The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1909-01-06
Growth of State.

NOtQlnS illustrates the CROWN OF
the state more than is shown by the
United States census of 1900, this cen
sus showing the follow increase:
Florida, 30 per cent; Georgia, 200
per cent; South Carolina, 1854: North
Carolina, III; Virginia, II; Alabama.
20.S; Mississippi, 20-3; Louisiana, 22.5.
The percentage of increase for these
states has been quoted because refer
ences have been made to them for
other comparisons. No other states
have shown greater increase of per-
centage in population, except North
Dakota. Montana, Wyoming, Idaho,
Oklahoma, Washington, and Texas.
The latter state, Texas, shows an iG-
crease of 35.4 per cent. as against
So per cent for Florida.
Progress in Transportation.
Our state has made a great prog
resS in transportation facilities, in
commerce, in manufactures, in agri-
culture, in horticulture, in the prod
ucts of the field, the farm, the forest,
and of the mine. But a few years
since we mined nothing. Now We
mine more than one-half of the phos
phate of the United States and more
than one-third of the phosphate of the
world. We mine Fuller's earth and
clay for fine pottery. There is moth
| ing like being a prophet or the son of
a prophet; we will yet be one of the
great oil-producing states.
We are living in an age of great
progress, men are beginning to under
stand some of the forces with which
/ the earth was made and are beginning
to know how to handle these forces.
In this latest period in the develop
ment of man, one of the great en-
gineering feats of the world is now
| being completed within the borders of
our own state, the binding of the
! island of Key West to the mainland
with bars of steel, and cementing 1t
to the continent with arches of mason
~. Such grea works can only be &C
compIished through aggTegations OF
capital and combinations of men. The
natural man dies. The artificial man,
known as the corporation, lives on.
The natural and artificial man are
both necessary. Both have certain
rights. Both have certain duties.
Neither should be allowed to Cypress
the other. Shakespeare says: 1T is
nice to have a giants strength, but IL
is VilIainous to use it as a giant" The
state has a giants strength, the COR
poratiOns have giants strength II
would be villainous for the state to
use its strength as giant against the
for the corporations to use their
strength as a giant against the peo-
pie. The corporations should be reg
ulated but should not be regulated out
of their boots.
Many of our people advocate
changes, all of which cost money; yet
they all want a reduction of taxation.
The Legislature.
My observation has been that at
the beginning of the session the
newspapers say: Behold the bright
est and smartest set of Legislators
ever assembled in Tallahassee" To
ward the end of the session, the same
set of men, who could not possibly
enact into laws all the various pro-
jects proposed, and who would bank
rupt the state if they did. are usually,
according to these same papers, about
the worst set of men ever assembled.
In spite of all this, legislatures are
elected, and are convened. governors
are elected, and are inaugUrated. In
each case, there is usually but the
satisfaction of having done the best
you could. Ia many instances. those
with whom you do not agree can see
no good in you. Happy is the man
in either case who feels that he has
done the best the circumstances al
lowed II mas D8eH Sdiu AHStlS
could do no more
Suggestions will be gladly received
from any one, from the humblest to
the most pretentiOus. always TeseTv-
ing to myself the right to do as it
seems just and proper to be done.
No Promises Made.
The people have elected me govern
or OF Florida. without my having
made any promises as to any specific
policy, other than what is embodied
in the platform Notwithstanding the
campaign and in the various speeches
made during the same. It would be
my wish for the public to know of
every move made by the administra-
tiOn. There should be no secrets as
between the administration and the
people There could be no greater
policy for any governor to have than |
that his administration should be run
on business principles, free from
graft. and free from personal glOTifi- |
cation. Although no claim is made |
as TO being stronger than the general |
ity of men, yet strength is hoped for |
to be good enough. strong enough, |
and true enough to perform my du- !
ties to the people and the state with |
out thought of personal gain or fu- |
Ure political pTefeFment.
The welfare Of the people of the
state should mark the lines of what /
ever power is given a governor. The !
very channel in which the governor !
moves should be bounded by the con-
stitution and the laws. The beacon !
light should light the best interest of |
the people at large
Will Respect Primaries.
In the filling OF vacancies in Offices, |
the recommendations Of the primaries !