The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1914-01-23
SENATOR FLETCHER
DESERVES REELECTION

The following from the Jackson
vile News comes very near express
ing the Stars opinion in regard to
the present senatorial contest:
Apparently to crafty one mans
ambition and to satisfy few private
cuarrels, Florida is asked to break
precedent that has obtained unbrok-
en since the war, and to humiliate
without just cause one of its most
faithful and effective public servants.
A sense of duty to the people it rep
Eesents prompts the News to oppose
such procedure. Therefore it shall
from this date lend it's editorial sup
port to the campaign for reelection
of United States Senator Duncan L.
Fletcher to the final limit of its
ability.
Without a single exception, Flor
ida has accorded her senators Sec
ond term. In every instance it has
been deserved. In the case of Sen
ator Fletcher it is particularly APP
pr0priate as manifestation of ap-
probation. Aside from that entire
Iy. 1t would be a costly error to dis
place a man who has attained the
usefulness to his state that Senator
Fletcher has been able to command.
He is chairman of numerous import
" responsible for federal appropria-
tons for Florida which total ST.
100000.
Senator Fletchers broad patriot
ism has been recognized by two adj
ministrations, and by the great in
terests of the Southern people which
found expression in his election as
president of the Southern CONNER
cial Congress and of the Mississippi
to Atlantic Inland Waterways Asso-
citation and as a director Of the Ma
t4onal Rivers and Harbors Congress.
Perhaps the greatest work of Sen
ator Fletcher has been in connection
with the subject of rural credits and
finance and cooperation for the ben
eft of the nations agricultural in
ferests. He is chairman of the COM
mission named by President Wilson
to study this project in Europe for
the purpose OF submitting it's find
Ings and recommendation to Con-
gTess He is chairman of the Amer
lean commission assembled by the
Southern Commercial Congress.
These duties and those attaching to
his senatorial work directly have
made very strong calls on his time.
He has practically abandoned his pri-
vate interests to meet the public de-
mand
Some of the lighter honors that
have been conferred involved junk
pense of the government, but Sena-
tor Fletcher has stuck to his work
It has told for the nation and partic-
ularly for Florida. His record as a
public servant is unassailable, and
Ills accomplishments have been gi
gantic, as public service goes in these
sordid days. BY sheer force of per
sonality and by virtue of real states
raanship, Senator Fletcher has made
himself invaluable to the people O.
his state 1t would not only be foil!
To displace him with an entirely new
man, just as the Panama Canal il
being completed and when Florid;
needs its strongest sons in the Sen
ATE for the proper protection of thu
interests of this state, with a maj
who would be, to say the least, en-
Guainted with the routine and rami
fications of legislative procedure a
Washington. Fletcher is a trainet
man and power. He is capable an,
conscientious
F'letcher's opponent is a splendi
gentleman, and would doubtless be
fine figure in course of time, but-h
Is inopportune just at this time. H
isn't needed No man can be blan
ed for an ambition to serve his state
zor can any man be really blame
for ambitions that are not more pei
sonal. But there would be grea
blame attaching to the people OF tn
state of Florida if they allowed thes
considerations to weigh against tn
best interests of the commonwealth
xf Senator Fletcher had been
chair-warmer or notable reactiouar
In his policies and performance
there might be some excuse for di
placing him. But he has been neitht
of these. He has been aggressive
progressive and eminently successf1