The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1911-12-15
SPARkMAN STANDS ON PAST
RECORD
Declares he Has No Reason to Repu-
date Any of His Official Acts
While Serving People


Responding to the expressed wishes
of a large number of the voters of
the first congressional district CT
Florida, | have again become can
didate for the nomination to congress
from this district. With a record Of
sixteen years of service in that body
it would seem unnecessary that l
should promulgate platform of prin-
ciples, for that record speaks for it
self and should furnish a criterion oy
which my course in the future may be
determined. During this term of SER
vice l have neither represented nor
worked for any special interest or in
terests, but have endeavored to rep
resent alike all the people and every
legitimate interest in the district.
have not knowingly cast a single vote
or performed single act against the
interest of the people whom l have
had the honor of representing, but
have ever acted and spoken in their
favor. Such is the record l have to
present and by that record l am will
ing to be judged.
Knowing that ample transportation
facilities should be furnished in
order that the surplus products of
the country might be easily and
cheaply transported and distributed
among consumers at home and
abroad l have given my attention
while in congress largely to river and
harbor improvements, during which
time nearly fourteen million dollars
have been appropriated or authorized
for the rivers and harbors in our
state. But much yet remains to be
done before the demands of our rap
idly growing commerce shall have
been met. All our rivers should be
given greater depths, our harbors
still further improved, and several
canals constructed. Occupying at
this time a position which 1 trust will
the better enable me to accomplish
this work l shall to the best of my
ability endeavor to do so.
In addition to water and other
transportation facilities, and supple
mentary thereto, our public roads
occupy an important place in all
transportation problems. 1t is over
these roads that the farmer and other
producers haul much of their pro-
ducts to market or to points on rail-
roads, harbors, rivers and canals for
carriage to other localities. Just now
there is a strong and healthy senti-
ment in favor of the improvement of
usefulness may be increased, and I
believe the time has come when the
federal government should participate
in this class of improvement. l shall,
therefore use my best efforts towards
insuring such participation and to
that end shall endeavor to have con
gress enact the necessary legislation
| believe in the construction by
government of public buildings in all
towns and cities where the public
business will justify. l have already
| been instrumental in providing for
such structures in several towns in
the district, but there are yet other
places where government buildings
are needed and it will be my pleasure
to do what l can toward having them
provided as early and as expeditions
| ly as possible.
Instrumental in the first place II
having the surviving soldiers of the
Florida-Indian war of 1867 and anC
the widows of those deceased, placed
upon the pension roll. l hall continue
my efforts to have the pensions in
creased to an amount commensurate
with the great service those old pic
neers of Florida life performed in thc
early develapment of our state.
This is a progressive age and
shall assist as long as I have The
honor of representing the people c
Florida in congress to carry out al
plans Of reform looking to the better
ment of conditions affecting the mass
es
My duties in congress, now more
exacting than ever, will keep m,
away from Florida the greater par
of the time between this and tn,
primaries next year so that it may y,
impossible for me to visit all parts
of the district, but | shall, neverthe
less, see or communicate with al
many of my constituents as possibl,
during the time.
The people during the years l have
been in congress, have always giver
me very generous support, and as
am not conscious of having neglected
my duty or done anything to forfeit
their good opinion, l shall hope to re
ceive the same fair and kindly treat