The Punta Gorda herald. [volume] (Punta Gorda, Fla.) 1893-1958, 1922-05-19
GHCHRIST VS.. TRANiMELL

honest and capable, more so than is
Trammell. The word honest in this
connection has no reference to raging
pecuniary debts, but refers rather to
sincerity ard moral courage. Wit
ness the record of the two men on
the question of prohibition. When
Gilchrist was preparing his platform
on which to run for governor, he
submitted it for criticism to g friend,
who found in it a declaration for
local option as against prohibition.
The friend, believing that the prohi-
bition sentiment predominated in the :
state, urged Gilchrist to "sidestep"
that issue. "I'll be burned if | do"
he exclaimed. The people have a
right to know where / stand on such
questions, and I'm going to tell them
the truth, if l never get to be COVER
nor" During Governor Trammens
administration of four years, prohibit
ton sentiment grew stronger, but not
by reason of his taking any stand
on the question. While ne was gov
ernor, two legislatures met; he sent
messages to each of them, but not
once did he mention prohibition.
Some time after his second and last
! legislature adjourned, wet and dry"
elections were held in Marion and
Dade counties, and, TO the surprise
of the whole state, those two counties
V ted dry" These results showed |
Enthusiastically that a majority of the |
people of the state were for prohibi- |
ton; whereupon, Governor Trammell |
loudly proclaimed himself in favor of
prohibition and placed himself at the
head of the forces working for that
object. On this question, which one
of the two men displayed the most
honesty and courage?
Gilchrists policy is to lead the peo-
pie; Trammel's, to follow them.
The people need wise and courage
Gus leaders, for sometimes the people
go wrong, as they did in the French
Revolution and when they elected
Cats. 1t is to be presumed that if
Mr.. Trammell had been living in the
days of Robespiere, he would have
followed the people in the wholesale
slaughter that they visited upon the
nobility of France. Perhaps, he fol
lowed the Florida people by helping
to elect Cats governor as the Cats
+ followers elected him United States
) senator.
. When Gilchrist was governor, he
devoted such ceaseless and persistent
attention to every interest of the
state that he saved it hundreds of
= thousands of dollars nay, it is very
near the truth to assert that he saved
for the state all of the lands which
the state finally acquired in the Ever
glades. According to several court
decisions, which can be quoted if nee
. essary, every foot of land in the
= Everglades belonged to the railroads
and one or more of the roads Were
suing for possession. BY a stroke of
mastery diplomacy. Gilchrist sue
ceeded in inducing the railroads to
enter into a compromise whereby mil
!, lions of acres of the finest lands in
the world were saved to the state.
. He also saved the state thousands of
= dollars by his wise handling of the
various bonds held by the educational
fund. But it would take too much
:. space to relate all the good things
he did for the state while he was
:. governor.
n Trammell succeeded Gilchrist and
was governor four years. What did
Trammell do during his term? Plan
. ned and worked persistently to win
= following to put himself in the
: United States senate. To accomplish
. this ambtion, he denied thu right
, of Nat Bryan to a second term in
;, the senate and, with the help of the
mutual lieutenants of himself and
= Cats, he put Bryan out. Now Tram
o nell cannot justly complain if he
=, himself, at the end of his first term.
is put out by Gilchrist.
II a few people who consider prohib-
4 ton paramount to all other issues,
& no luis dllNlllS II - 1t u6du ISSUE,
D. profess to fear that Gilchrist, if sent
, to the senate, will repeal the prohibi-
Y ton amendment to the federal con-
\ istitution, nullify the Volstead act
n and dismiss from office all the federal
r. officers engaged in the enforcement
7 of prohibition. These people only
,e want an excuse for voting against
r. Gilchrist, and there is no use arguing
O. with them. Very few of them are
no loyal Democrats, for most of them, sc
y g it is said, declare that if Gilchrist i:
60 nominated in the June primary, the!
at will not vote for him in the Novembe
IN election. If they have taken tina
I'd stand, they have no right to vote il
ais the Democratic primary of June 9th
Of and ought to be excluded.
yer Surely, every Democratic voter i
Isl Punta Gorda and Charlotte count