The Punta Gorda herald. [volume] (Punta Gorda, Fla.) 1893-1958, 1920-10-14
DESPICABLE METHODS.

i DESPICABLE METHODS.
Since the beginning of the discus.
sion anent the proposed constitution.
al amendment, which If adopted will
empower the legislature to issue
bonds for statewide system of con.
: nected good roads. opponents of the
proposed amendment, who seem bent
on defeating it at any cost, have used
every conceivable argument in. their
efforts to prejudice the voters against
it. SO far, not a real good reason
for voting against it has been ad-
vanced by any of its opponents, who
are depending for success upon their
ability to appeal to prejudice and
ignorance. This they have done by
ivisualizing Florida burdened by debt,
running into unlimited millions, i'm
posed by the legislature, and paint
ing word pictures of the state in
hopeless ruin.
Simmered down to its essence, the
line Of argument being used by prin-
cipal opponents of the proposed
amendment at this time, amounts to
this
The amount of bonds that could be
issued by the legislature if the pro-
posed amendment is adopted is I'M
/ limited; the legislature is composed
of fools, each member being the big
gest fool of his neighborhood, whose
people sent him to the legislature to
be rid of him; all of these fools are
suffering from what is called bond
omania," which means that they
have mania for issuing bonds.
whether there is any need for them
! or not The amount of bonds that
could be issued not being limited by
the proposed amendment, its adoption
would give the raving. wild-eyed,
"bondomaniac"-fools a chance to
crafty their mania and they would
Iicsue,-oh, millions and millions and
millions-yes, very likely, billions
in bonds.
Thus do opponents of the proposed
amendment gratuitously insult not
only all members of the legislature
but their constituents as well.
1t is not denied that there are some
members of the legislature untitled
for the positions they occupy, but the
vast majority of them are the biggest
men OF the communities they repre-
sent. They are the leading mer-
chants, farmers and professional men
of their home towns, level-headed and
sane, as rule successful in their |
own business, and enjoy the conf |
dence and respect of a majority of |
their neighbors. If they cannot be
trusted, who can?
If. as opponents Of the proposed |
claim, the legislature
cannot be trusted to handle this mat
ter wisely, why have they waited so |
long to tell the people of the danger
that now menaces them? The legis-
lature has now, and always has had, |
enough power to wreck the state, and |
would have done so had
1t been composed of the kind of men
opponents of the proposed amend
ment allege by insinuation its present !
members to be.
Can any of those who pretend to !
distrust the legislatures soundness of !
judgement and who impugn its integ-
rity point to one act OF that body |
that has done harm to Florida or
worked hardship upon any consider
able number of people?
If they cannot point to such an act.
will they admit that their insulting |
insinuations and assertions that the |
legislature is incompetent and I'M
trustworthy are uncalled for, unjust.
insincere and made for the sole pur-
pose of prejudicing voters against !
the proposed amendment?
They will not! To do so would |
be to abandon their last and strong
est appeal to the fears, ignorance and !
prejudice of the voters.
In their attempt to defeat the pro- !
posed amendment, its opponents ex-
emplify methods of the cheap politi-
clan as taught by the person who dis
graces the states highest office.
a vote for the proposed amend |
ment will not only be vote for good |
roads and progress in Florida but /
will be rebuke to those who seek !
by despicable methods to defeat this
movement.