The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1906-03-09
GOVERNOR BROWARD DEFENDS
CONTINUED from Page u

(COnJlnued from rage
"Some fellow has discovered a hole in
the bottom of the lake and maintains
that the ocean flows into it. He claims
this without stopping to think that if
there is a hole In the bottom of a lake
20 feet higher than the ocean, the water
of the lake would flow out"
STATE MUST ACT.
Then the speaker took up the propo-
sition that the State must do it, basing
his argument on the principle that no
individual or corporation would under
take work that was 10 benefit others
even more than it would himself or
itself.
Then came an attack upon railroads,
Governor Broward claiming that once
the railroads wanted the land and could
not secure It, and that now, rather than
let the people have it, they were fight
ing the scheme. To the fact that they
were, directly or indirectly, controlled
by the railroads, he placed all the
"blame," or credit, of the press of the
State for opposing the movement.
THE TAX AND THE MONEY.
In speaking of the tax, Governor
Broward said that tax of 5 cents an
acre had been imposed on all the sur
rounding land that would be benefited,
and stated that the Trustees of the In
ternal Improvement Fund intended
to impose an equal tax upon the lands
in the district owned by the State.
He denied emphatically that any of
the money in the State treasury had
been touched upon for this purpose of
draining the Everglades, pointing out
that all the money thus far expended
was only the money set aside for the
sole purpose of drainage snl reclama-
ton, and not one cent of which had
been raised by taxation, but all secured
through sale of lands, etc.
CONCLUDING WORDS.
In conclusion the speaker INDUCED
into TRADE against the press of the
State, claiming that they were con-
trolled by railroads and corporations,
and were subservient to the wishes of
their masters. He was particularly
bitter against the papers of Jackson
vile, proclaiming that he had been
elected Governor without their aid and
that he did not care whether they fought
him or not, as he was going to do his
duty as he saw his duty, regardless of
newspapers, ct al.
Several times he turned and referred
to Attorney General Ellis, who sat just
behind him, and. at suggestions from
him, brought out other arguments on
the drainage. The usual appeal 70 "a
free people, as the defendants Of free
people" and the other customary re-
marks in the same strain, closed the
address.
To STUMP STATE.
The above is a complete synopsis of
Governor Broward's address last night,
with only the hits at the newspapers
and corporations omitted, the gist of
the argument being given complete,
despite the speakers positive assertion
that 1.-The Times Union will not print
one word of what | have said tonight
in favor Of the project for draining the
Everglades.
In conclusion, Governor Broward
stated that he would have a complete
report of his address printed and dis
tributed throughout Florida, including
reproductions OF the maps and diagrams
he had used. He stated further that IL
necessary he would stump" every
county in the State and "bring this
issue before a free people, a people un-
trammeled and unmastered.
An official stenographer was on the
platform, taking down a verbatim re-
port Of the Governors speech for the
purpose of printing it in pamphlet form
and distributing il throughout the State.