The Pensacola journal., 1913-01-08

tion's president, its congress, its courts.
its navy, its army and its gathered
treasure; and as I meditated upon all
Of these evidences of my country's
greatness and the wealth there repre-
sented. 1 thought for a time that the
very prosperity and the destiny OF the
American people found lodgment in
those headquarters of our great gov
ernment. But. my friends a little
later, in my own state IL was my good
fortune to visit for n night in the
home of one of my country friends
His was a modest, simple house, shell
tered by great trees and encircled by
field and grove. rich in harvest and
laden with fruit of golden hue. The
next day, as ! journeyed homeward, l
found myself absorbed in meditation
upon the vivid picture my country's
capital presented but few weeks be-
fore, and upon the impress and the in
spirations gathered in the home OF my
country friend; and, as / thought OF
the happiness that prevailed in that
home, of the nobility of purpose that
pervaded its occupants, of the influence
oe that stalwart citizen in his COM
munity and his part, as we'll as that
| of every citizen. in shaping the destiny
of the nation, the glittaring picture Of
our capital, its splendor and it's treas
ure faded from my mind, and 1 said
surely here, here, in the homes of the
| people is lodged the destiny of my
ccuntry-here is found its majesty and
siren gtfl---1ere is the beginning of its
power and the end of itg responsible
ties.
10 l1rrI al
here in regular session three months
hence. The governor is directed by
the constitution to communicate to
that body information concerning the
condition of the state and recommend
such measures as he may deem ex-
pedient. Details as to the public poll
cies which are contemplated to be fol-
lowed can more appropriately be dis
cussed in the message TO the legisla-
ture than upon this occasion: there
| fore I viii not now occupy your at
| tention at length upon the question of
| specific policies / made certain cam
| paign pledges as to principles, and
assure you that shall live up to
! those promises, and shall further en-
| deavor, as far as is within my power
| to fnaugurate all other policies which
| it is felt will contribute to popular
government and be for the good of the
state.
AS some of the essential parts Of
| the program which I have IN mind the
| following may be mentioned:
| Election Laws and Campaign Expenses
The primary and general election
! laws should be so perfected that all
opportunity for fraud and trickery in
elections shall be removed and cam
| paign expenses reduced to the mini
mum. I believe ninety per cent Of the
people of this state are heartily in ac-
cord with the idea that the man and
not the dollar should triumph, and
/ will welcome for all time to come a
| law that will stamp out the idea, en-
tertained by a few, that public office
| is chattel to be sold at public outcry
TO the highest bidder.
Public School Advancement.
Florida is well advanced in its pub
| lie school system. yet our present day
| progress calls for its further improve
ment, and I shall advocate the raisin g
of the standard of our common
schools. IN these practical times, l
believe we should give great import
ance to the agricultural, the mechani-
cal and domestic science features of
| school work.
Agricultural and Farm Development.
1t is my purpose 10 labor for a
greater agricultural and farm activity.
/ consider it wise that we enlarge the
work of the agricultural experiment
station at the university, in dissent
mating information to the farmers. the
truckers and the fruit growers, in con-
Quoting farmers institutes, organizing
corn clubs, tomato clubs and otherwise
stimulating farm, grove and rural de-
development. Public aid should be
given to stamp out pests that may be-
come public menace by injuring our
farm or grove products.
/ Protection of Cattle Industry.
The 1910 census credits Florida with
about 100000 head Of cattle, valued at
about eight million dollars. 1t is es-
timated that about three per cent of
these die annually from COW ticks
causing g. loss in deaths from this
source alone Of about $25,O00 a year.
The federal government in co-opera-
ton with certain of the state govern
ments has accomplished splendid re-
suits in the eradication of this pest
and I believe our state, with the aid Of
the federal government, should inau-
gurate, under the direction Of the state
board of health, movement in this
behalf
Reform of Court Procedure.
Court procedure should be simplified
and provision made for more speedy
trial in both civil and criminal cases
The time allowed for perfecting ap-
peals should be shortened and other
measure enacted to protect the eiti-
zen in his rights and secure justice
without unreasonable delay or excess
i've cost.
Reclamation of Everglades.
, Practically every citizen of our state
who is familiar with the Florida Ever
glades realizes that 1t is one Of the
| states most valuable assets. Under
more or less financial embarrassment
very marked progress has been made
towards the reclamation of this terri.
: tory within the past six years, anc
your officials are now pushing that un-
dertaking as rapidly as the finance.
available will permit. I have grea'
; faith in this enormous enterprise and
will, with my co-laborers, do every.
thing possible to accomplish the drain.