The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1912-04-05
GIBBONS STARTS
PUTNAM CAMPAIGN
Addresses Large Audience at
0rpheum Theatre Friday
Niqht.

"Ss-
Col. Cromwell Gibbons of Jackson
vile, candidate for Governor of Florida,
opened his campaign in Putnam County
with an address at the Orpheum theatre
last Friday night, with large audience
present Col. Gibbons was introduced
by Mayor Howell A. Davis in brief but
happy vein, and was greeted with a
round of applause when he arose. For
more than an hour Col. Gibbons held
his audience while he discussed the
principle measures TO which he is COM
mitted, illustrating the same with fire.
quent amusing anecdote. During the
day the Colonel talked freely with the
representative of the News.
81 have been in many sections of the
state within the past two or three weeks,
and am entirely satisfied with the out
look for a splendid lead in the first pri-
mary" This is the way Col. Cromwell
Gibbons sums up the progress made in
behalf of his nomination. Colonel Glib
bons spent Friday and part of Saturday in
Palatka, and while here held number
of conferences with friends here and
from other sections of the county. On
the Monday before he addressed big
mass meeting of voters OF Sumter county
at the new county seat of Bushnell.
He was accorded rousing reception
there, and left his campaign with a new
life and energy that will mean some
thing when the ballots begin TO fall
April 30th. The situation in Putnam
county and Palatka is particularly en-
couraging," said Colonel Gibbons" and
] am deeply grateful to my friends for
their very intelligent and efficient ef
forts in my behalf. have been pleased
with the outlook in all parts OF the state.
As matter of fact, the people of Flori-
da never had SO many grave issues be-
fore them as those involved in the ap.
preaching primary. | have very pro-
nounCed views on some OF them, and !
am glad TO say that they seem TO coin
eide with the beliefs OF the majority OF
voters whom have had the pleasure of
meeting or reaching by letter. The
necessity for the abolition of the con
vict lease system, and the manifest ur
gency of a broad program of highway
construction, the absolute necessity for
giving the railroad commission sufficient
powers TO make and enforce such regu
lations as are necessary for the protect
ion of the state against unreasonable
rates and ruling, and the imperative de-
mand for development of the thousands
of acres of interior lands are some OF
the matters that are interesting the
voters of the state at this time. In the
towns and cities particularly there is an
inSiStent cry for more extended powers
Of home government.
"The system of leasing convicts TO
the highest bidder is doomed. Then
we must decide what we will do with
them. 1t would be unfair TO place
prison labor in competition with free
men, even if the standard of intelligence
would average we'll enough TO employ
them in industries demanding skill
them on the roads. We are all agreed
that we must have better highways. II
means great deal 10 the state of Flori-
da. We are too far behind other states
in this phase of our development. The
change, however, should be brought
about gradually SO as not to disturb the
equilibrium of the states finances too
much.
81 am sure the people of Putnam
county will agree with me that there is
urgent need of government that is
closer to the people of each community.
81 am unaterably opposed 10 any
abridgement of the rights of home
government. The people of our towns
and cities should have the right TO make
or change their charters without legiS
lative interference, and the state should
have the right TO the time of the mem
berS of the legislature in other and more
general matters. 1t is a fact that seventy
per cent of the time of the legislature is
taken up with bills affecting charter and
other changes for the towns and cities OF
Florida. This isn't right and ii isn't
representative. The people of each
community are better qualified 10 Judge
of their needs than the members of the
Legislature who come from other sections
of the state and are not expected TO be
familiar with problems that are local in
their nature
81 am standing Squarely for broader
and more effective interior develop
ment through the mediums of we'll
organized publicity and immigration
departments. You have thousands of
acres of magnificent farming lands in
your county that would be very attrac-
tive 10 people of worth and means in
other states if the matter were properly
brought TO their notice. An immigra
ton bureau could work wonders with
our rich and productive but unpeopled
acres. There are some 34,OOO,0OO acres
of splendid lands in the state of Florida
which do not need reclamation, but only
three per cent of this vast total is actually
under cultivation. We should by all
means provide to eliminate land frauds
that have been perpetrated upon people
in other sections to the permanent detri
ment of the state of Florida. We should
see that those who are invited TO settle
in Florida get exactly what they pay for.
at is also time that the people give
the railroad commission of Florida the
real authorities which are necessary for
the proper protection of the interests of
the state against abuses of franchises
given common carriers We should
also take definite steps toward the curb,
ing of the trusts and monopolis which
are Just as much a problem in Florida as
they are in other states"
For County Superintendent.
On Saturday last Prof. J. D, Cotting