The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-04-16
Lakeland Mans Tribute
to lion. ". A. MCRae

When no moral issue is involved !
usually content myself in every po-
litical campaign by occasionally dis
cussins the merits OF the various is
SUES presented. and casting my vote
as seems best. But consider it 4
sreat pleasure TO present to those who
a:e not personally acquainted with
Hon. W. \. McRae few interesting
facts. Those who already know him
we'll feel that his appointment to the
Office of commissioner of agriculture
to succeed the late Hon. b. +. Nc
Lin. was only a natural result of his
thorough fitness and the States great
need of safe" man.
" a. McRae is a native Floridlan.
Ills father and mother both died whel
he was only five days old. From his
sixteenth To his twentieth year We
lind him working as day laborei
earning and saving money with which
to 20 to school At twenty he entered
the Florida Normal school at De-
Funak Springs, where for three years
hi worked, in his earnest way, pre-
pairing TO teach, and teaching schools
during the summer vacations. lie
was Il successful teacher in Walton.
Holmes and jackson counties, and for
seven years taught and worked for the
upliit of the boys and girls Of the
common school. SO, when engaged
in high school work, to which his
earnestness and ability soon led him.
the boys and girls from the rural dis
tricts Hooked to him to join his classes
and there caught that spirit of thor
oughness and that inspiration that
so characterized his work. In 1900
he was elected superintendent Of pub
lie instruction in jackson county by
a magnificent majority over three OPP
lponcnts. When he assumed his du-
tics in that Office there was deficit
If $4,000 in the school funds. Al
the close of his term there was no de-
ticit, but a surplus of over $1,000, and
the schools in fine shape and a corps
OF splendid teachers all standing b!
him in his work For two terms n,
served Jackson county as Il capable
and efficient clerk of the court AM
brought the Office to Il high state O
efficiency by thorough. systematic
work and study, and voluntarily re
duccd the fees allowed by law. II wal
in this capacity that he was servins
when the call of the State to the of
flee of commissioner of agriculture
came. He did not apply for the va
cant Office but his friends. who kncI
how we'll qualified he was for thi
Office. mentioned his name and the
the different counties where he wa
best known FASTENED to endorse hi.
and before he hardly knew that h
was being seriously considered. he rt
ceived the appointment, solely upo
his merit. past record and emincn
r fitness for the place. 1t was clearl
a case of the Office hunting the ma
r well fitted and capable. w. A. Nj
v Rae answered the call apd gave up a
l Office that was paying him MOI
a money than the one he now holds b.
cause he saw his opportunity TO !
- of great service to his native Stat
- 1t has always been his create
pleasure to assist boys and girls wi
were deserving, honest and ambition
through school and into greater licl,
Of usefulness AZ one time while
:. was superintendent of public instru
Z ton i'm Jackson county and rccciviI
7" a. his only income salary of ~
!. annually, he had endorsed the not
4 oi boys and girls to the extent of mo
d than 81 900 to enable them to 80
a school. While he was clerk of Il
IT. court he assisted without charge
. clearing many land titles and help;
:. hundreds to get homes on the pu
), lie lands. With great pleasure he q
d ways did everything possible to ASST
y the Confederate soldiers and the
widows in getting their pensions, ne
3 er charging for his service. In ID
:. cember, 1909, he made trip to Tall
-, hassce at his own expense to supp
II some evidence necessary to the COZ
D. rletiOn of the pension papers of ty
n widows OF Confederate soldier
g worthy but poor. He succeeded
- getting the matter cleared and to,
their warrants back with him III
presented them with his service
n the matter as a Christmas offering
4. these thankful old mothers. No wo
s. der the boys and girls, the strol
n men and women, and the older on