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

Fernandina, adjoining each other,
have the same representation-two
representatives and one senatorial
though Jacksonville and its county |,
are many, many times larger than
Fernandina and its county. The pres
ent constitution, in the absence OF re-
apportionment by the legislature, |.
which was neglected session after
session, provides that each new coun-
ty created shall have one representa-
tive regardless of non-action by the
legislature as to reapportionment; but
the number of senators is limited to
thlrty-two. So as new counties were
created in South and East Florida
they had to share senators with the
mother counties, as Flagler shares
Senator MacWilliams with ST. Johns,
the mother county. As a result of
this condition, Senator Tom Campbell
OF West Palm Beach represents five
counties of the lower east coast, viz:
Palm Beach, Dade, Okeechobee, Bre-
ward and Broward. One may ride
nearly all day in one direction on a
fast passenger train and be in Sena-
tor Campell's district all the time.
He represents one tenth of the wealth
and population of the entire state,
and within his district are several of
the largest and fastest growing cities
of Florida.
In spite of all this, many South
Florida and East Coast newspapers
are opposing the amendment, asking
the people to vote it down at the bal
lot boxes in the November election.
Their argument is that the reappor~
tionment provided under the terms of
the measure is not fair, that it is
not complete, that it is insufficient,
that South Florida does not get what
it is justly entitled to, and that if this
apportionment is accepted the state
will feel that it has done enough and
will in future decline to do more.
The Evening Record will admit that
under the first reapportionment to
be affected by the amendment the
growing portion of the state will not
receive all that it deserves; but we
contend the amendment is a step in
the right direction, that it is some |
thing, that it is an entering wedge, |
that it places East-South Florida |
in position to get what sis coming |
to it" in future sessions of the Legis- |
lature. If it does not give South Flor
ida but one more representative than
| it has now, South Florida would be
that much better off and in just that
much better position to achieve its
deserts. A half loaf is better than
none.
At the opening meeting of the Board
of Trade tonight that leading civic
body of st. Augustine will be asked to
pass a resolution opposing the ratifi-
cation of the reapportionment amend
ment by the people in November. The
Evening Record has attempted to ex-
plain the situation fully to the local
public. We hope the resolution is
not adopted. We do not consider the
matter one for the Board of Trade
to act upon at all. But we do urge
upon the people of this county the
necessity of voting for the amend
ment in November, for the reason
that we regard this submission an
opportunity for the people of Florida
to grasp, which may not come again
for another decade or more. If the
progressive portions of Florida turn
down this reapportionment, the other
section of the state will in all like
lihood take the position that South
Florida had its chance to reapportion,
declined it and therefor deserves no
further opportunity. And the afore-
said "other sections" are in the ma
jority in both branches of the Legis-
! lature. In the absence of reappor-
: tionment they will continue to be in
the majority and therefore in a posi-
ton to deny reapportionment to the
growing sections of the state as they
have denied it too long IN the past.
For the first time in thirty years no
barbed-wire entanglements stand be-
, tween the people Of Florida and re-
, apportionment. We have only to ad-
vance and take it. An "X" marked
before the word eyes" is a vote for
the amendment.