The St. Lucie County tribune. (Fort Pierce, St. Lucie County, Fla.) 1905-1920, 1905-11-24
OUT or TIFF FRYING PAN.

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Thomas W. Lawson and the system
Mr.. Lawson now seeks to involve the
insurance policy holders Of this state IN
the contest. In a half page advertise
ment in Mondays Times Union ne
makes Il bid for the Endorsement OF the
Insurance Policy Holders committee IN
session in Jacksonville, requesting that
they give him their proxies to he used
in influencing the policy Of those inSur'
ance companies known as part OF the
system, y
1t is doubtful if any other man in the
history of the world has by his indivld'
ual efforts attracted as much attention
as has Mr., Lawson, "llow much OF a
liar is lawson" is question which
probably will never be entirely settled
There is one fact, however, which Is
ncontestable if his purpose has been
to achieve publicity, fame, whatever
you.may-call-it, he has perfectly sue
ceeded Nearly every publication OF
any Importance in the country has been
forced to give him space, and his name
is as well known as is that of the Pres
dent.
Apparently, Mr., Lawson seeks to
lay the axe at the root of some shame
full abuses. 1t is hoped that his motives
are as pure as claimed. \ high tnan-
cer himself, he is well fitted to thread
the devious ways travcrsed by Stand
ard Oil and the bic insurance COM
panes and is as well qualified to make
the many and subtle moves by which
they are to he checkmated. "Sct q
thief to catch a thief, y No, We are
sorry we used that expression. Our
province is not to judge and Mr.. Law
son may bc disntereSted, AT least the
proprietors of Eyerybody's Magazine
have cause to thank him. He has been
the making of their publication.
We think that in requiring the sup
port of the whole country Mr.. Lawson
asks good deal. His call for backing
is based ON Il maze Of logic and MARIA
tive, largely diluted with invective, eX-
tending over eighteen months ana
amounting to several hundred thousand
words. In his giant-killng operations
he is bound 10y no contract and con
fesses himself bound by no obligation
save his own sweet will, II he accomp-
fishes all that he has undertaken he
will be truly Il bcnrfactor The re-
sponsibility which he has assumed is
very great.
Invaluable as are his exposures Of
the secret corruption Of the great cor
porations, it should be remembered
that he himself is no stranger to such
methods and that his great fortune has
been Won by stock gambling. If he
ever attains the tremendous influence
which he seeks his power against the
trusts will be great, II diverted to
personal ends it will be appalling.
We regret to note in Mr.. LawSon'S
writings the prevalence Of violent
asseveration in place Of clear logic
To quote from his advertisement:
IL want herewith publicly to proclaim
that any man, who in the meeting to
be held tomorrow OF any meeting to he
held in the future, says that my mo-
tives, intentions or desires are one
iota different from those ! have stated
in my call for proxies. is Il liar; Il low
down, contemplate liar; and | stand
ready at any and all times to privately
or publicly proclaim him SUCH
"To proclaim man liar" is one
thing; to prove it is another.
Let US hope that if Mr.. Lawson has
his way the victims who have been
squirming on the griddle will not find
themselves wrggling on the Goals, and
that the rascals will continue to have
things done to them.