The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-04-03
SPEECHES ARE
DELIVERED IN
ESCAMB|A CO.
CROMWELL GIBBONS, WILL H..
WATSON AND WORTH TRAM
NELL SPEAK AT BLUFF r
SPRINGS AND CENTURY.

The voters of Bluff Springs and
Century heard from candidates FOR
state offices, or their representatives.,
last night and yesterday, when Crom-
well Gibbons, VIII II. Watson and
Worth Trammell visited those places
and made addresses.
The meeting at Bluff Springs was
the first OF the day, and good sized
crowd attended and heard the three
speakers. Mr.. Watson spoke for Hon.
w. II. Milton, candidate for governor
who could not be present, owing TO
being I'm another section of the state,
while Worth Trammell spoke for his
brother, Hon. Park Trammell.
The meeting last night was at Cen
fury and was presided over by w. II.
Mayo, who introduced the speakers,
who were the same as at Blum
Springs. The meeting was largely at
tended and the crowd much interested
ir the addresses. Mr.. Gibbons spoke
in part as follows:
The first part of the address of Col.
Gibbons was devoted to the urgent
need of more thorough regulation of
common carriers operating in Florida,
and Col. Gibbons pointed out that this
can be accomplished only by giving
the railroad commission the real au-
thority and power to enforce it's
rulings which it now sadly lacks. This
phase of his platform he handled with
little feeling for what.on might think
the railroads and other great COM
mon carriers have come to consider
their inherent rights. He plainly
stated conditions and their underlying
cause and pointed out the direct and
effective remedy.
1--WE do not have to look about for
evidence to convince us that 1t has
become absolutely necessary that the
people take a hand now said Col.
Gibbons. I'VE have 1t on all hands.
We see the railroads obeying the man
dates OF our railroad commission
when 1t suits them. They ignore or
disobey orders with full knowledge
that the commission is powerless to
infiict punishment. We see palatial
trains bringing tourists into Florida,
while those of us who patronize the
railroads the year round and who give
these corporations the power to do
business in this state ride on locals
that are unsanitary, poorly equipped
and generally behind time. The dis
parity is too great to permit us to
sleep comfortably.
Developing the State.
We have reached the point where
we must give very careful considera-
ticn to plans for the development of
our state. The minds of the people
are more or less occupied at this time
with the heated discussion of the
drainage OF the Everglades. want it
understood that ] am not opposed to
the drainage and reclamation of the
Everglades, but l take the position
that this great work will never be ac-
complished under the present policies
OF the state. II is very plain that the
state is suffering in this proposition.
The original purpose of drainage adj
vocates was to conserve the vast
acreage involved for our own people,
and no one expected that these lands
were to fall into the hands Of specu-
lators and be exploited and misrepre-
sented at the expense of the state.
IF the state is to be even remotely
responsible for the Everglades 1t
should see that there is no misrepre-
sentation on the part of those who
have acquired the right to deal in
these lands. The state should give the
truth to the world. and then stand by
at any cost to see that purchasers of
undrained Florida lands are fairly
dealt with.
Convict Lease System.
Another important issue which the
voters must settle at this coming
primary is the abolition OF the convict
lease system and the substitution of
other. employment for prisoners. 1t is
my opinion that convicts should be
worked in the construction of fine
highways. In this way they will per-
form work of lasting value to all the
people and for the immediate and
rapid enrichment Of the state with
out In any way coming in competition
with free labor.
Home Government.
We are getting further AWAY from,
nome government. and the need for a
change Is becoming very pressing.
our county commissioners need more
power, but this is particularly impera-
tive in the case of Municipalities.
Towns and cities should have the
right TO make or change their charters
by vote, and without having to appeal
10 the legislature. They understand
their own local problems and are ca
pable of solving them in a far more
satisfactory manner than can repre-
sentatives from all parts of the state.