The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1904-02-05
A REMeRKeBLE PePER.


to the People Of Florida.
To the Democratic Voters of Florida:
Ihave heretofore announced my can
didacy for the governorship of Florida
and in three or four addresses deliver
ed in the state have given my attitude
on the several public questions which
seem to be uppermost in the minds of
the people. The time seems now TO
have arrived when may, with pro-
priety, adopt this method of placing my
candidacy more formally before you.
Iwant to say that do not look light
Iy upon the responsibility am assum-
ing in even becoming a candidate, to
say nothing OF the serious responsible
fties would assume should 1 become
governor. No thoughtful man can
contemplate this undertaking without
grave apprehensions. Nor do 1 dis
count the worth and ability Of the dis
tinguished Floridians who have already
entered the same field and who are as
pirants for the same office. They are
gentlemen of high character and un-
questioned patriotism. AS I could say
nothing truthfully against them in pri-
Eate life, shall not, for the sake of OBJ
tanning Office, undertake, by innuendo
or otherwise, TO cast aspersions upon
them or either of them in public life.
II is not important or necessary to the
people Of Florida that 1 should be gov
ernor, but it is important to them, and
IL is essential to the future prosperity
OF the state, that political schisms,
chickering's and contentious should be
avoided. shall contribute as little to-
ward that kind Of politics as 1 may be
permitted to do.
My career has been comparatively
humble and uneventful. 1t is all
summed up in the following brief ex-
tract which / take from the Congress
sional Directory:
Robert W. Davis, democrat, of Pa
iatlSa, was born in Lee county, Ca,
March Is, 1S49, and is the son of Rev.
Jesse NJ. Davis, a distinguished Baptist
minister: was educated in the COM
mon schools Of his native state; entered
the Confederate service at fourteen
years of age, and surrendered with the
army of General Joseph E. Johnston at
the close Of the war; worked on a farm
fer several years after the war; read
law and was admitted TO the bar at 20
years Of age; removed to Florida in
1879: was elected to the legislature
from Clay county Of the latter state in
1854: was elected speaker of the House
OF Representatives at the session of
1855; was balloted for for governor of
Florida in the state convention held in
81. Augustine in 1855, and, though he
had large following, failed to receive
the nomination; was made general at
torney for the Florida Southern Rail-
road Company in 1885, which position
he resigned when elected to Congress;
was elected TO the Fifty-F Fifty
Sixth and Fifty-Seventh Congresses
and reelected to the Fifty Eighth Con-
gress without opposition"
My Political Principles
/ have been during all my manhood
days, a democrat, standing always on
my party's platforms and obeying it's
edicts. 1 was a delegate to the Chica-
go convention Of 1896, and was the
Florida member of the committee on
platform and resolutions, voting with
the majority of that committee. Dur
ing the memorable campaign which
followed and during the campaign of
1900 ] did all I could, in my humble
way, TO advance the principles enun-
ciated by the councils Of my party and
contended for by VIM. J. Bryan. 1 am
now serving my fourth term in the
Congress of the United States, and
since became a member Of the House
Of Representatives have voted, in one
form or another. on every important
principle for which we fought. 1 am
willing TO be judged by my record
there. 1 DO not pretend to have voted
right always. In the haste and confus-
ion Of a legislative body men often err,
but upon all questions Of principle for |
which my party battled I tried 10 be |
consistent believe no charge to the |