The St. Lucie County tribune. (Fort Pierce, St. Lucie County, Fla.) 1905-1920, 1910-02-25
ARE PEOPLE
REPRESENTED
DOPresent RepresentativesServe
as Allies to Corporations?
A GROWERS INQUIRY
Necessary to Secure Men Who Are Free
And Fearless and True to People
vites thorough Investigation

The following communication, which
speaks for itself, is from the pen of T.
W. Mather, of Little River, and is adj
dresses to the members of the East
Coast Fruit and Vegetable Growers
Association.
Some time ago, one of the directors
of the East Coast Fruit and Vegetable
Growers Association asked me edo you
think our association should be into
politics to the extent of recommending
to the voters certain candidates for
Congress and the State Assembly,
meaning, of course, men who would be
safely on the side of the people in any
corporation fight. answered emphati-
cally, eyes, why not? Why not indeed?
We are sorely in need of such men,"
Have we now in Congress a single
Senator or Representative from Florida
whose personal interests are not more
or less tied W. with our friends the
railroads? Could we depend on one of
them to work and vote for our interests
in preference? And yet some of these
same men now come forward and cheer
fully ask us to re. elect them! They
point with pride" they challenge
investigation"
Well, | for one am in favor of most
thorough investigation; but it should be
by men who know our needs; who can
not readily be fooled; who are not afraid
to speak, and fight, and recommend.
Why should the directors hesitate?
Senator Talaferro and Representa-
tive Frank Clark want vindication.
They are chiefly supported by news
papers known to be owned or controlled
by the East Coast Railroad Co., whose
president. short time ago, emphati-
cally told our committee that his COM
pany would fight you to the bitter
end" Is this support a part of the
fight? Is he to have the exquisite
pleasure of making us elect the men he
wants? Was there ever impudence
more sublime? What do our directors
think of this.
There are other national candidates
Claude l. Engle, and-and Ex-Governor
BroWard The Ex-Governor we all
know, and many of us admire and respect
him for the good work he has done, and
for the enemies he has made. But |,
for one, only know of L'Engle as a
rather bright political editor. Is he
with US? Can we trust him? Would he
be man of weight in the United States
Senate? | wish our directors would in
vestigate and let us know. He may be
an ideal man, but we want to know.
Of Mr.. Zim. | also know nothing,
for or against We need forceful,
energetic, influential man as our repre-
sentative in Washington, --one who
could be trusted to work and vote on
the right side in the gigantic struggle
impending between the people and pre-
datory corporations. If our directors
are not satisfied, they should bring for
ward another candidate.
Growers, and merchants, and men of
every trade were never before as we'll
organized and determined as now; but
they want leaders they can trust. The
East Coast Fruit and Vegetable Grow
ers Association represents all, because
the interests of all are identical. 1t is
strong in number and influence; its
officers will not be suspected of self
seeking, and their advice will carry
great weight Let us have the benefit.