The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1907-06-02
Governor Broward,
Florida's Remarkable Man.

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The most remarkable man in the
gtate to-day, and one of the most re-
markable men in the whole country,
is Napoleon B. Broward, governor OF
Florida.
Three years ago, after the guberna-
iorial campaign had been launched,
with three candidates in the field, the
present governor of Florida made a
brief tour of the state in an effort to
yet out a candidate who would agree
definitely and unequivocally to pre-
Serve, so far as he was able if elected
governor, the state primary law and
what remained of the once vast land
urea which the state possessed.
Failing to find such a man who was
willing to become a candidate aid
falling as well TO get any satisfactory
pledges from any one of the three
candidates already in the field, the
captain of the Three Friends himself
entered the race. He had three main
issues, viz: ID preservation of the
primary; CD preservation of the re-
manning portion of the state lands
from the land-grabbing corporations;
and CD drainage and reclamation of
the Everglades
The people had already become i'm
pressed with the Importance of pre-
serving the primary and it did not
take long to impress them with the
Importance of saving what little land
the state still had left. Browards
main issue therefore was conferred in
Everglades drainage and, while not
one voter in hundred had ever
thought seriously of the proposition
before, in less than three months this
remarkable man had so impressed his
theory, the facts at his command. and
his own personality upon the people oc
Florida that majority of the demo
Gratis by direct primary vote, nomi-
mated him for governor
When Broward announced his can
few people took him serio lsly
and fewer still had any realization IF
the strength he was to develop until
after the first primary, no one thought
he had a chance to be elected Most
of the newspapers were against him.
All of the railroad corporations We're
against him. Every professional wire
puller and politician in the state Was
against him.
On top of all this he was maligned,
misrepresented lied about His mo-
tiVes were impugned, his theories ridi-
euled, his aspirations laughed ct.
Money was not spared nor methods
questioned in the effort to defeat Linn.
But he won.
The first legislature passed drain
age measure which the courts de,
clared unconstitutional. Not damned.
this man of iron attempted to secure
the ratification of an amendment TO
the constitution which would meet the
objection of the courts.
After another campaign of rnisrepre-
sentauon and abuse, Governor Brow
ards drainage amendment was de-
feated and with it, his enemies SAID, |
his own POLITICAL death was included. |
But not so. The governor continues |
to agitate the drainage question. I'm
der circumstances that would have
overwhelmed less resolute man his |
fight went on. and the opposition grew |
more bitter as the indomitable sDirit |
Of the man became more apparent.
When the legislature which has
Just adjourned met in April. it was /
believed that the anti-drain. !
Rge, antLBroward element was in con-
lrol.- This belief was strengthened bv
The fact that this element captured /
the organization of both houses and !
packed every committee with its
friends
But still Broward was undauntaI.
Still he pressed the issue. So vigor-
ously did he present his side of the
question that when il came to a
definite test, he got a favorable report
on his drainage work already done, ne
got drainage law that gave him all
he authority he desired to proceed
With the work, and he came out win
her on proposition that the greatest
corporate interests of the state had
axertAA- Livery effort, which the money