The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1913-01-10
NEW CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF TAKES THE OATH or Or
FIcE AT ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS CEREMONIES MARKED
THE PROCEEDINGS
INAUGURAL ADDRESS A MESSAGE TO PEOPLE OF STAT
TrammeI Outlines Policy Administration and Av
of Reforms improvements N.
. ent State Departments and Institutions


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
last half century-and upon this hap
Ply condition | most heartily cOngratu-
late our State and the Nation.
Today, as | look to the future with
a desire to do. and. build hopes for
accomplishing something worth while
for those whom l 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
ficials 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 | 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
property 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
magnificence and grandeur of State
and Nation, we find the citizen to be
the foundation of good government,
the architect and builder of all our
material wealth.
Some months ago I visited our Ma
tional capital. AS | called in the va
rious departments and beheld their
magnitude, splendor and magnifcence,
was thrilled with pride and inspired
with even greater love for my coun
try. | was impressed with the tre
mendous powers assembled there
with the responsibilities there center.
ed-the Nations President ITS Con.
gress, its Courts. its Navy, its Army
and it's gathered treasure; and as
medHated upon all Of these evidences
of my country's greatness and the
wealth there represented, l thought
for a time that the very prosperity
of our country and the destiny of the
American people found lodgment in
those headquarters of our great gov
eminent But, my friends, little Ia
ter in my own state, it was my good
fortune TO visit for 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 fruits of golden hue. The
next day, as journeyed homeward, l
found myself absorbed in meditation
upon the vivid picture my countrys
capitol presented, but a few weeks
before, and upon the impress and the
inspirations gathered in the home or
my country friend; and, as l thought
of the happiness that prevailed In tnat
home, of the nobility of purpose that
pervaded it's occupants, of the inf1u-
ence of that stalwart citizen In his
community and his part, as well as
that of every citizen, in shaping the
destiny of the Nation, the glittering
picture of our Capitol, its splendor
and it's treasure faded from my mind,
and l said surely here, here, in the
homes of the people is lodged the des-
tiny of my country-here is found its
majesty and strength-here is the be-
ginning of it's power and the end OF
It's responsibilities.
The Florida Legislature will meet
here in regular session three months
l. ID hxT