The De Soto County news. [volume] (Arcadia, Fla.) 1898-1924, 1906-04-13
To the Democratic Voters OF Florida

Under the present system of
nominating your public servants
for office, each Of you have a right
to say who shall be your nominees.
1t being impossible for the indi-
vidual voter to know, personally,
each candidate who offers himself
for a state Office, the undersigned
introduces himself to you through
the medium Of the press. Judges
Of the courts Of Florida have never
made it a practice to solicit votes
by personal appeal. Members of
the railroad commission are judges.
They decide certain matters be-
tween the great corporations and
the people. 1t would be unfair,
therefore, while others are attend
ing to the duties they are paid to
perform, for another individual
seeking the position to take adj
vantage Of this
live at Lake City, Florida; l
am a candidate for railroad COM
missioner; am Virginian by birth;
entered the Confederate navy when
10 years of age, and surrendered
with the naval forces under Gen.
Joseph l.. Johnston at Greens
boro, n. c., in 1905; l have re-
sided in Florida for over % years;
have been in the newspaper bust
ness all that time; have diligently
and faithfully worked for the up
building and development of the
state during all these wears, and
my every effort in the future will
be to that end, in whatever posi-
ton ! may hold; am thoroughly
acquainted with the wants and
needs Of every section of Florida,
as my acquaintanceship and travel
has led me at times into every
county within its borders; have
twice been chosen to represent you
in democratic national conventions;
have been connected with the state
senate in Florida since 1887, most
of the time as secretary, and can
confidently refer, as to my faithful
attention to the duties imposed
upon me, to any member Of the
Legislature during that time, as
well as to the records in the arch
ives Of the state, it being a fact
that these records have never been
attacked in the courts.
Railroad commissions Of nearly
all the states of the Union have,
where the powers given are judi
ciously exercised, proven of great
benefit to the general public, and
there is no reason why Florida
should be an exception to the rule.
Experience has pointed out defects
in our railroad commission law
that are being remedied by the leg
islature at each session, and by
this process, within a few years,
we will doubtless have a law that
will be all that it should be in the
interest of the people.
/ am confident Of my ability to
fill the Office acceptably and eff
ciently, and pledge myself, if nom
mated and afterwards elected, to
administer the duties of the office
fairly and impartially.
The state of Florida has Won
derful possibilities before it, and
in my humble opinion no agency
can be such a potent factor in its
development as the railroad COM
mission. For this reason the voter
should weigh carefully the claims
Of every one who offers for the
place. This announcement is a
direct personal appeal to you indi-
vidually. Two members of the
board are to be selected. l want
to be one of them. / want your
vote and support. Should you
choose me, promise that you
shall never have cause to regret il.
believe my large acquaintance
ship in your county (DeSoto), to
whom / refer you, will vouch for
my fitness for the office.
As any loyal democrat would
do, l pledge myself TO abide by the
result Of the primary, and will
support the nominees thereof at
the regular election.
Very respectfully,