The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1919-07-15
CATS SPEECH At
LABOR MEETING At
TAMPA LAST NIGHT

Last night there was q meeting
held at Tampa to discuss the strike
situation in the phosphate region.
Gov. Cats was the principal speaker,
although there were other addresses.
A resume Of the Governors speech
follows taken from this mornings
Tribune:
1T affords me great pleasure to
stand here tonight to represent a just
and honored cause. Months ago, when
the legislature was still in session,
wrote to six or eight of the strike
leaders, and to Knight, Thompson and
Turner, who, l was told. represented
the mine owners, asking them to meet
IN Tallahassee with men would
name from each branch of the legis-
lature; l felt that such conference
would enable us to settle matters !
Every one of the strike leaders as
sented, but the attorneys wrote me
that there was nothing to arbitrate.
Il wrote them a second letter, and
what do you think they did? They
sent Mr.. Monk Harrison up to see
me-and there we were, a Monkey
and Gait on opposite sides Of the
table (howls of merriment from the
throng). Mr.. Monk Harrison told
me there was nothing to arbltrate,
and advised me to have nothing to do
with the matter. So that's why l
know the strikers are right; If the
ether fellows had any right on their
side they would be perfectly willing
to arbitrate.
Il am for you because the newspa-
rers do not give you fair deal; l
know what 1t is to be bounded by
unfair newspapers. We sent our
boys across the sea to fight for de-
mocracy, when we have a newspaper
autocracy and czardom right here a.
home"
At this juncture the governor read
an account of the meeting at Barlow
yesterday at Law and Order League
that adopted resolutions against viol-
ence. The governor intimated that
the mine owners were behind the res
olution, and emphasized the point that
the account of the meeting had been
handed to him Ivy the Tampa Morning
Tribune. He forgot to mention, how
ever, that Tribune reporter, in
handing him the account, had ex-
planned that 1t had been phoned to
the Tribune by man at Barlow with
the request that copy be handed to
Mr.. Cats to be read at the Tampa
meeting. It was not any attempt on
the part of the Tribune to interrupt
the governors flow of words; nor was
the Tribune any part of either meet
ing.
In discussing the Barlow resolution
against violence, the governor prom
Used the miners that as long as they
observed the last clause of his cir
cular letter, in which he espoused
the cause of the miners, he would
see that they had the full protection
of the law. That clause, he explained,
warned them against using any vio-
lence or violating any property rights.
u want you to use every precaution
against violence" he said, "act in this
matter as Christ would act, II he were
here.
IL told that sheriff over in Polk
county where to get off, and If he
doesn't conduct himself as sheriff
should, I'll see that he gets off right
there. l believe in the justice of your
cause, and that If you are temperate
and do nothing rash, your fight is al
ready won"
The governor then outlined his plan
of assuring victory to the miners. He
merely stated the conviction that the
charters of the phosphate companies
could be declared forfeited, on the
ground that they had defied both
houses of the legislature, and the
governor himself. He did not go into
any details of the alien corporation
act, but merely explained that the at
torney general and his two assistants
were looking into the matter. He
then deviated somewhat to pay his
respects to the press.
"Hears the Paper Talk"-Calls 'em
Damned Liars"
I'm tired of hearing these daily
tonx about ~ W.,