The weekly true Democrat., 1907-11-22

To THE DEMocRATIc PEOPLE OF FLOR
IDA:
am q candidate for the Office Of
Governor Of Florida, and solicit your
one Of the unsatisfactory features Of
the primary system Is, that it necessi-
tates q candidate talking about himself,
for the people want 10 know where ne
2 stands on public questions and they can
Judge Of this better by recalling ms
past, than BY his protestations and
promises for the future, for the good
: bosk says aye shall know them by
their fruits"
WILL CONDUCT CLEAN CAMPAIGN.
Buk II talking about ones self is dis
agreeable. talking about ones oppO..
nenfs Is undiRnifed and beIittling, and
marks one unfit for any high position.
/ shall conduct an absolutely clean cam.
paiOn. free from all personalities, for II
1 an not big enough TO reach the Gu
bornatOrial chair without tearing down
my opponents, am not big enough for
ne same spirit that prompts a can
didate 70 tear down the reputation Of
hlS opponent, units him for an office
that requires the exercise Of construct
i've abilities. He will tear down the
law, as hO tried 10 tear down his. oppo-
nent II such course tends to his per
sonal advancement. He will destroy,
instead Of upbuilding.
PERSONAL HISTORY.
am q native Floridian, and was born
In Key West a sufficient number OF
years ago 10 be eligible for the Office OF
Governor. Ny mother was born In St.
Augustine IN 1924, and is now living in
Key West. My father was born In Vir-
0fnia and came 10 Florida in 1880 He
was the last survivor Of the St. JOseph's
Convention that met in 1888 and framed
the Constitution under which Florida
was admitted to the Union in lS45.
ONE or THE LEADERS IN THE GREAT
ANTI-CoRP0RATION FIGHT OF 1891.
have attended every State Conven-
tIon since 1880, and my vote and my
VOiee was always on the side Of the
people. In 1891 as President Of the
Florida Senate, stood with fifty-One
others and fought for six weeks against
the attempt Of the corporations to dom
mate our politics, until success crowned
our efforts by the election Of that
, s'Grand Old Commoner" Wilkinson
Call. There are those here today who re-
member that contest. Never has there
been such an one In the history Of Flor
Ida The corporations were deep in
pOhtlcs and were factors 10 be taken
account Of In every campaign. They
rOSOrted 20 every known political art
and means 10 win that fight, and many
q good man was not strong enough To
resist their overtures. Had the men
who comprised that hfty-two been sus-
eeptlble 70 any improper influences,
WHISTLER Of money, promises Of political
q npRofoffnent and the alluring prospect of
power, or threats Of political destruc-
ton, that hRht would never have been
won BY the people, and those who
fought that good fight can be trusted
while they live 10 protect the interests
Of the people. They were tried in the
furnace Of FIRE and proved pure gold.
NOT A NEW CONVERT TO THE CAUSE OF
THE PEOPLE.
.I I am not new convert TO the theory,
that the people and not the corporations
shall govern, for was fighting the bat
tlos OK the people against tremendous
e odds and influences, long before II had
become the popular side, and did not
wait until Theodore Roosevelt made Il
q winning issue, 10 espouse the cause
Of the people. There are men crying
Corporation man" at me now who
were lined up with the corporations In
that trying contest, but do not think
they Win be able to deceive the people.
HAVE ALWAYS FAVORED STRONG RAIL.
ROAD COMMISSION.
From my earliest political career
have been an advocate Of n strong Rail
road Commission law. When the Rail
read Commission Law was repealed IL
1891, was president of the Senate anC
rarely voted except in case Of a tie, but
felt this measure was one OF such vita
Importance, and as my vote prevented
the adoption Of a motion TO take the
bill up out Of its regular order and put b
uDUn It's passage, ! had my vote recorded
against the motion, and II failed To re
celvo the necessary two-thirds vote
This was but two days before IN,
adjournment, and we thought we hR,
won the fight, but Il came up IN reRula
order for It's final passage on the da!
before adjournment, and was passed BY
aVote Of 20 70 10, with my vote recorde,
against its repeal, s. j, 1891, pp. S36
S87, B3S.
Under that law the Railroad Commits
sioners were appointed by the Governor
and one Of the reasons given by SOM
who favored les repeal was that va
cancy on the Commission was about L
be filed by some one whom they did no
want. In order TO meet that objection
u q - l..