The weekly true Democrat., 1908-06-05
MY DEAR SIR:

MY DEAR SIR:
However much ! would like to meet
you face to face and present myself to
you as a candidate for Railroad Com
missioner, II is impossible for me to do
so, and must kindly ask you to allow
me through this method and through
friends Of your community or county,
TO ask you to consider my fitness and
qualification for the work Of Railroad
Commissioner.
In coming before you as a candidate
for Railroad Commissioner, and asking
you by your support and by your votes
to delegate to me the power, the au-
thority and the duty OF representing
you and the great interests entrusted
to the Railroad COMMISSIONER repre-
senting you when and where you as a
people cannot represent yOurselveB-vI
fully realize that I am asking a great
deal. -
The interests and the welfare Of the
people Of Florida can only be conserved
by Commission composed Of men who
know the rights and qualities Of the
people, composed Of men who know
the privileges, rights and equities Of
the railroads; men who st all times and
under all conditions are ready and will
ing TO eoncede to the, traU DOrtatiG
lines Ia the State all apA,-eAS Sry priv
Ike right and equity h.t belongs TO
them, or to which they are or may be
entitled by law or justice; composed of
mon who know to what the people are
entitled men who know the power,
authority and scope given them by law,
and who will, to the extreme limit Of
such power and authority, maintain TO
the people Of the State, without SEN
timent, without prejudice, without hesi-
tatiOn, delay or vacillation, all and
every right and equity that belongs
TO them, or to which they are entitled
nothing less and nothing more. What
we need, what we want, what we re-
quire, what we are entitled to, is
ready, a safe, q rapid and q cheaper
transportation or movement Of our per-
sons, property, products and supplies.
feel that am qualified for the Of
hce by reason Of long and continuous
contact and experience with railroads,
as shipper, receiver and passenger; my
experience as an employee for SIX
years. my association and contact with
ohlcials and employees, and 90 often
hearing their versions OF the reasons
and causes for dangerous track, lack Of
cars, lack Of motive power, inability to
procure and control labor, cause Of the
wrecks, lOssesI damages, shortages,
and overcharges on shipments; my long
and continuous association and contact
with consumers, dealers and producers,
hearing their troubles, observing their
great need Of redress for wrongs done
them; ten years legislative experience;
was a member Of the House Of Repre- |
sentatlVes 1899, 1901 and 1908; was a |
member Of the Senate 1905 and 1907. |
Have voted for and helpd pass very |
section OF the Railroad Commission law |
now on the statute books Of the State. |
My experience and contact with rail |
roads began IN December, 1867. From /
then until now, a period Of 40 years,
there has not elapsed a continuous |
month that have not had something |
to do, some business transaction with |
some railroad. AS a passenger, have
Travelled on railroads In most of the
States Of the Union, and have expert
enced and observed the service given by
them. AS q passenger have Travelled
on every railroad In this State except
such as have been constructed during
the last year or two. have expert
enced and observed the service Of Flor
Ida roads. | have had six years exper-
Ience as q railroad agent, billing IN and
out two to three hundred car loads of
farm products, merchan-
disc and supplies each year, selling
tickets, making daily, weekly and
reports, adjusting and settling
claims for short. lost and damaged
shipments, etc.
As q cOnsIgnor and as q cOnsignea. I
have shipped, received and handled
thousands Of cars and Thousands OF
ions miscellaneous products Of the coil,
he mill, the mines and the factory,
Have formulated and prosecuted 90 ad-
ugtnle1t hundreds Of claims for loGs,
amags and ovsrcharEe on shipments. Il