The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-03-13
CONGRESSMAN SPARKMAN.


over the country in the election oil
members for the 62nd Congress, the
Democrats took full and undisputea
charge 0. the House OF Representa-
tives. Having been out OF power for
about eighteen years and knowing
that the greatest possible care should
be taken in the selection of the men
who were to steer the various COM
mittees in the direction OF safe,
sane and economical consideration OF
the numerous bills coming before
them, they started out placing Hon.
5. NJ. Sparkman, as chairman OF the
committee on rivers and harbOrs, one
of the most important committees in
the gift OF the Congress. The rivers
and harbOrs committee was used BY
previous Congresses to help the party
in power without any consideration
whatever for the people of the cOun-
try who were deeply interested in
getting proper consideration for their
rivers and harbOrs.
This committee that had been used
as Republican asset for years and
which had appropriated millions and
hundreds of millions of the peoples
money in such manner as to bene-
fit the interests" had to be placed in
the charge of a man who was intel
lectually big enough to handle it in
the interest of the whole people; a
man who could not be swerved by
the bait of the interests" who could
not be wined and dined with the
hope of diverting the appropriations
from their legitimate channels. The
man selected to fill these require
ments, and who would best handle
the peoples money and direct it to-
ward the rivers and harbors that had
SO long been neglected was the Hon.
Stephen NJ. Sparkman, of Florida.
Florida should, and we think it does
appreciate this honor. 1t is well
known that Florida has the largest
sea coast OF any state in the union,
and it needs IA man with the great
power and authority such as the
chairman Of the rivers and harbors'
committee has to look after its in.
terest.
1t has been our great pleasure to
have known Mr.. Sparkman for a
number of years past, to have fur.
nished him from time to time, with
data In the interest OF the men and
women who work SO he could help
fight our battles, for the right which
he was always willing and anxious
to do. When legal knowledge was
necessary to our success. Sparkman
was never too busy to help out, At
no time was mis- vote cast either In
committee or upon the floor of the
House against US. Always an ad.
vocate of the men who work. always
ready to assist them and always en-.
titled to and deserving of their high.
est praise and consideration.
Florida has in the Hon. Stephea
N. Sparkman one Of the biggest men
in knowledge, power and ability of
any state in the Union. He has
charge of the one committee SO nee
assary to the welfare of his state
lie Is now and will be SO long as the
Democrats control the House of Rep.
rcsentatives in position to benefit
it more than any other one man
Were ii not for this fact and for the
fact that labor needs him in the
lower house. we should strongly ad-
vocate his promotion to the Senat.
He can not be spared from where he
is, regardless of the fact that he
would be a real Senator. as he is 4
real Congressman, were he so elevat-
ed The state wants him and want;
him badly as chairman of the rivers
and harbOrs committee. Labor wants
him and wants him daily and hourly
on every question that affects the
men and women who toll, and il
would be crime against both these
great interests were he to retire or
decline longer to serve.-The Knights
of Labor Journal. Washington, d. c..
March. 1912.
TEDDY" DOOMED. SAYS GIL.