The sun. (Jacksonville, Fla.) 1905-1908, 1906-03-10


has declared mis- candidacy for reelection
He will attempt to grind another grist in the
same old mill but the water that turned the polit
cal wheel has flowed out and the stream is dry.
When Burr was elected Railroad Commissioner
he was to be the nettle that would prick the rail
ways SO painfully that the public burden would be
lightened of excessive rates.
As the real thing in Commission reform, he was
to have the railroads cutting the buck in their
haste to adjust rates for the common people.
According to the program outlined in the slabs
of metal furnished the State press by the thoughtful
Guy Metcalfe, who abored long and tirelessly to
make smooth piece Of political furniture out of
the raw material in the person of Burr, the people
we're at last to have their innings and the rail
roads would be compelled to snare their dividends
with the real earners.
This looked good to the dear people. At last
of their very own was to take the corporations
by the throat and prevent the hola-up so long
alleged to be practCed. Like hungry fish the
majority swallowed the bait without tasting it, and
the peoples champion" was hurled into Office with
the velocity of a rifle bullet
That was the beginning, and since that time Mr..
Burr has played light thinking part in perform
ing his onethrd of the duties of the Railroad Com
mission. The eloquent tones of the leaden thought
waves that resounded throughout the land during
the campaign period have become stilled, while the
lips of Mr.. Burrs goddess of reform have uttered
but one shrek of joy since she was placed on her
pedestal by the votes of the people. That was when
the Atlantic Coast Line and the Seaboard Air Line
were Ordered" to reduce passenger fare to three
cents q mile.
The Legislature could have done this without
cost to the people, but passing that truism, let Mr.
Burr hug to mis- bosom nethird of the glory result
ing from such heroic act.
It would be cruel, to say the least, to strip him
of his one garment of reform, short as it may be-
and compel him to exhibit his nude political figure
while performing campaign stunts in the effort to
secure reelection.
It is not likely either, that the public will care
to listen to Burrs explanation of his failure to make
good his promises by reason of jeff Brownies con-
servatism The saying that any old excuse is better
than none will hardly serve in this case and the
attempt to make votes at the expense Of Mr. Borwnes
official conduct will be about successful pick
ing 100 to shot at the Sheepshead Bay race
track
Besides Browne will have sufficient of his own
shortcomings for which to answer, without playing
jinricksha man to Burrs political cart
The race for Railroad Commissioners continues
rich in humor, and the latest to contribute to the
political BLOUSE of Mirth' Is E. w. Irvine, whose
home is in Lake City, fact of which he appears to
be ashamed il hotel registers afford competent testi
mony, his favorite designation of residence being
Petersburg Va.
Mr.. IRVINE was ms own ulscoVerer. aIter care1ul
search Of his personal makeup he found that he
was the real square timber needed in the manufac-
ture of a Railroad Commissioner.
Whether he will be able to convince the people
of this fitness will be another story, the present
point being how it happened.
Mr. Irvine is drummer, and becoming vexed
with the negligence of railroads in giving tired trav
elers knowledge of beated trains, found case where
the law violated and insisted that the railway
company yield up it's pound of flesh. The Railroad
Commission, he declares, tried to throw him on a
siding but he managed to roll along the main track
with the result that alternative presented itself
TO the Commission but to fine the offending road
Whether the fine has been paid the public has not
learned.
It was then that Mr. Irvine took stock Of him
self and decided that he called to serve the
people in the Office of Railroad Commissioner.
Down in Dade County the tide of political life
is beginning to flow, and though the situation at
present contains naught but local features yet the
outcome viii doubtless exert its effect on State poll