The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-09-03
". H. MILTON
GIVES OUTLINE
OF PLATFORM
CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR Ex-
PRESSES HIS VIEWS PoLITI-
cALLY AND THE POLICY HE
WOULD PURSUE IF ELECTED
GOVERNOR.
Special to The journal

Special to The Journal
Mariana, Sept. 2.-Hon. w. H
Milton, who recently announced his
candidacy for governor of Florida, has
issued the following, outlining his po-
litical views and the policy he will
pursue if he should be elected gov
ernor:
Since announcing my candidacy for
the office Of governor l have received
many letters asking that I define my
position with regard to various public
questions. I will not have space in a
IL er of this kind to make clear my
position in respect to all of them, but
there is one question which is domi-
nant in politics today. as 1t has been
in the past, and although the cam
palgn for the nomination of governor
of Florida has not yet progressed far,
1t has gone far enough to enable us
all to see that the issue in the cam
paign will be the old issue, the per-
haps hackneyed question, Shall the
people or the special interests control
our politics." and I feel that it is due
to myself and my friends for me to
state now the general policies for
which 1 stand and upon which l shall
conduct my campaign.
I shall not attempt at this time to
write a platform, but shall content
myself with saying that l am opposed
to the control of political and govern
mental affairs by special interests, of
whatever kind. I believe in the rule
of all the people, and I believe that
the good Of all the people should de-
termine the position on every public
officer upon each question which
comes before him.
I have ideas about various specific
public questions, and I have beliefs
about measures which will arise and
call for action by the governor of
Florida, but those ideas and those be-
lies have all been formed by consid-
crime each specific question in its re-
| lation to the fundamental question in
American politics. Shall the people Or
| the special interests control our poll
| tics?'
It is too early for any candidate to
attempt to arouse interest in his po-
scition on all questions which may
| arise, but it is not too early for him
to indicate the broad fundamental idea
upon which he will make the cam
paign, and by which he will be con-
! trolled if nominated and elected gov
! ernor.
The Special Interests.
This great question, Shall the peo-
] pie or the special interests control our
paign; it is not new to this year, to
this decade, to this century or to this
/ age. It has been fought through all
| the nations Of the world, through all
the pages of her history. 1t Is the
! fight of the common people who dc
not receive favors at the hands of the
! government, against the few who
either do or expect to receive special
| privileges, favors and concessions
Certain things all people are entitled
to from the government under which
they live. Every man, whether he be
poor or rich, and every person, whether
4 that person be natural person or q
corporation, is entitled to just and fair
treatment; but when the line OF
1 equality is passed, then arises this
1 questions. which I am attempting to
discuss, those who are financially in
terested in favors and privileges from
the government attempting in every
way possible to control political af-
fairs.
Lest there be some misunderstand-
i'm I want to make clear that l dc
not believe that all men chosen by
these special interests for public Of
fees are dishonest, nor do / believe
that any large percentage of them is
i But there Is type of mind, the re-
! a -tionary. or stand pat" mind, the
possession Of which entities one. APP
! parently, to the political support Of
those interests which seek from the
government more than their just due.
If it were possible to grant favors Il
special interests without injuring you
and me and the common people gen
orally, there would be no good reason
for denying those favors. But that /:
impossible Everything these specin
interests gain by what they term ia
vorable legislation, the masses OF thu
people lose. Everything they 'os4 by
legislation which refuses to grant then
more than their due, the people of the
nation gain.
/ Eternal vigilance is the price OF lib
erty, and If the people are to contro
i this government, If they are to pre-
vent the special interests from making
pecuniary gains at their expense, the'
must be always on the alert and quiCi
to rebuke any attempt to elect to of
fee any representative of special In
terests
When the time comes, if there il
such a good day in the future, that al
the Offices are in control of the PEG
pies representatives, then the peopl
will be in position to disregard thi
issue and pay attention to specin
questions. But there is no need Of
and no purpose to be served by, argu
nient among the people on marrow
questions, when they are not in posi-
ton to get what they want after de
Gliding.
IF the people are to rule. and if tn
measures they desire are to be pu
;, into effect, it Is first necessary 70
; them to gain control of all the ma
chinery Of government, so that tina
machinery will be easily responsive I
tn ir guiding will. Until control is OBJ
tanned by the people argument ]
futile. When the captain Of a vesse
in a storm has lost control of his shil
he does not attempt to head it to thi
= mort or that port: his first effort Is t
> bring the ship back under his contro
and when that is done its course cal
he directed TO whatever port he wills.
An IndisputabIe Fact.
II has been said that this should b
, a government OF the people 6y N
a. the people and for the people. In thi