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Domestic News
October 2, 1934
The Key West Citizen
Key West, Monroe County, Florida
What is this article about?
Editorial from Lakeland News urges support for the Homestead exemption amendment in Florida to shift tax burden fairly for homeowners. Warns of strong opposition from organized interests spending heavily against it before the November vote and legislative fight.
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Full Text
HOME EXEMPTION NEEDS SUPPORTERS NOW
(Lakeland News)
The time for a newspaper to support the Homestead amendment is when it will do the most good by crystallizing public sentiment. Now is the time support is needed and not after it is seen whether or not the opposition will have money to spend for paid editorials or stories against its passage. They are going to spend the money all right; they are organized and have been for months and next to the liquor interests will wage about as strong a campaign and spend about as much money in the next two months as has ever been done in Florida.
Then the fight will be carried right into the legislature. The fellow who can get lined up properly with them as was done in the arsenic fight, the fruit marketing dispute and be paid at the legal rate for all the "under cover" publicity that will be offered, can feather his nest in good shape.
But the people's interests are at stake in this Homestead exemption project. Real estate is in the balance and the home owner's rights should be considered first of all. Of course, there is no general organization to lead the way for Home exemption; home owners cannot become organized any more than the citrus growers of Florida can organize. They are scattered far and wide, in every nook and corner of Florida, but there is a principle involved that should command the attention of every citizen who has a home or who is interested in the future of Florida and home building. That principle is to shift the tax burden some way in a fairer basis of distribution and the only way to do it is to meet the issue, vote for the amendment in November and let the legislature fight it out.
If the genuine newspapers and representatives of the people cannot be depended upon to take the lead for the people of Florida and the home owners in particular, then there is not much left, because all the large and special interests are fighting them by employing the best talent possible and forming a great wall of resistance that is determined and desperate in keeping the tax situation in its one sided form. The time to get right is now and not a few days before the election.
(Lakeland News)
The time for a newspaper to support the Homestead amendment is when it will do the most good by crystallizing public sentiment. Now is the time support is needed and not after it is seen whether or not the opposition will have money to spend for paid editorials or stories against its passage. They are going to spend the money all right; they are organized and have been for months and next to the liquor interests will wage about as strong a campaign and spend about as much money in the next two months as has ever been done in Florida.
Then the fight will be carried right into the legislature. The fellow who can get lined up properly with them as was done in the arsenic fight, the fruit marketing dispute and be paid at the legal rate for all the "under cover" publicity that will be offered, can feather his nest in good shape.
But the people's interests are at stake in this Homestead exemption project. Real estate is in the balance and the home owner's rights should be considered first of all. Of course, there is no general organization to lead the way for Home exemption; home owners cannot become organized any more than the citrus growers of Florida can organize. They are scattered far and wide, in every nook and corner of Florida, but there is a principle involved that should command the attention of every citizen who has a home or who is interested in the future of Florida and home building. That principle is to shift the tax burden some way in a fairer basis of distribution and the only way to do it is to meet the issue, vote for the amendment in November and let the legislature fight it out.
If the genuine newspapers and representatives of the people cannot be depended upon to take the lead for the people of Florida and the home owners in particular, then there is not much left, because all the large and special interests are fighting them by employing the best talent possible and forming a great wall of resistance that is determined and desperate in keeping the tax situation in its one sided form. The time to get right is now and not a few days before the election.
What sub-type of article is it?
Politics
Economic
What keywords are associated?
Homestead Exemption
Amendment
Florida
Tax Burden
Home Owners
Opposition Campaign
Where did it happen?
Florida
Domestic News Details
Primary Location
Florida
Event Date
In November
Event Details
Editorial calls for support of Homestead exemption amendment to protect homeowners' rights and shift tax burden more fairly. Opponents, organized like liquor interests, plan heavy spending against it in next two months and into legislature. Homeowners lack organization but principle merits citizen attention; vote yes in November.