The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1906-10-26
YonT nYRns n0ARD APPEAL.


Florida, read one Of the latest schemes
of the schemeTs, mailed out broadcast
from Fort Myers Every citizen Of
Florida win be willing that the eitiZeus
Of overfowed sections shall have relief,
but that relief should not be asked for
and expected in amending the COnsti-
tuition of Florida, giving five Drainage
Commissioners the free right to Cypress
the whole State by hardening every In
terest to secure it. Let those people
down there get the relief they need,
and may be are entitled to, by local
option legislation, as they most assuredly
can get 1t that way II they make their
demand clear and right:
To the Business Men of Florida:
Knowing that the business men OF q
town or community are potent factor
In molding the opinion Of their trade
and the public generally, the Board Of
Trade Of Fort Myers, composed Of
eighty-two members, at meeting held
October 8, 1905, decided to put before
you our relation to and interest in
drainage-the great question which Is
now agitating the people Of our fair
State. We beg your kind considers
ton of the matter which we present to
you.
Friends, hearken to the appeal con-
tanned herein. On account of the
devastating overhOws from which we
have suffered in the past few years we
do not ask financial assistance, Dat zoe
do ask yOIr cooperation IN the Gd0p-
ton Of the drainage amendment. The
people Of Lee county are unanimous
FOR It, reports to the contrary notwith.
standing. We are the ones who pay
this special tax, and we only ask that
you permit US TO tax ourselves TO pro-
tect our interests. Bear in mind that
this does not cost you one cent, 1t falls
solely upon us.
With our helpless condition in your
minds eye, kindly read the enclosed
circular, think seriously of our precari-
Gus situation vnd when you go 70 the
polls Tuesday, November 6, cast bal
lot that will forever relieve Us from
this annual menace which does now
and will ever threaten US until Lake
Okeechobee Is brought nearer the
oceans level. Respectfully,
FORT MYERS BOARD OF TRADE.
The Fort Myers Board Of Trade says
they are not "dsking financial aid, bat
do ask your cooperation IN the Gdop-
ton Of the drainage amendment. I"
Now, do you not see from whence this
appeal comes? Do you not see the
czarish earmarks Of the five great
wOuld-be moguls who wish to be the
Drainage Commissioners, the great
powers and privileges they are now
sacrificing their official duties for, mail
ing miscellaneous documents from both
ends of the State to fool the voters of
Florida in their efforts to be made our
constitutional masters7 To cover the
ground thoroughly read the following,
by "X., " from the Peoples Forum of
the Times Union. 1t covers the whole
scheme:
"A careful analysis Of the notorious
drainage amendment must set any
thinking man to wondering what our
Legislature was about when such a
piece Of jugglery was allowed to pass
through their hands. It affords the
most gigantic opportunity for rascality.
it Is the most monumental scheme for
placing in the hands Of a few men I'M
limited power for graft and giving
them autocratic control of q whole
state with no responsibility to any one,
that a civilized community ever heard
of Think of Legislature giving away
the right, 80 far as It lies in their
power, to tax property in any part of
the State, to any extent and for an in
definite number Of years-and not only
tax Il, but confscate II and take posses
sion without notice; 10 increase or re-
duce at will the salaries Of county off,
GERS and to receive untold millions in
taxes with accountability to no one
"Of course, the lawmakers will say:
III the people do not want the law, let
them defeat the amendment at the polls.
But this Is a poor excuse for failure
to guard the peoples interests. The
Waterman who allows the thief to enter
your property on the ground that you
can wake up and chase him out, II you
do not want him there, would soon be
discharged az an accomplish Of rascals.
Further, It should be borne in mind