The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1913-01-10

With this revolution in political
thought, the citizens of Florida are
largely in sympathy. They are well
forward in the movement to secure
and perpetuate genuine popular gov.
eminent. 1t shall be my earnest en-.
deavor, nay fellow-citizens, to assist in
securing legislation and in following
policies which will firmly entrench
the people in the control of their gov.
ernment-National, State County and
Municipal There seems today to be
a greater unanimity of popular senti
ment and a clearer recognition of
popular power and rights in support
of the idea of government meaning
justice to all and special privileges
to none than at any time during the
% Tsp half century-and upon this hap
py condition | most heartily congratu-
late our State and the Nation.
Today, as l look to the future with
a desire to do, and build hopes for
accomplishing something worth while
for those whom | have been called to
serve, and whose happiness, content
ment and welfare weighs heavily
upon my heart, realize, as you must,
that the extent of my accomplish
ments and achievements as a public
servant rest largely upon the degree
OF cooperation and sympathy which
shall be accorded me by the citizens
of this state.
l believe the people should take an
active, militant and discriminating in.
terest in the conduct of the business
of the commonwealth; that they
should scrutinize the acts of their Of
fcials and at all times feel free to
exercise their right and privilege to
make known their needs and the pub
lie demands. He can best serve who
is most familiar with the conditions
and the problems which surround
those he represents While l shall
do all in my power to keep in touch
with the requirements of the citizens
of my State, and to accomplish all
possible in their behalf, | appeal for
the sympathy and the aid of the peo
pie of Florida, and urge that they
lend their influence towards the in
auguration of every policy necessary
for the public good.
We gather from our own expert
ence and from the lessons of history
that the basic strength and stability
of government is lodged in the peo-
pie. So long as they are safe in their
freedom and liberty, protected in their
and secured in their rights
by the law, prosperity and happiness
will abound; but when their rights
are infringed, their function in gov
eminent trampled upon, such condi-
tons unless soon checked lead to de-
cay and the final decline of the err
ing nation.
We point with pride to the increas-
ing wealth OF our State; We are just
ly proud of our untold resources; We
rejoice in thoughts of the limitless |
value of the material wealth of our
Nation, and every American citizen |
feels proud Of his country and hope
full for it's destiny; but when we look |
behind all of those evidences of the |
and grandeur of State |
and Nation, we find the citizen to be |
the foundation of good government |
the architect and builder of all our |
wealth.
The Florida Legislature will meet |
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 recon- |
mend such measures as he may deem |
eXpedient. Details as to the public |
policies which are contemplated to be |
can more appropriately be |
discussed in the message to the Leg |
islature than upon this occasion
therefore, | will not now occupy your |
attention at length upon the question |
of policies in detail. made certain
campaign pledges as to principles,
and | assure you that l shall live
up to those promises, and shall fur
Their endeavor, as far as is within |
nv power, to inaugurate all other pro
gressive policies which it is felt will |
contribute to popular government and
be for the good of the State.