The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1906-08-24

nothing TO say on the mueh-discusSed
problem of the drainage Of the Ever
glades is, simply and eandidly, that the
Herald knows nothing about it. Itmay
be discreditable under the circumstances
to confess such wOeful ignorance, but
why lie about it or make any false pre-
fences?
The Herald is utterly obfuscated.
On one side is arrayed the Governor
of the State, number of respectable
and honest newspapers and many repu-
table, upright and intelligent citizens.
These present arguments, which, If
founded on a solid basis of facts and
logic, should convince anyone that the
Governor is right in undertaking to
drain the Everglades.
On the other side, however, there are
a number of capable and honorable
newspapers and good many patriotic,
able and conscientious citizens who con-
tend that the drainage of the Ever
glades is impracticable; but, if practi-
cable, is wholly unnecessary and not
worth the cost
A diligent study Of the tones of ar
gument adduced by both parties to the
controversy is enough to obfuscate an
ADLER paper than the Herald. The con-
clusion, therefore, is similar to the one
announced by the old judge, of trite
story, who, after the lawyers on both
sides had finished their elaborate ad-
dresses, proceeded to charge the jury
after this manner:
Gentlemen, if you believe the at
torney for the plaintiff, you will find
for the plaintiff, If, however, you be-
lieve the attorney for the defendant,
you will find for him; but, if you are
like me and don't believe either one of
them, the Lord only knows what you
will do
Those who believe Governor Broward
will vote for the drainage amendment;
those who believe the opposition will
vote against it; but those who are with
the Herald will vote for Sparkman and
Billie Hooker and then take to the
woods.
That's the best advice we can give
the voters and we trust that no one will
charge that we have been bought and
paid for it.
Seriously, the only satisfactory way
to reach just conclusion is to take
civil engineer and make thorough per-
sonal inspection of the Everglades
This will require several kinds Of trans
portation-by boat, by balloon, on horse
back and 'gator-back, and will take
six months time.
After making such an inspection, the
next thing to do is to sit down and
figure out" what the drainage will
cost and who will be benefited by it.
And this suggests that, at this point,
the Herald actually has one view,
which, however, is based on the allega-
tions of others.
1t is asserted that big corporations,
land companies and rich individuals own
most of the lands in the Everglades,
and that those lands which are supposed
to belong to the State are claimed and
are being sued for by the railroads. 1t
is stated, too, that these very people
are opposed to having the lands drained.
Now, if these statements are correct,
as it seems that they are, it is a mys-
terry why we should be making such a
great fuss about something which should
not concern US. If the railroads and
land companies prefer mud and water,
saw-grass and solitude. to dry land, let
them have it.
Why should the people of this State
be taxed to improve other people s
lands, especially as the other people are
opposed to il? If this question is with
out bearing on the problem, then the
conclusion reverts to the confession
made in the beginning, that the Herald
knows nothing about the matter. But
it does know that the proposed amend
ment contenplates the levying of tax
to drain the Everglades and the placing
of the power tolevy, collect and expend
the tax in the hands of the Internal
Improvement Board, without any lin
itation as to years or accountability to
the Legislature In the humble opinion
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