The weekly true Democrat., 1908-06-12
BRoWARD'S "FACTS
ABSOLUTE" DlSPROV'D
his Latest Pamphlet One Bic InaCeu-
FAcy.

tleJcneF, Is Jne aDSSuCe OF IdCIs dD-
solute" or otherwise. His restatement
of the Fernandina Board of Trade mat
ter is nearly as far from truth as the
first statement, and in proof of what l
say insert letter from the Chairman
of the State Executive Democratic
Committee, Hon. Arthur T.. Williams,
who does not speak from hearsay as
does my opponent, but from personal
knowledge:
Arthur T. Williams, Real Estate Bro
ker, lO8 Main St., Room 3, Jackson
May lst, 1908.
Hon. Duncan u Fletcher, City:
Dear Sir Referring to your request
that give you the facts as l remember
them in relation to your appearance be-
fore the Railroad Commission at the
hearing on the question of adjustment
Of phosphate rates between Fernandina'
and Savannah, would say My Fecoi.
lection is that the Fernandina Board of
Trade cOntended that phosphate rates
from the mines to Fernandina as COM
pared with the rates from the mines to
Savannah were unjust and Disseminated
against Fernandina. The Fernandina
Board of Trade requested the co-Opera-
tion of the Jacksonville Board of Trade
in an effort to have an equitable adjust
ment of these rates, and at the hearing
in Tallahassee, you appeared with
President Garner, Of the Jacksonville
Board Of Trade, and in the statement
you made before the Commission you
stated that you appeared in the interest
of the city Of Jacksonville in the mat
ter. / did not understand that you
were opposed to the reduction in phOs-
phste rates, and l do not see how the
report that you appeared for the rail-
roads could have originated, because
there was certainly nothing that you
said or that took place at the hearing
that would have, in the most remote de-
gree, indicated that you appeared in be-
half Of the railroads.
Yours very truly,
ARTHUR T. WILLIAMS.
NO PROMISES MADE OR ASKED FOR.
Under the head Of "Violated Prom
ises" Governor Broward states that he
did not support me for Chairman Of the
State Committee until l had most
positively assured a number Of gentle
men" certain things. This is wholly
untrue, and here again he speaks from
what some one told him, not from per-
sonal knowledge, otherwise he would
not have made such a statement. The
facts are, that some friends urged me
to stand for the Chairmanship Of the
Committee. / did not favor the idea
and was more than Indifferent. Upon
being further urged, | stated that
NJ pvOryawl v-ybn kaa haav1
declared the nominee for Governor,
ought TO name the Chairman. These
friends stated that he wanted me, and
suggested that he be called into con-
| ference and express his views. This
was done and he came into the caucus,
and stated that he preferred me for
Chairman. then consented to run.
made no promise or assurance TO any
one. No member had the insolence to
ask 20 promise such absurd things as
Governor Broward mentions. It would
have been an insult which l would have
resented on the spot. The night before
the Committee met some Of the Cover
ernor's close friends and supporters be-
| gan to knife" me secretly. ! found
them out and Immediately got them and
others together and stated what had
discovered. / told them would not
submit to such treatment, and would
withdraw from the race and that they
could decide on another man. They
apologiEed and explained and urged me
to stay in the race. am not surprised
that Misrepresentation has been added
to treaehery.
FLETCHER WORKED FOR JACKSONVILLE.
Regarding my going to Tallahassee
for the +. r. G. Ry. Co. in the interest
of the Extension Bill, the facts are that
was appointed q member of the COM
mittee by the Board Of Governors Of
the Jacksonville Board Of Trade to 90
to Tallahassee in the interests Of the
city of Jacksonville and urge the pas
sage Of a bill which would allow the
building of the extension from Home
stead 10 Key West. / could not -
when the committee went, nor for some
time afterwards. Finally got tele-
gram urging me to join the committee
in Tallahassee. went there, spoke to
no member Of the House or Senate, but
went straight TO Governor BrOward.
inquired Of him at his residence the ma
ture Of the ohiectiOns 70 the bill, and he
explained the matter TO some extent.
/ suggested amending the bill to meet
bis views, and be finally said he would
see me at his 0fice next morning 70
agree upon such amendment aa would
cure the objections. Without speaking