The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-02-06
AGRICULTURAL
COMMISSIONER
BEING PRAISED
APPOINTMENT OF JOHN c. LuN.
ING TO FILL UNExPIRED TERM
OF q. {. MLIN is APPROVED
THROUGHOUT THE STATE,
Special to The journal.

Tallahassee, Feb. 6.-In regard to
the governors appointment Of Hon.
Jno. c. Luning to be Commissioner
Of Agriculture, prominent citizen at
the state capitol gave out the follow
ing interview this morning:
In making an appointment TO fill
the vacancy in the office of Commits
sicner of Agriculture caused by the
sad death a few days ago of Hon. B.
Il. NTcLin Governor Gilchrist has
again shown his determination to JUS
tffy the power of appointment vested
in the chief executive by naming ab-
sclutely the best fitted man to be
found, wholly regardless of politics or
OF any other consideration except the
welfare of the public service.
Hon. John G.. Luning, OF Leesburg
the newly appointed Commissioner of
Agriculture, is best described as a
level-headed, reliable business man,
o. vigorous mind. quick perception.
sound Judgment and natural instinct
for being fair and square in every
thing he does. OF all the excellent
appointments for which even the Gov
ernor's critics give him credit, it is
doubtful if any selection has been
more admirable or fitting for the
duties TO be discharged than Mr. Lun-
ing's unsolicited selection for the head
of the State Agricultural Department
Born in Albany, Georgia, 4s years
ago, Mr.. Luning came to Florida in
1882, at the age Of Is, and settled in
LeeSburg, Lake county. His substan-
tial qualities early commanded the at
tention and confidence of his neigh
bcrs and today he enjoys the respect
ard admiration of all Floridians who
have known him during his thirty
nf rHcs6n1arsa tn T.
has engaged successfully in the news
paper business, orange growing and
other business enterprises. and may
appropriately be termed an "aIl around
good man"
Mr. Luning was twice elected Mayor
O. LeesbuEg. And was postmaster at
Leesburg under Cleveland's admins
tfation. He served ten consecutive
years as member of the Board OF
County Commissioners of Lake county,
being chairman of the board during
six years of that service. The people
OF his home town and county recall
with great satisfaction the construc-
tive and progressive service which he
rendered them.
Early in 1906, at the solicitation of
Hon. B. e. McLin, Commissioner of
Agriculture, Mr.. Luning came to Tall
anassee to accept the responsible po-
sition Of Chief Clerk in the AgricuI-
tural Department. Mr.. McI4in had
known Mr.. -Llniag intimately in Lake
county for twenty odd years, and well
knew his splendid qualifications. for
serving IS his right-han man in di.,
roofing the very important and wide
ly-dlFersifled matters handled by that
departn ent as now constituted All
who Were associated with Mr., McLin
at the time, half a dozen years ago,
remembered the feeling of gratifica-
ticn and security which he felt and
expressed at getting such a capable
and useful man at the head of his
ONCE force. In that work Mr. Luning
was not only the commissioners chief
clerk but his trustee friend and ad-
wiser. He handled the dtail work of
the department upon the highest at
tainable plane of efficiency, and was
soon in the enjoyment of the conf
dence and respect Of all the officials
in Tallahassee.
Towards the end of 1903, the work
of the trustees of the Internal Inn
provement Fund and of the Board of
Drainage Commissioners had, by rea-
son Of the rapid development of the
great Everglades drainage project,
reached such proportions that it was
deemed advisable to reorganize the
Office force of those boards. BY COM
mon agreement of the o Gals con-
shutting the boards, Mr.. Luning was
turned to as the best-required man to
be found for the position of secretary
for the boards Commissioners McLin,
member of the boards, advised him
to accept that place OF still larger USE
fulness and responsibility. Accord
ingly, Mr.. Luning was in December,
1909, unanimously elected secretary to
the trustees and the drainage commits
sioners. In this placehis unusual ex-
ecutive ability, his practical common
sense and his careful and honest at
tention to every duty imposed upon
him have been Of the greatest as
sistance to the officers who have
charge of the vast drainage project.
At Tallahassee and in other places
where Mr.. Luning is known. the Inn
preston is universal that the Govern
or could have secured the state with
out finding a betterfitIed man to sue
coed Mr.. McLin in directing the many
important functions vested in the Of
flee of commissioners of agriculture.
The new commissioners is an approach
able, frank brainy, trustworthy sort OF
q man who soon wins your confidence