The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1911-12-04
D|GN|FED AND DECIDED
Editor r. f.. Harris of the DcaIa Ban
Dec lines to Run for Governor
and Gives His Reasons for Not
Entering the Race

ing had an ambition to become gov
ernor of Florida He nursed this am
bition for political, economic, as well
as personal reasons. Having been
thrown upon the cold charity of the
world in infancy and fighting the bat
tie Of life without prestige in the face
OF poverty and all that it implies, and
finally rounding out a we'll spent life
i'll the chief executive office of the
state of his nativity, he conceived that
would reflect in marked degree the
beauty and grandeur of our democrat
ic institutions. 1t would, at least,
nave filled TO overflowing the cup OF
his earthly aspirations.
Then. too, it is the duty one owes
to himself and to his family to occu-
py stations of honor and responsible
ity if he feels that he can satisfac-
torily and conscientiously perform
the duties that they impose.
Then, too, the executive office
clothes it's occupant with an influence
that the average citizen does not pos
sess. although his utterances on mat
teIs OF grave public concern may be
as eloquently and forcibly expressed
or even more so,
Great changes are in process of ev-
olution and more and more the hign
cost of living presses itself upon the
attention of all classes of our citizens.
Many students of political economy Le-
lieve that these conditions are brought
about through the instrumentalities of
our unjust tariff laws. Some go SO
far as to denounce the tariff as roo
berry. | belong to that school. | be-
lieve it to be pandora box of evil.
Some years ago the present excel
lent democratic governor of Massa-
chusetts, Mr.. Eugene Foss, was re-
publican congressman from that state.
Being a large merchant and manufac-
turer in Boston, he became interested
in the question of reciprocity between
our country and Canada. That led
him to believe that the interests CT
the manufacturers required free raw
material, and the, more thought he
gave to the study of the question the
more his eyes were opened to the in
justice of the system of protection
He became in turn a democratic con.
gressman, and was finally elected gov
ernor of the republican rock-ribbed
state of Massachusetts as a democrat
on the tariff issue.
Certain prominent officials in Flor
ida are giving a listening ear to his
false and persuasive tempter of pro
lection to our infant industries" II
| were governor | would, to the very
strength of my ability. bring to bear
| the influence of the office to crush
| this movement in its incipiency anC
| keep Florida in line with the illus
trious founders of the democratic par
| ty.
| In area and square miles Florida is
| the largest state west of the Missis
sippi river, save perhaps Georgia
She has within her his
toric boundaries the oldest city il
the New World. From the Perdidt
river to Cape Sable there is stretch
miles in length. Within that terri
tory We have labored in season ant
out of season to build towns and cit
les. Our efforts in that direction
have been strenuous and continuous
We have expended our energies an
our talents, and yet within that in
mense domain there is not today
town nor a city of any censiderabl
size
We have seen Jacksonville, an
Tampa, and Pensacola, and Key Wes
and Miami, grow; yea, their growt
has been prodigious, yet in all thos
years from the result of all OF
labors, no interior habitation ha
grown to the dignity of a city as ci
les are rated. In all this inland er
pire there is not a single town NJ
;. city, including all the men, wome
and children of all nationalities, tn;
could not be housed in single bull
: ing in some Of our great cities.
Why?
1t requires only single sentens
TO tell the story-freight rate discriI
| nations.
( That rich and wonderful empire
5 the state of Washington, of viii;
: Spokane is the center, had the san
milestone about its neck, but after
strenuous fight against the same j
just and unequal determinations
freight rates, and after a continue
and unceasing struggle lasting mo
= than twenty years, it has won $
nal victory. Until all interior citi
join hands in the same kind OF {
termined combat we must eXpe
these impositions to continue, and
the full measure of our contributi
in the wonderful development that
, going on AROUND and about us
must be content to act the part
mere "hewers of wood and drawers
II water"