The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1912-04-05
Ie MEN TO
sPARkMAN
WORKING

chairman of the rivers and aarbcrs
committee of the house, and member
from the first district of Florida, ar
rived in Tampa yesterday to make a
short canvass of the voters in his
district. This will be the first active
campaigning Colonel Sparkman has
done for himself this time, having
been kept in Washington until now
by the pending appropriations bill fol-
harbor improvements.
This proposition of harbor improve
ments, Col. Spd-kman believes, is the
most important of all to Florida, the
safe which has approximately 1900
miles of coast line, and he would not
leave Washington with it unsettled,
His work for this bill brought Con.
gresham Mann, minority leader in
the house, to his feet with little dig
at Mr.. Sparkman, saying that he did
not believe the congressman from
a single creek in the state.
There is just one thing" said Con-
gresham Sparkman yesterday, that
can take me back to Washington be-
fore | have made a short visit to all
the sections comprising the first dis
trict."
He did not say what this is, but
those who know that Mrs. Sparkman
has been i'll for long time in a san
atorium in Baltimore, know that he
referred to her condition. If he re-
ceives news that her conditions is be-
coming worse, he will return to her
bedside
Optimistic Over Outlook
Congressman Sparkman is optimis-
tic over the outlook for democratic
victory in national affairs. He says
there is no chance for anything but
Taft in republican ranks and predicts
that the next administration will be
democratic from the executive to the
house clerkships.
This condition, he believes, will be
strong for Florida and the continual
ton of the deep water work that has
been started. He is practically pledg-
ed to deeper water for his home port
of Tampa, and the bill recently pass
ed contained appropriations for sur
veys that only few months ago none
believed possible to secure.
AS to his own election, Mr. Spark
man says that he has been too busy
in Washington to plan anything in
the way of campaign in Florida, but
that everything he has been doing
has been more to the interest of his
district than it would have been had
he been holding political meetings
and stumping every county. He hopes
to make quick trip over the district,
meeting every voter possible to see,
answer him in person any questions
he may desire to ask, and explain
why he decided. to make the race
again, and the Importance of holding
the advantage of the position as
chairman of the rivers and harbors
committee for Florida.
Workinemen for Sparkman
Originating in the Tampa organiza-
tons and destined to go through the
entire district is movement among
the workingmen of the district, ask
ing that all who have the welfare of
the section in which they live at heart
to use every effort to get their friends
to vote for Sparkman. The resolu-
ton which is going the rounds and
is meeting with ready response,
readsa
"The laboring men of the first con-
gressional district have thoughtfully
considered the good work that Mr..
Sparkman has done in the way of
helping bills that are favorable not
only to them, but to all classes of
people, and realizing that there is no
possibility of getting as good a man
to represent this district
"Mr. Sparkman ably worked for the
passage of the federal boiler inspec-
ton bill, which is not only safe
guard to the travelling public, but also
to the men that are employees of the
common carriers of this country
Some men have put up the argu-
ment that Mr.. Sparkman has been in
congress long enough. That is entire
ly opposite to our views, as We think
that the longer a mechanic of any
kind is employed at his trade the
more proficient he becomes, or any
man in any position that requires pro-
ficiency must have the practical ex-
perience as well as the mental facul-
ties to further not only his own in