The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1917-03-02

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was denied And was it denied that
food. geneltmen, because of the i'm
| poverishment OF mother earth of the
| Everglades? No, not denied because
OF any lack of the stream OF life in
that wonderfully fertile bosom, a bos-
ON swelling to the bursting with the
rotting riches OF a thousand centuries
Of growth and decay; but denied by
you, officials of Florida, too forgetful
ofgyour pledged honor
Having this just cause for complaint
he Everglades settlers realizing that
the average legislator is like the
man from Missouri who wants ito
be shown they got together and in
vited the whole body down there. the
invitation including a number of news
paper men, so that these gentlemen
could see with their own eyes and
thus be convinced of the business OF
their complaints and the righteous
ness of their cause and after q thor
lough and careful examination Of the
great Importance Of the enterprise al
though the undertaking be q colossal
one
Mr. w. J. Bryan, who primarily is
opposed to lobbying. said that this
kind of lobbying is both legitimate
and proper and altogether commenda-
BILE
1t is entirely proper. it seems to us.
that the members of the legislature
should have full knowledge Of a prop
osition Of which they are the custo-
dams, so as to be able to act intelh-
gently. If we understand what the
Everglades settlers ask of the legisla-
ture it is simply to apply the lands
that have not already been diverted
to other projects to the finishing of
the work of draining the Everglades.
and as we understand it there is quite
sufficiency of lands left for this pur-
pose
If the work rs not completed all
that has been done will have been
wasted-if completed. the vast empire
will be reclaimed and an empire with
immensely greater productive posi-
bilities than any other body of land
in all the earth.
We believe that the members of the
legislature will rise equal to the occa-
sion and will speedily give the relief
asked for.
Men of vast wealth, men eminent in
all the walks of life men like the
Deerings, like Hon. w J. Bryan, three
time the nominee of the democratic
party for president, Judge Alton B.
Parker, Judge of the supreme court
of New York and also candidate for
president Mr. c. A. Walsh, at one
| time secretary of the national demo
cratic executive committee, are the
class of men that are being attracted
to that unique and marvellous section
Listen to this splendid eulogy from
Mr.. Walsh:
The first thing to which call your
attention is the character Of the imm:
grafton which has been attracted hith
| er Not the ordinary immigrant, Il
rorant and uncouth from southeastern
Europe, who brings with him when he
comes a burden OF responsibilities TO
us in democratizing and Americana
ing him greater than the burden OF
physical labor he performs for US in
the development of the country but
the immigrant you have attracted by
this choice land and this perfect eli
mate is the American himself, the
best representative of developed man
hood as yet produced by any civiliza-
ton
You have attracted an immigrant
who comes not cringing to your feet
to beg for a right, but one who de
mands in the name of Justice that you
complete without delay the tremen-
dous. mountaineering work to which
your honor is pledged
THAT. gentlemen, is the citizenship
of Dayie and the Everglades.
A man who faces you with level
gaze and as an equal, asks that his
complaints be considered and that JUS
tice be done
We have here in Davie a class of
men the equals in strength of man
hood and worthy purpose of any any
where.
We have here a class Of women.
selfsacridcing devoted women, who
would grace any station in life. or
charm in any drawing room.
Il doubt not that all other settlers
OF the Everglades are even as we are.
and it is for them am proud to speak
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