The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1909-10-23

have been and am the attorney for the
Louisville and Nashville Railroad
Company for the state Of Florida. u
is fact that / have been and am such
attorney, but | have no regrets be-
cause OF it nor apologies for 10. Ny
connection with IL has. however, been
entirely professional and concerned
In no wise with its policies. AS Its
lawyer, I have served il faithfully and
honestly, and to the best of my abil-
ity, and in the same manner, and NOS
otherwise, as ] have served my other
clients. 1t has been one Of my clients,
and nothing more, and has not influ-
enced the independence Of my
thoughts or actions. The emoiuments
received from it have been but 8
small part OF my income from my
general professional practice; and my
actions toward or for 1t has been Gs
unbiased by any consideration Of
It's employment of me as my ac-
tons toward or for other clients
have In any wise ever attempted to
influence my actions in respect to the
public, nor has the Louisville and
Nashville Railroad Company. Neither
1t nor any OF them would have been
allowed by me to demand or induce
from ne An injustice to an opposing
litigant for the public. If any con-
reference may be had to the attorneys
and litigants to whom have been OPP
posed, and to any local attorney OF
that railroad company, to whom 1
have given directions as to Cns con-
duct of its matters committed TO their
care, or more broadly still, 20 the pso-
pie of Pensacola, among whom I an
proud to have lived q lifetime,
think that the unpTeJudiced will fail
to see in such relation with that rail-
road company any Inconsistency bs.
tween my duties to Il and the per-
Torrance OF the highest duty as q
citizen to the public, OF any reason
why I should not be elected to servs
the people. Ny freedom from any
slRVish adherence TO that railroad
company is best illustrated by the
fact that for twenty-five years I have
been actively and publicly assisting
in the eadesEoT to construct railroads
into Pensacola, which would have
been competitive With Il, ana IN the
effort, have contributed thousands o.
dollars in cash, and tens OF thousands
of dollars IN personsi and profession
al time and services.
Legislative Record.
I have been in public life only IN
the Constitutional Convention OF 1885
and in the Senate Of Florida Of 1908
and 1903, all since have been nttor.
ney for that railroad company, and {
appeal confidently to the journals Of
those bodies as evidence that ny
votes were always for and in behalf
OF the interests of the public.
If am elected 10 the United States
Senate, however, the situation would
be changed. The Louisville and Nash
vile Railroad Company Is a great in
terstate system, and congress is con-
stantly called upon to deal with such
systems. There would at least be a
seeming inconsistency between the
duties of legislator required to legis-
late upon matters vital TO a large cor
pOration and OF an attorney of that
corporation, and / should avoid that
inconsistency by resigning my attor-
neyship for It before entering upon
my duties as Senator, thus obeying
the prohibition against an endeaVor
to serve two masters, and the injunc-
ton to avoid the appearance Of 6vil.
l shall not, however, resign now, for
to do so would be an obvious effort to
catch votes, and an admission that my
services to the Louisville and Nash
vile Railroad Company have been In
compatible with my possession OF
that good citizenship and character
which should be the basis of a claim
to election to public office.
shall, upon any occasions which
may require II, discuss this question
fully with the voters, and am con-
hdent that l shall be able to demon
strate that my connection with that
company in the past does not
In any way initiate against the great
est honesty and efficiency Of service
in the interest of the people Il has
been, and shall ever be, my most
81 10
fully. honestly, and with what ability
[ have, every trust imposed upon me.
Very respectfully,
w. A. BLOUNT.