The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1912-04-05

This true and attractive picture Of
Everglade farming will undoubtedly en-
courage immigration into south Florida.
The state of Florida, this time as well
as the land companies, is engaged in the
delectable practice of highway robbery.
So, too, in the Chicago Examiner OF
February 9, 1912, "High officials in
Florida, as we'll as in the Department
of Agriculture, will be caught in this
the Everglade) investigation" prom
ised Mr.. Clark.
Once more, in the New York World,
February Sth, it is stated that "Engin-
GERS advised Clark that the Everglade)
lands are valueless, and that the alleged
improvements sanctioned by the State
did not add any value" This, though
over 40 per cent of the great State canals
have already been completed at cost
of over one million dollars.
Again, in the Jacksonville Metropolis
of December IS, 1911, Mr.. Clark (who
knows nothing of Everglade drainage
and who yet represents the district in
Congress) doubts the outcome (of the
drainage) under present methods" and
is opposed TO the plans OF reclamation
adopted by certain State officials"
The Washington Times of Decem.
Der IS, 1911, quotes Mr.. Clark to the
effect that he is opposed to the exploit.
tation of lands, whose satisfactory
drainage is uncertain, and whose value,
even if drained, problematical."
From the San Francisco Examiner oil
December 6, 1911. take the following
"Ctark says that the issuing of this let.
ter. (the Elliott circular, characterized by
Major Wright under oath, as misleading,
full of half truths and unfair TO the
'GladeS) would have saved so, 900 inves-
tors the loss OF money they now
mourn"
The foregoing quotations are samples
of Mr.. Clark's newspaper talk about the
Everglades, which have gone over the
United States every few days for the
last three months. have here partial
list which shows that "The Everglades
Scandal" has caused comment (almos
uniformity unfavorable) in 2SO newSpa
pers in 43 states. This is decidedly far
reaching. Mr.. Clark has claimed tina
he was protecting his state. In reality
he has accused not only the Everglade
land companies, but the state itself o.
robbery. He has made light OF, OF
doubted, the outcome of the great drain
age work and has questioned the value
of the Everglade soil. He has be
Smirched the name of his State and hat
in every way belittled the very thing
that is making his district great. He
has, repeat, attacked not only the land
companies but the value of the Ever
gladeS, and the good faith of the state ir
proceeding to drain them. He has done
this ignorantly, without investigation
knowing that he represented the Ever
gladeS district officially and in the eye
of the country. His Misrepresentation
on this vital subject have been collossa
and continual. No plea of his desire
for the truth, or his desire TO protect hi
state can have weight when the fact
are known. According TO Governo
GilchriSt, he has damaged his State (no
the land companieO to the extent o
millions of dollars.
Mr.. Clark inferS, in his recent Gaines
vile speech, that he has attained, ate
several years of waiting, position o
power in the House of Representatives
The more powerful he is, the mor'
dangerous will he be TO his district ant
state, if his attitude toward the Ever
gladeS is a criterion-and the sooner de
feated he is the safer will be the gooC
name of this district and of the State o
Florida. Yours truly,
H. G. RALSTON.