The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1919-08-23
Mr.. Chambliss' Letter

MI. C0dmDIlSS LcILcT
Editor Sumter County Times: L
have a photograph of Georgia coun7
try Singing school" in which appear,
side by side, in coppertoed boots, Dun
can Fletcher and myself. Later | at
tended school and roomed with him. l
know him as only boys know each
other. His truthfulness, good morals,
serious and studious work as scholar
impressed me more than that of any
other of my associates. He graduated
from high school with high honors,
and today has the gold, first prize Of
fered for the best debater.
l have watched with interest and
admiration his energetic career as a
statesman and when l heard Governor
Cats at Oxford say that he had done
nothing as a senator / was amazed at
the governors lack of information for
our people know better than that.
They know that Senator Fletcher is
one of the brainiest and most promi-
nent men in the country and that he
has taken unusual interest in all mat
tiers pertaining to the welfare of the
country at large and Florida in partic-
ular.
He was chiefly responsible for the
investigation of rural credit needs and
the framing and passage of the fed
eral farm loan act, under which there
has been loaned during the past few
years to farmers in the United States
over $200,000,000 at 51z per cent. in
of ohor
the principal by payment of 1 per cent
per annum. His successful efforts in
that connection have made him a ma
tional figure and endeared him tc
thousands of farmers who heretofore
were compelled to pay exorbitant
rates of interest. Under this act
there are now sixty-four farm loar
associations operating in Florida
alone, and I have been advised that
not single default has been made BY
any borrower in this state. President
Wilson was so gratified with the &C
complishment of Senator Fletcher thai
he presented to him the gold pen with
which he signed the farm loan act, il
recognition of the valuable service h
had rendered his fellow men.
| Senator Fletcher had charge of thu
bill in Congress creating the Unite'
States shipping board, which has mad
possible our great merchant marine
On June 26th, last, he delivered
speech in the Senate, relative to tn
merchant marine policy of our countr,
; with which he had so much to do i
shaping, and which shows such
! wealth of knowledge concerning thi
stupendous enterprise that one i
: amazed to realize how he could fin
: time to so thoroughly master tina
5 subject and have any time whateve
to give to other important matter:
} Write him for copy of his speech an
read it carefully so that you may hav
a better conception of his ability as
= constructive statesman.
|, Rivers and harbors appropriate
I bills originate in the House, but whe
e they reach the Senate, are subject t
j amendment, and are considered an
r reported by the committee of con
: merce of which Senator Fletcher ha
K been an active member ever since h
3 was elected by the peopl of Florida
? was elected by the people of Florida
: which committee he was chairma
during the sixty-ffth Congress, unit
|, the republicans gained control of til
Y Senate few months ago. He is no
g the ranking democratic member {
that committee and will have a gres
deal to do with all important legisl:
p ton referred to it. He put throug
e the last rivers and harbors appropri;
). ton bill just before Congress adjourn
t Ell in March and succeeded in inco
S porating amendments carrying $431
y 900 for Florida projects, in addition
y that already provided in the bill pas
It ed by the House. This bill, by h
r skillful, energetic management, pas
It ed the Senate and was approved /