The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-01-14
TO THE BROAD-MINDED
MEN OF POLK COUNTY
written by A. G. Harris, convict,
published by request)

| Il
booster is one who the entire worlt
loves and you will find that thai
person who is a booster is of fine
business qualities and is, generally
speaking good moral person.
Now. people of Polk county, don,
] be cutters. Boost everything and
may this the county the best in the
State.
Don't knock the officials in
charge of the public business of the
county; you should help them; you
helped to put them in office. Stick
to them.
Now, good people of Polk county,
how about your good roads? Your
desire is to lead every other county
in the State, don't you? Well then,
help the men that are building them
and don't knock" them, they are
beset with enough trouble without
adding to their present ones with
your hammer. Everyone that
knocks" doesn't know enough to
get in out of the rain.
Now. people, you have one of the
best road builders in the State and
a man of good morals and better
man to handle the crews of convicts
cannot be found within the State of
Florida. l have reference to Mr..
Fletcher, for that is the man of
whom | speak.
Open your eyes, people of Polk
county, and see for yourselves; don t
sit at home and criticize the road
work-go out and see for yourselves
and talk to Mr.. Fletcher about these
roads and in this way ascertain
what manner of Man Mr.. Fletcher
is that is constructing the roads of
Polk county and it is my belief that
you will change your mind ideas
as to belonging to the "anvil
chorus" and become a booster for
Polk county has no need for knock
ers' and put the little hammer in
the box and sent it to Germany.
While we are on the subject of
building good roads, let's talk about
the handling of convicts. Do you
think that every or any man can
handle them satisfactorily? No. In
the first place you will find that it
takes study of humanity and human
nature to handle any kind of men,
be borne in mind that to treat these
unfortunates with kindness will be-
greater pride in their work and this
kindness will bring to your observa-
life, and will soon disprove the old
saw That once a convict, always a
the people of Polk county realize
this to be a fact Now if these So
called good moral people believe in
this old adage would only remember
to do unto others as they would
have others do unto them and help
the dOwn-fallen men and not kick
them down deeper and always re-
mo nrtt hnt 70 al 20 a
some one, just think of the old
mother, the poor wife, father and
husband who may be suffering from
this action. If you have any loved
ones, just think of the misguided
and down-fallen ones and just think
of the good that can be accomplished
and forgot about, the fact how bad
criminal really might he through
your action and words and that
with the help of God and the help
of the good boosters of Polk county
you can have the best roads in the
State.
Let's talk now about the conduct
of the prisoners in the camp first.
There's not sob in the camp and
that ! believe is more than can be
said about any of the towns. Every
thing in the camp, such as reading
matter or anything else that is not
for the uplift of the convicts, is not
permitted to remain in the camp.
Now, as to the men who carry
out these orders of Mr.. Fletcher,
among them are Mr.. L. A. Pipkin,
Mr.. George w. Goodwin, Mrs. Edwin
Smith and all of them are of good
moral character and good judges of
their fellow-m and get along with
them fine.- Why? I'll tell you: Be-
cause they treat these prisoners like
men and not animals.
Get busy, people of Polk county
and get rid of the knockers" and
make this county. prosperous. You
can do this if you will but stick to
the men you have in public Office and
if you do not like them there are
other ways of Kidding yourselves of
them besides knocking" them.
Good people, remember the down.
fallen. Remember that trouble
might come to you some day and
you will want some one to help you.
So now, here is your time to help Mr..
Fletcher build the good roads and
assist some of those who are fallen