The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-03-27

l0NE of the strong factors in the
IL Gubernational race in the Dem
ocratic Primary, will be Ion l..
Farris, formerly of Marion County
Florida, but now Of Jacksonville, and
his friends predict that he will win
by handsome majority in the June
primaries.
| There are several reasons why Mr..
Farris has caught hold upon the affec-
tons of the people. In the first
place he is a young man, and the peO-
pie all know this is the day of the
young man in politics. In the next
place Mr.. Farris is prominently
self-made man. His Father was
boiler maker, and Mr.. Farris was one
of large family, and naturally his
educational advantages were limited,
/ but at odd times and at night Mr..
Farris studied until he became really
a cultured man, notwithstanding his
lack of school facilities. He then
took up the study of law against ire
mendous difficulties, and was admit
ted to the Bar. 1t has no doubt been
because of his early training and
youthful struggles to obtain an educa-
ton that has caused Mr.. Farris to
have sympathy with the laboring
class of people; because in his entire
Legislative career he has been lead
er on the floor of the House of Rep
resentatives and in the State Senate
&C obtain legislation for the benefit
of the great mass Of common people.
Unlike man. prom nent politicians,
Mr.. Farris unhesitatingy espouses
H. l-l,
right, regardless of the consequences.
In 1904 he stumped the State of Flor
ida at his own expense in behalf of
the candidacy of Napoleon b. Brow
ard for Governor, upon the great
Everglades Drainage Issue, notwith-
standing the fact that at the time Mr.,
Farris was himself ardent in the sup
port of Governor Broward, it was
generally conceded by the people that
Broward would be defeated and Gov
ernor Broward in recognition of the
services of Mr.. Farris and in recog-
milton of his ability, offered Mr.. Far
ris several appointive positions, which
he refused, chiefly because of the
fact that the positions offered him,
while they were more remunerative
to Mr.. Farris at that time than his
chosen profession of law, yet they
would remove him from an active
fight in the political life of this State
in behalf of the common people.
Being a Southerner, in 1907, Mr..
Farris introduced in the House of
Representatives, and secured the pas.
sage of law eliminating two negro
councimen in Jacksonville, who had
tod lA C;xytl, Nov ~ tInt
city number of years, giving to
the people of Jacksonville white
mans government. Since that time
no negro has held office in the city of
Jacksonville.
AUTHOR OF MUNICIPAL FREE
DOM ACT
Mr. Farris has the distinction of
being probably the only man in the
State of Florida who has ever held
the position of Speaker of the House
of Representatives for two Sessions !;
he having held this position in 1903
, and again in 1913. He is now a
member of the State Senate. and as
such member, wrote and introduced
what is known as the "Farrs Munic
: ipal Freedom Act, giving to the cit
, les and towns of the State of Florida
the right to amend their own char
ters or adopt new charters, and thus
! place the control of local affairs in
: the hands of the people, and at the
r same time eliminate tremendous
. amount of local legislation from the
Sessions of the Legislature.
Mr. Farris has ~ cause for regret
: because of his record before the PEG
= pie of this State. In 1909 he wrote
| and secured the passage of the House
Rule. requiring a record to be KEEP
of the votes of the members of com
mittees in committee work, and thus
eliminate from the Legislature mucl
secret trickery previously practicet
in the committees of the Legislator