The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-03-23

HAD CLARKS PICTURE.
/ was shown cuts Of the Everglades
printed In the western papers with
quotations from Mr.. Clark to the effect
that the land should be sold by the
quart instead OF by the acre." but that
a true report on it was suppressed by
Secretary Wilson at the behest of land
promoters. His own sweet picture
adorned one Of them.
l distinctly stated that I was at q
loss to understand or account for the
attack made upon the Everglades by
MIR. Clark. I also stated that all such
attacks Injured to the benefit OF the
western railroads, who would naturally
wish to prevent the great immigration
to Florida from their territory. l
stated that the last census showed an
increase In the population of Florida
of 42.1 per cent, second to no other
state east of the Mississippi, and that
the value of the Everglades and the
feasibility of the drainage and the
healthfulness of the country had been
admitted by all who had visited the
section. 1 never once thought, nor did
/ so state. to the reporter, directly or
Indirectly, that Mr.. Clark was sliced
on by the western railroads. He siren
uously denied such. l have read that
the guilty fleeth when no man pur-
sueth."
WI NltLk IldS DeeQ several times aC-
cused Of being the tail to the kite of q
certain Florida railroad. He is nat
urally sensitive, therefore, to any re-
marks referring to railroad domina-
ton.
While In conversation with a re-
porter in the room and in the presence
OF a gentleman from Florida, this gem
tleman produced document signed by
residents Of Fort Lauderdale, Fla, the
liuf M al hnf
quarter long. This was directed to
the committee then investigating the
Everglades. 1t requested the commit
tee to visit the Everglades for them
selves. 1t stated that Mr.. Clark had
never been to the Everglades. That
when, in January last with the riverg
and harbors committee, he arrived at
the cypress on the edge OF the Ever
glades, he said, Gentlemen, here are
the Everglades. You see what they
are. This is all there is TO see. Let
US go back, as | have an engagement
with Mr.. Flagler at Palm Beach, and
towards Palm Beach his boat was
turned Immediately" Mr.. Clark stated:
That is absolutely untrue" This is
simply question of veracity between
Mr.. Clark and fully $50 of the best
citizens Of Fort Lauderdale. He used
this as means of currying favor by
speaking in the highest terms of Mr..
Flagler, a gentleman not at issue and
who in the opinion of those who know
him is kind and courteous, and who,
in my opinion, has done more for the
development OF Florida and it's re-
sources than any man in the state.
JUST NOT CAUGHT.
In the speech delivered before the
house February s, 1912, he stated:
Il do desire to say that in my little
career, public and private, whatever
else may be said of me. no man has
ever yet fixed a false statement as
erf1anating from me either in my pub
lie or private capacity"
You will observe from this that he
does not claim, as was said of George
Washington, that he never told a lie.
The inference from the foregoing is
that he was never caught in lie. He
on the one side, and the $50 citizens of
Fort Lauderdale on the other side, evil
IDENTIFY disagree as to what he did in
the matter before stated. Was he
caught?
In this same speech of February Sth.
Mr.. Clark stated:
Il have no interest in any land COM
pany in the state of Florida or else
where. I have not O foot Of Florida
land for sale in any part of the state
of Florida" Has Mr. Clark shown
enough interest in Florida to invest in
any Of IT'S lands9