The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-09-03

day it would be difficult to find anyone
who will dispute that proposition, but
nevertheless it is with us, as it has
been with our forefathers, the allah
sorbing political question. That is TO
say each and every election has some
bearing on making this more, or less,
truly government in the interests Of
all the people.
All legislation should be measured
by this standard, and every executive
act should be considered in its rela-
ton to it. My position on all specific
public questions will be taken in the
belief on my part that this or that
measure, this or that act would be in
the interest of the masses of the peo-
pie as opposed to that of the special
interests which seek so actively to
control our political affairs. ---'--------
For forty years American govern
ment, state and federal has been more
or less in the control of the special in
terests, and the people have been
fighting and struggling to have specific
ideas as to legislation adopted. Those
efforts have not been altogether in
vain, but to a large extent have failed.
But believe that a new day is dawn
ing. new era is coming in American
politics. All over the land real, pa
triotic American citizens are seeing the
issue, realizing the gravity Of the sit
uation. and making the fight for con-
troll of their own government. and in
making the fight. and in winning it,
they are paying no attention to any
other question than this, Shall the
people or the special interests control
our politics ?"
1t may be said that It is dema-
goguery to raise again this question.
which has been raised so many times
in the last few years in Florida, but
my answer to that is, that I sincerely
believe that our institutions, both state
and federal, are threatened with con
troll by selfish and privileged special
interests, and that it behooves all of
us and each of us, all the time, to use
every effort that in our power is, to
keep this government of the people a
government by and for the people.
In every campaign in the state since
the adoption of the primary system.
the question has been asked not by
professional politicians but by citizens
generally, Who have the corporations
put up for their candidate?" If this
question has been raised in all past
campaigns and is being REPEATED now,
why call it demagoguery to direct at
tention to the issue presented by it in
the coming campaign?
Believing, as I do, that this is the
| fundamental issue in Florida politics
| today, I should feel that I had been
| derelIct in my duty unless I gave the
| people of Florida an oDDortunity 10
pass directly on this great question.
As I stated, this is not intended as
/ a platform. 1t is intended simply as
an outline of the position which have
| always taken and which I shall take
during the campaign that is now upon
US. I shall not in this letter attempt
| to discuss any Of my opponents with
respect to their attitude upon this is
sue Perhaps later, when the cam
paign is in full progress, I shall take
w the records of each of them and
| consider those records as indicating
their stand on this question.
| Unless the people of Florida believe
| that I stand on the right side of this
| question, that I am in favor of the in
| terests of the people as opposed to the
people of the interests, they should not
elect me governor of Florida I trust
however, that before the campaign is
ended I shall have been able to con-
vince them that my position on this
question, which Is the Fundamental
issue in the politics Of the state and
nation today, has always been and nov
/ is right.