The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-04-12
Special to The journal

Tallahassee, April 11.-Governor G!l-
christ today issued the following stats
ment:
In the edition Of March %. 1912, Of
the Florida Times Union appears 4
half-page advertisement in reference
to Mr.. Frank Clark. II undoubtedly
represents what he would have the
people believe of him.
In this is quoted his speech Of Feb
ruary 26, 1912. This was a speech, the
house being in committee of the whole
on the state Of the union, etc, having
under consideration a bill making ap.
preparation for fortification, ETC., and
for the procurement Of heavy ordnance,
etc. The heavy artillery of Florida sc
cured a chance to make q speech
which could be used in his campaign
in Florida, telling of the appropria-
tions which had been made in his dis
trict, and the number of public build
ings which had been erected in his dis
trtct One would naturally assume
that with his little bow and arrow"
he alone killed Cock Robin" He did.
however, state, that il is far from
my purpose to claim entire credit for
| these great appropriations" etc. The
| different senators from my state" etc,
and my colleagues from Florida" etc,
"on this floor" etc.
Only those who know Clark we'll will
see the full force of his remarks in
connection with the bill for the pro
| curement of heavy ordnance" He
failed to state that the great Atlantic
| ocean washed the eastern shore Of his
district during his term of office.
The followinsfs s,guestion from this
advertisement;
Mr.. Clarks record for honesty may
be surpassed somewhere and by some
men Of the past and present. However
the GeinTa1 rpnnr6z nj
history of the United States do not tell
the story"
Frank Clark is incapable of even
vergtng on political treachery or dis
honesty. It isn't in him TO be dis
honest politically or personally" There
isn't but one thing more which could
possibly be added to this record He
said IT himself in a speech before the
house on February s. 1912: Il do de-
sire to say that within my little ca
reer, public and private, whatever else
may be said of me, no man has ever
yet fixed a false statement as emanat-
ing from me, either in my public n
private capacity" This evidently means
that he has never made a false state
ment, or he has been too slick to have
one fixed on him.
So far as l know and believe, he is
the only man in Florida I might say
in the United States, who has ever
5oasted of such honesty and of such
truthfulness.
The heavy artillery of Florida stands
alone on the top of Mt Mckinley,
heretofore referred to in this circular.
lie has fired a broadside as to the
honesty and truthfulness Of himself.
ANOTHER STATEMENT.
The governor also issued another
statement, as follows:
Some people may have an idea that
the cost for the drainage OF the Ever
glades IS paid out of the taxes collect
ed by the state from the people AT
large By act of the legislature, a fivc-
cent drainage tax is assessed upon the
land in the Everglades district. This
district is defined by the act. II en-
braces about four million acres of land.
OF this, the state owns about a million
and a quarter acres. After the pass
&c Of the act the Florida East Coast
Railroad Co. and certain land corpora
tons owning land in this area secured
an injunction against the collection OF
this tax The case was taken 70 the.
United States courts. In the spring of
1910, these corporations agreed 10
withdraw their suit and agreed to pay
up the back taxes and subsequent
taxes.
On July 1, 1910. in the presence OF
the representative of these corpora
tions, the trustees of the internal i'm
provement fund. consisting Of the
governor and four of the cabinet, let a
contract to the Furst- Clark Company
for the excavation Of about twenty
million cubic yards. representing about
lS5 miles Of lineal length sixty feet
wide and eight feet deep, in the Ever
gla5es, this work TO be completed by
July l, 1913. This company is to re-
ceive twenty cents a cubic yard for
rock and eight cents for other mate
rial. II will cost about ten cents a