Gainesville daily sun. (Gainesville, Fla.) 190?-1938, 1907-04-05

He WIN Remaip Candidate Because
He Wants City to Progress

division OF sentiment in GainesTiile A.
shis most importaut jnncture d our
Guys history 3 Inns when instead Of
being aFrayed against each other 10
our municipal Affairs, everyone should
be united and working for larger and
better things, and desiring 20 do away
With this turmoil 10 so far as ! could, /
addressed the following letter to Nj
~. n Vidal, Who is opposing me for
the long term on she Board OF Public
Works. Had he declared himself
sQusreIg for public improvements and
municipal ownership I should have
Withdrawn .ram thu race
april /, 1907.
"MF. J. H. Vidal, City.
tsDenr Mr. vidal--HavIng only the
advancement, upbuiIdiDg and Gaines.
vllle's best interest at heart. and be-
ing extremely anxious to do sway, so
far 40 / can, with the unfortunate
fight which is now being carried on to
the great detriment Of our town I
write you this letter.
II have known you personally from
childhood. and there is no citizen in
Gainesville Tor whom / have a greater
respect and esteem, nor in whose hon-
esty end integrity have more inn
pIicit confidence and faith.
"This IL the most critical period In
our cisy'shlstory, and am interested
80 the carrying on and completion Of
all public work undertaken under che
direction OF the present Board Of Pub
lie Works As q member OF this Board,
have advocated and worked for the
passage Of ordinances covering the
system Of sidewalks mapped out, the
establishment OF grass plots and plant
ing oak trees therein, and introduced
the resolution which resulted 10 the
recent report, which I published IN my
open letter. being submitted, covering
the electric light proposition. Istand
for these specific improvements.
care you in favor OF constructirg
sidewalk,, establishing grass plots and
planting trees.therein. as provided by
the ordinances on the streets named2
"Wlll you pledged your unqualified
support 20 the carrying out OF these
ordinances2
Are you ia favor OF the city owning
its electric lighting plant, and will
you pledge your unqualified support
to the carrying outslof this mandate
from the people, provided thorough
investigation shows II TO be good
business proposition2
at seems TO me that II makes no
difference what the personnel Of che
candidates are, bat what they stand
for is OF vital Importance at this time.
II you are in favor Of these improve
ments aud will pledge your support TO
the aggressive prosecution Of this
work, will be glad to 60 over this
matter with you personally and see u
We cannot arrange to do away with the
contest for the long term on the Board
OF Pebble works, aud IN 80 far as You
aud can, stop this division OF senti.
ment and ,ormoil,
~ nevuT sought the position on the
Board OF Public Works. but was APP
pointed when I was ia the West. aud
accepted u over the protest OF the
stockholders OF our company, purely
as matter OF public dnty, II goo will
take the position I now occupy ane
pledge 90 give it she same careful at
tention which / have given it. aud the
time Il deserves. and will be enthusi
Aslic 10 carrying out the work which
OR BOARD nov has'in hand. will be
oely TOO glad 20 Eid myeslf OF this re-
spOnsibllity aud withdraw from the
race in your favor.
Assuring you that only want 10
see shat accomplished which will beat
serve the interest OF the city. and ask.
Toe that you lee me have your reply by
Eeturn mail, beg TO remain,
"Yours very cordially.
rs, ]. THOMAS"
"Gainesviile. Fla. Aorll 2 1907.