
3 position-on account of the governors
| blunders, or worse-have drawn heav-
4 lily upon the taxpayers. Taxes in the
J. state are much higher than they were
: when Cats came into Office and he is
: working hard to have Van Swearin-
! gen, a strong partisan, succeed him.
i This, we presume, would insure the
q continuance in Office of the various
4 members of the Cats family now
: drawing salaries from the state.
{ The Tampa Tribune, without apollo
0 gies, declares that the people should
q eject a legislature composed of the
r best men in the state, regardless OF
e their affiliations with the two great
S parties of the country. This is not
:. necessary, nor wise. There are thou
: sands of splendid men in the state
{ whose democracy has never been
questioned, who could we'll and prop.
e erly represent their sections in the
f legislature-if they can be induced tC
e come out and stand for election. Toe
d long the matter has been left entirely
s to politicians. and the state has SUI.
n fered in consequence. Strong, sensi
d Bile, successful business and profes
e siOnal men who believe in the princi
r plies of democracy can be found tx
= give portion of their time to state
matters.
t. Every matter that concerns the
e state is a personal matter to those
e who live here and do business and en-.
e joy life in Florida. 1t has been regard
l. ed annoying by some men to serve tbs
# state in any capacity-but the time
J. has come when things must be brought
% about to fright face" and politica
Idemagogues be shown their places
d Florida has a right to demand gooC
IS government; the state is growing il
.eI Importance and influence. and shoulc
IS have proper laws, clean officials anC
n an economical administration of af
e fairs. A representative Legislature
n. will go a long ways towards bringing
Ie order out of the chaos which has pre-
? vailed in political circles for the pas
lie few years.