The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1911-12-22
The "WHYs" OF 1T

L AO OA0oNOA1 oOdA h0&, - As
Christmas edition, devoted mich
space to pictures of and contributions
from the candidates for governor and
for congressman at large. 1t asked
each of the candidates to write an ar
ticle setting forth why he would like
to be elected. The replies are inter
esting and rather characteristic OF
each candidate.
Cromwell Gibbons would like to be
governor because he believes he can
be of service to the people" and
bring about many needed reforms
he has in view. He is for the aboli-
ton of the convict lease system, the
regulation of colonization schemes,
the better development of agricultural
resources and other things.
w. H. Milton would like to be gov
ernor because Florida needs a gov
ernor who is in favor of the interests
of the people and against the people
of the interests" The first plank in
his platform is the building of sys-
tenn of hard-surfaced roads through
out the state. He wants state inner
itance tax, the municipal ownership
of utilities, increase of the powers of
the railroad commission and liberal
pensions.
Park Trammell would like TO be
governor because if honored with the
office, it would be his ambition,
pleasure and utmost endeavor to so
acquit himself in that high station as
to render to his fellow Floridians "a
public service that will rebound to
their benefit and betterment and to
their credit" He says a public Off
Ger should be "a live, vital, aggressive
force" striving to bring about the
adoption of such measures as will i'm.
prove the social and material inter
ests" of the people.
| John W. Watson would like to be
governor because sit is no little hon.
or" and because he wants to assist
| in bringing about the things he has
advocated for years-the uniform val
uation of all property, good roads all
over the state, change in the con.
vict system, a new hospital for the
insane, including an asylum for inc
briates, a fair system of disposing OF
the state lands, and the strict enforce
ment of the laws. Mr. Watson says
that If elected he will offer every pos
sible inducement to homeseekers, es-
pecially farmers.
Only three of the candidates for
! congressman at large responded to
the Journals inquiry. J. Ed O'Brien
would like to be elected because he
believes he is capable, through long
service at Washington, and because
he esteems it high honor. Claude
L'Engle gives many reasons, first of
which is that he believes he can rep
resent the people ito their profit and
advantage" George c. Martin says
he believes he will be able, as mem
Der of congress, to assist in procur-
| ing such legislation as shall add to
the happiness and prosperity of the
people.
None of these expressions contain
anything new or enlightening to the
people of the state. They are the
repetition of the same old threadbare
hand-me-down propositions which we
have been hearing from candidates
for ten years or more AS the Trib-
une remarked some time ago, not a
new issue has been presented in
Florida politics since Broward issued
his drainage map. Even Mr.. Gibbons,
! striving for novelty, goes back into
the Everglades.
The next campaign will be one of
persons, not MISUNDERSTANDING Trib-
une.