The Punta Gorda herald. [volume] (Punta Gorda, Fla.) 1893-1958, 1904-05-27

~ - h"0WhAN' - "-N"
Capt, N. y, Broward, candidate for
governor addressed about City ladies
aud gentlemen In the Punta Gorda town
hall, Tuesday night, and created favor
able impression lIls whole speech was
about his bugaboo concerning the lands
In the Everglades, which he intlmates
will be stolen by the railroads II Bob
Davis Is elected governor. Capt. Brow
ard would have the people believe that
he Is the only man who can prevent
the railroads from robbiug the State Of
these lands Ills entire claim for votes
Is based upon this absurd idea.
Now, touching this natter TnE
HERALD has the following direct from
Hon. Robt. W. Davis over his own sig
nature, and 1t ought to be satisfactory to
every Democrat In Florida;
"lf Ism elected governor, as expect
to be, and thereby become member Of
the board Of trustees, shall not vote to
convey away to railroads the. public
lands or public funds, nor will ] permit
the same 10 be done so far as ! can con
troll II. These lands are In litigation In
suits brought by the railroads against
the trustees and, as member OF that
board, should never give my voice or
vote to convey them, unless forced by
the courts Of last resort to do so. l make
this emphatic statement merely that !
may not be misunderstood because Of
Misrepresentation. The same gentlemen
who are serving on the board Of trustees
under Governor Jennings, will serve IN.
der the next administration, and II seems
10 me that Mr.. Broward's insnuatlon
that am governor could control them
against the interest OF the people is re-
Election pom them, trust that am as
honest as Mr.. Broward and cheeriuly
put my public record In the balance
with his"
II only remains for the voters to de.
eide which Of these two gentlemen Is en-
titled to their faith and confidence. Bob
Davls's record Is well known. lie has
never been guilty Of deception, never
disloyal to his party, never recreant to
any trust, never unfaithiul to the people
OF Florida, never anything but one OF
the bralnlest and noblest OF our citizens.
No man has ever dared charge him with
falsehood or with dlsloyaliy to his party
or his people, for the very simple reason
that everybody knows his record and
such a change would be received with
the scorn merIted by It's utter mendacity,
On the other hand, who Is Capt. N. u.
BEowardl A man whom his own home
folks and neighbors do not trust, as was
shown by their giving him on May 10th
only zoos votes against a,osS for Davis
Why do they not trust himl
Because he was once sheriff Of their
county and Governor Mitchell turned
him out OF Office for armed interference
In his county Of Duval In the election Of
1894.
Because, In 1897, he repeatedly vio-
lated the laws OF the United States by
carrying arms and ammunition TO Cuba,
for which he was paid big price In ad
vance Of every expedition, and then
claimed that he did It for love OF an OPP
pressed people battling for liberty.
Because, while member Of the Iegls.
Iature in 1901, he was one Of the most
active advocates OF the insanity divorce
bill and Of the proposed dlspcnsary law
md secured the passage Of the charter Of
the Jacksonville ferry company,a monop-
oily and trust OF the very worst kind.
Because, from 1909 to 1900, he CON
'orted with the independents OF Duyal
county In boiling the regular Demo.
cratic conventions and attempting to de-
Ieat and succeeding at least once In de.
eating the regular Democratic noml-
nees
Now, he comes before the people with
, speclous tale about an lnsidious at
empt by the railroads to steal the public
ands and asks the people to believe him
Ind to elect him governor, as the only
,ne who can OF will prevent this great
but Impossible) robbery.
In view Of the records OF the two men,
I Is pertinent to ask, which will you be.
ieve and trust-Bob Davis, the peerless
'rator. the true and loyal Democrat, the
nan OF the stainless record, or Napoleon