The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1908-05-15
Mr.. JEFFERSON 3. BROWNE IN
OCALA

Hon. jefferson B. Browne spoke in
Ocaal Wednesday night at the court
house. The audience was small when
he was first introduced. but gradually
grew larger, and before he closed his
interesting address the large hall was
comfortably filled, many ladies grac-
ing the occasion with their presence
Mr.. Browne did us the honor of be
ginning and ending his campaign IN
our city. He has always had a pref
erence and a fOndness for Ocala. In
deed, it was here that ne first gave
ear to the buZzing of political ambi-
ton that was sounded in his ear He
gave token of his recognition of Il
by addressing the young mems demo-
cratic club of Ocala nearly twenty
years ago.
Mr.. Browne does not now nor has
he ever disguised the fact that he IS
ambitious Since obtaining his ma-
jOrity he has been ambitious for high
political hOnOrs, and in order to reach
the full measurements of his ambition
has made the science of government
a diligent and profound study, and no
man, perhaps, in Florida is so well
grounded in everything pertaining
thereto as Mr.. Browne is He has
made the works of Aristotle, Monies
quieu, ROsseau, Macaulay, Jefferson,
Franklin, Gladstone, and all the early
and later writer's on the science Of
government a part of his education,
and has their deductions at his tOh-
CUES end.
Mr.. Browne is a man of eruditiOn
and his mind is quick and fOrceful,
and whether elected to the guberna-
tOrial chair or not, he is a citizen who
does credit to the state of his nativ-
ity.
Above all he processes and embOd-
les in the history of his life, as well
as in his platform. the virtues of
frankness and candor. He stoically
refuses to play to the galleries in or
der to receive for the mOmest its
ad captandum applause. If ne be
elected to any high office be insists
that it must be upon his individual
merits and upon his pronounced stand
on all questions up for settlement
without any thin veneer or disguise.
Mr.. Browne began his political ca
reeT in 1891. In that year he was
elected to the upper branch of the leg
islature of Florida. His sterling and
other admirable qualities were thus
early recognized by his home people.
When he got to Tallahassee his fame
had preceded him, and he was elevat-
ed to the presidency Of the senate.
His conduct in that office was in every
way Creditable to him, and he is still
remembered for the perspicacity,
clearness and impartiality of his Tul-
ings. Br. Browne made a splendid
presiding officer.
Mr.. Browne early aligned himself
with what was known in this state
as the Call faction. The railroads
were then in politics up to Their ears,
and their tOrneys-recOgniZed as
the brainiest and most popular men
in the state-very largely dominated
our politics.
Mr.. Browne at once perceived that
the only hope for the young men of
the state, who were ambitions, and
who expected political preferments
and emoluments was to break this
rule, and he made his record along
that line.
Mr.. Browne was elected mayor of
Key West, was made collector of that
port under President Cleveland, and
later was elected a member of the
railroad commission, and was made
chairman of that body.
Mr.. Browne points to his record
while member of the railroad COM
mission with pardonable, though not
boastful, pride. He says that every
ruling of the commission made while
he was a member of it that has stood
the test of the courts was done with
his approval, while every measure
that was passed without his approval
Ialled TO run the gauntlet of the
courts, and cost the tax payers of the
state more or less large sums of mon.
ey.
When Mr.. Browne was a candidate
Ior president of the senate, when he
was candidate for railway commits