The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-04-21

he has so successfully done for those
he represented and as a private citizen
only in that long determined struggle
just mentioned. While speaking of
Mr.. O'Brien's great achievement. of
defeating the scheme of the ship own
ers, with a newspaper man in New
York, some few years back, the gentle
man said "O'Brien's popularity with
all the members of congress and their
expressed confidence in the mans
honor, and honesty of purpose. was
what won the majority against Little
fields bill. In his native, straightfOr-
ward way the president of the Pilots
Association was able. easily, to show
congressman that the repeating of the
compulsory pilotage law would not
benefit shippers, but only the ship
owners, who would add to their other
profits the amount of the pilotage.'
This was from a man long connected
with the leading shipping newspaper
of New York. And there may be had
hundreds of such testimonials to the
ability, sincerity and singleness Of
purpose of Captain O'Brien, who. even
as private citizen, is an honor to his
state, as he is also to his adopted
city.
Now, of the six gentlemen-all ma
tive Floridians presumably, all
worthy, it will be allowed, but five Of
them are practically unknown outside
OF Florida, perhaps unknown outside
of their respective districts, one will
be chosen to represent the whole OF
the state in congress. Let any voter
without prejudice consult his own
judgment as to which one of the elk
candidates would best represent all
the people Of the state-the one who
hn RI W ~
operation of other members of con-
gress in any proper thing he would ask
for his people. Naturally the one
having already a national reputation
for honesty and ability would be the
one indicated.
Everything that makes for success
as a congressman is in favor of Cap
tain O'Briens nomination. He knows
the needs of his state, which means
tho people thereof, better, I venture
to say, in regard to transportation by
water, than any other in the state.
His whole life has been spent in con-
nection with ships and shipping. Upon
any proposition coming before con-
gress relating to shipping, water
ways, harbor improvements, and kim
dred affairs, Captain O'Brien's opinion
would have imme >urably greater
weight than could be expected from
any mere theorist, no matter how
fluent or how earnest he might be.
And not the least of Mr.. O'Brien's ad-
vantage is he knows the temper of
congress-knows the majority of its
n. embers-and of both parties. for j.
Ed. O'Brien, though a Democrat by
birth and by choice, is good mixer,
as the street phrase has ii. His poll
tical conscience is not so exclusive that
he would refuse the aid of his Repub-
lican neighbor if his house were on
fire, or the life of his favorite child
were in danger. Some Democrats. So
called. boast of their belief that there
is nothing good outside of Democracy.
Such men misrepresent their con-
stituents. Captain O'Brien does not
require that a fellow citizen show his
party badge before he will consent to
help him, nor does he exclude his
avowed enemies when it happens that
he can be of service to his people. AN
instance of this kind the people of
Warrington had an opportunity to
witness two years ago. About that
time the secretary of the navy issued
orders that all persons upon the naval
reservation not connected with the
yard should get off the land. This
writer with others were looking about
for some way to have that order re-
voked. 1t was proposed to send a law
yer to Washington to plead our case.
~ pilot, not over friendly with Cap
tain O'Brien, suggested that ED.
O'Brien could do more for US than any
lawyer we could send" At the time