The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1922-08-14
EASIEST WAY ALREADY
IS MARKED OUT

While our TREND morn OF the Ais
simmee Valley Gazette is not as well
posted as he should be on turtles, he
has a level head for public affairs.
Regarding the proposition that the
state democratic committee nominate
q candidate for superintendent of pub
lie instruction, he says:
Since the death of the state superin-
tendent of public instruction, and the
appointment by the governor of W. S.
Cawthon, of Gainesville, to fill out the
present year of service, the state rem
ocratic committee and leading demo
Gratis in all portions of Florida have
been seeking the easiest way out of
the dilemma in which it is placed to
elect by the voice of the people legal
encumbent of that Office until the fol-
lowing general election.
There appears but one feasible and
equitable way in which a successor
can be chosen-and that plan is being
endorsed very generally. That is to
allow as many candidates as may
seek the Office to have their names
placed on the ballot through petition
and allow the expression of all voters
to have weight.
The chairman of the state commit
tee has held out for a candidate to
be elected by that body-and the one
name to be placed on the ticket; but
the precedent which would be estab-
lished by such proceeding would be a
most disastrous one. If the state
committee has that right in this one
instance to delete all contestants, or
would-be contestants, save the one of
its choice, then would that body have
the right to select from the list of can
didates for each particular office all
save the one which might be agreed
upon by that committee; in which case
there would be no need for holding
would be merely perfunctory, plus.
The democratic party of Florida is
too large, too determined, and too
well-informed to have it's committee
assume authorities that have not al
ready been assigned to it. There have
been occasions when the placidity of
the party has been sadly ruff1ed and
wrinkled over the restrictions and
rulings formulated by the state COM
mittee-and such result would GER
jtainly be again brought about if
there should be an attempt to limit
the number of those making proper
application to have their names on
the ticket.
| Several candidates have already
published announcem ents of their in
tention to make the race for the posi-
ton of state superintendent of public
instruction-and there is no doubt that
others are already circulating petit
| tons to obtain the needed five hundred
signatures to entitle them to have
their names printed on the official bal
| lot.
To be sure the official call for the
November election makes no mention
that the office of the state superin
tendent of public instruction is to be
Ifilled-and there might be construed
IN such case that the election might
BIZ, Illegal; but the supreme court anC
the next legislature, if need he, coult
validate" the election and things
would pass on.in q smooth manner. II
any event the democracy of the stat,
would frown upon any attempt made
by state committee to ''close the lis
lof nominations" before the people hat
Exercised their right of franchise.
Let nominations be made in lega
nanner through signatures favorins
the various candidates. Then thu
voters may decide as they desire. TIL,
state committee should keep its finger
Tout of the muddle.