The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1922-10-13

miss the point that the Star has C
and that is that the amend
ment itself can be amended at any
time. When the people can bring
pressure to bear on the legislature
sufficiently to make it bow to their
will, it can call for vote on any
amendment or amendment to an
amendment at any general election.
We have taken the best Of legal ad-
vice on this point. Indeed, any man
passably well acquainted with affairs
of government must recognize the
fact without stopping to consult the
lawbooks or the lawyers.
The Times further says: eff Editor |
Benjamin has carefully read the |
analysis of the pending amendment
prepared by Hon. Frederick Van Roy,
representative from Citrus county,
recently published in the Times, ne
must admit that there is very adroit
provision for maintaining control of
the senate in north and west Florida.
The evident purpose was to divert at
tention from this by conceding south
Florida increased representation in
| the lower house"
We have read and studied Mr. Van
Roy's analysis, and all we see to it is
that it is simply Mr.. Van Roy's opin-
| ion. Another man can take Mr.. Van
Roy's figures, make a different calcu-
lation, arrive at different result and
have as much certainty of being cor
rect. Mr.. Van Roy has no right to
say that West and North Florida are
going to monopolize the new seats in
the senate. We have information as
good as his that most of these sena-
torships are going to South Florida.
But we don't claim we are correct.
The truth is that nobody knows what
the legislature will do; the legislature
itself doesn't know what it will do
until it meets and its members ex-
change views on the subject.
1t is our opinion that the leading
men, or most Of them, of North and
West Florida, recognizing the injus-
tice that South Florida is laboring
under, are willing to make some
amends. That they are going to give
up the political control of the state
until it is taken from them is too
> much to expect. South Florida would
not do it. Neither would any political
organization in this or any other state
: Or nation give up its control over
| public affairs. We should all be suf-
5 ficiently acquainted with human ma.
) ture and history to understand that.
= We have repeatedly said that we
did not consider the proposed amend
l ment much of an improvement, but
1 that it is some, and will make it easier
Y to obtain more. We shall not be much
e elated if it is adopted, and not sorrow
2 full if it is defeated.
I The Times has known the Star :
f long time, there are only three year
= difference in their ages-and it shoulc
remember that the Star has Away
Y sympathized with South Florida, re
d sented its wrongs and done it's littl
j bit in trying to right them. It be
: lieves it is speaking for the good o
t South Florida in advocating tn
e amendment. At the same time, it be
lieves in only one Florida, withou
s section or division and wants to Sc
r its citizens work and think for tn
e benefit of the entire state.
y We have said, and believe the Time
> will agree with US, when we say agar
l. that we are not going to have niue
IS Improvement in the laws and publ
d institutions of our state until the pee
re pie wake up sufficiently to send to tn
Ia legislature better class of men tina
,r they have been sending for the las
d thirty years, and, while there has bee
J. some Improvement recently, our rer
@ resentative body is not anything lik
,e It should be to control Florida's publ
affairs.