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

believes in trying to hold on to good thing, and
has declared mis- candidacy for reelection.
He will attempt to grind another grist in the
same old mill but the water that turned the politi
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 80 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 labored SO long and tireessy to
make smooth piece of political furniture out of
the raw material in the person of Burr, the people
were 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
one of their very own was to take the corporations
by the throat and prevent the holdup 80 long
alleged to be practced. Like a hungry fish the
majority swallowed the bait without tasting it, and
the peoples champion" was hurled into office with
the velocity of rife bullet.
That was the beginning, and since that time Mr..
Burr has played light thinking part in perform
ing his onethird 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 stiled, while the
lips of Mr. Burr's 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 mile.
The Legislature could have done this without
cost to the people, but passing that trusm, let Mr..
Burr hug to mis- bosom Dnethird 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 it may be,
and compel him to exhibit his nude political figure
while performing campaign stunts in the effort to
reelection.
1t is not likely, either, that the public will care
to listen to Burrs explanation of his failure to mako
good his promises by reason of JEFF Brownies
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 "House of Mirth" is E. W. Irvine, whose
home is in Lake City, fact of which he appears
be ashamed IL hotel registers afford competent test
mony, his favorite designation Of residence being
Petersburg, Va.
Mr.. Irvine was his own discoverer After careful
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 where
the law violated and insisted that the railway
company yield up its pound of flesh. The Railroad
Commission, he declares, tried to throw him on
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 the
people in the Office of Railroad Commissioner.
Down in Dade County the tide of political life
ia beginning to flow, and though the situation at
present contains naught but local features yet the
outcome will doubtless exert its effect State poll
tics.