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Editorial
June 13, 1908
The Daytona Gazette News
Daytona, Ormond, Volusia County County, Florida
What is this article about?
Editorial supporting Duncan U. Fletcher for U.S. Senate in Florida Democratic primary, criticizing Governor Broward's political machine, use of appointments for electoral gain, and campaign tactics, urging voters to back Fletcher on June 16.
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FLETCHER AND FREEDOM
The People will Smash the State Machine
FLETCHER MEN STAND SOLID
BROWARD'S CAMPAIGN FUNDS
I have not boasted of my riches. I have none to boast of. I have told the whole truth—that I was not bound or obligated to any corporate interest, National Bank or Railroad Company, for any of the expenses of my campaign. Governor Broward makes an effort to curry favor and make political capital by alluding to his poverty or lack of wealth. Yet at Tampa he said that he had eighty Thousand Dollars worth of property. It is one thing to be poor and quite another thing to be; it is for political effect. It is one thing to have limited means, and another thing to be free from political obligations—especially to National Banks and National Bankers—whose interests will be affected by Currency Legislation by Congress. It is one thing to lack means—it is another thing to act the appointing power of the Governor to reward friends, and to take care of those who are under obligations of a political or financial nature.
BROWARD'S MACHINE HOW IT WORKS
Governor Broward has been nearly four years in office building up a state-wide political machine. The power of appointment vested in him for public interests solely has been used for his own political advantage. As a result, witness the fact that his appointees, from United States Senator to Inspector of Fertilizer are openly and actively electioneering for him in almost every county in the State. Among his office holding supporters are four convict inspectors, a food and drug inspector, an inspector of feed stuffs and fertilizers, the State printer, numbers of naval stores inspectors, the supervising inspector of naval stores, the chairman and a member of the State Board of Control, numerous dredging employees and wood contractors, and an army of minor State officers and employees. There is even a State detective (for whose appointment there is no legal authority), who is traveling over this State electioneering for Broward. These officers and employees are receiving salaries averaging not less than Fifteen Hundred Dollars a year each and their expenses. The Constitution of Florida prohibits the Governor from being a candidate to succeed himself. This was to prevent just such machine politics. But the Governor is using the same method to get himself elected United States Senator.
WHAT BROWARD WANTS
After all, it seems to many people that what Governor Broward wants is not the welfare of the State, but office for himself; not the good of the "great-hearted" people, but political power and influence for himself, and the ability to seize the highest offices of the State for his friends and supporters. Will the Democrats of the State of Florida stand for these methods? Is it possible to secure a fair expression of party will, if such a system of machine politics is allowed to be fastened upon the State? It is now for the Democrats of Florida to decide whether or not they will endorse such political machine methods.
DUNCAN U. FLETCHER
PRIMARY JUNE 16th
The campaign will be over in a few days. He has continued his clean campaign. He has not or vilified or misrepresented his opponent. Only votes out of 53,000 were cast in the first primary against Governor Broward and his machine. Both Bear and Lamar are now for Fletcher. Eighty per cent vote will come to Fletcher in the next primary. No one questions this. There can be only one result. The people will win their fight. Fletcher will be elected. Let every Fletcher man be active and alert until the votes are counted. See that every Fletcher man casts his vote.
Don't Believe Campaign Lies Sprung on Election Day
Some very bitter and untruthful statements have been made about me in the last few days, by some over-zealous partisans of the governor—employees of and members of his political machine. I ask the people of Florida to take into consideration the fact that these are nothing but campaign lies, sprung at the last moment when it was known that I would not have time to answer. The people of this state will not approve of such methods.
DUNCAN U. FLETCHER
If you approve of a decent and clean campaign, cast your vote next Tuesday for Duncan U. Fletch
The People will Smash the State Machine
FLETCHER MEN STAND SOLID
BROWARD'S CAMPAIGN FUNDS
I have not boasted of my riches. I have none to boast of. I have told the whole truth—that I was not bound or obligated to any corporate interest, National Bank or Railroad Company, for any of the expenses of my campaign. Governor Broward makes an effort to curry favor and make political capital by alluding to his poverty or lack of wealth. Yet at Tampa he said that he had eighty Thousand Dollars worth of property. It is one thing to be poor and quite another thing to be; it is for political effect. It is one thing to have limited means, and another thing to be free from political obligations—especially to National Banks and National Bankers—whose interests will be affected by Currency Legislation by Congress. It is one thing to lack means—it is another thing to act the appointing power of the Governor to reward friends, and to take care of those who are under obligations of a political or financial nature.
BROWARD'S MACHINE HOW IT WORKS
Governor Broward has been nearly four years in office building up a state-wide political machine. The power of appointment vested in him for public interests solely has been used for his own political advantage. As a result, witness the fact that his appointees, from United States Senator to Inspector of Fertilizer are openly and actively electioneering for him in almost every county in the State. Among his office holding supporters are four convict inspectors, a food and drug inspector, an inspector of feed stuffs and fertilizers, the State printer, numbers of naval stores inspectors, the supervising inspector of naval stores, the chairman and a member of the State Board of Control, numerous dredging employees and wood contractors, and an army of minor State officers and employees. There is even a State detective (for whose appointment there is no legal authority), who is traveling over this State electioneering for Broward. These officers and employees are receiving salaries averaging not less than Fifteen Hundred Dollars a year each and their expenses. The Constitution of Florida prohibits the Governor from being a candidate to succeed himself. This was to prevent just such machine politics. But the Governor is using the same method to get himself elected United States Senator.
WHAT BROWARD WANTS
After all, it seems to many people that what Governor Broward wants is not the welfare of the State, but office for himself; not the good of the "great-hearted" people, but political power and influence for himself, and the ability to seize the highest offices of the State for his friends and supporters. Will the Democrats of the State of Florida stand for these methods? Is it possible to secure a fair expression of party will, if such a system of machine politics is allowed to be fastened upon the State? It is now for the Democrats of Florida to decide whether or not they will endorse such political machine methods.
DUNCAN U. FLETCHER
PRIMARY JUNE 16th
The campaign will be over in a few days. He has continued his clean campaign. He has not or vilified or misrepresented his opponent. Only votes out of 53,000 were cast in the first primary against Governor Broward and his machine. Both Bear and Lamar are now for Fletcher. Eighty per cent vote will come to Fletcher in the next primary. No one questions this. There can be only one result. The people will win their fight. Fletcher will be elected. Let every Fletcher man be active and alert until the votes are counted. See that every Fletcher man casts his vote.
Don't Believe Campaign Lies Sprung on Election Day
Some very bitter and untruthful statements have been made about me in the last few days, by some over-zealous partisans of the governor—employees of and members of his political machine. I ask the people of Florida to take into consideration the fact that these are nothing but campaign lies, sprung at the last moment when it was known that I would not have time to answer. The people of this state will not approve of such methods.
DUNCAN U. FLETCHER
If you approve of a decent and clean campaign, cast your vote next Tuesday for Duncan U. Fletch
What sub-type of article is it?
Partisan Politics
What keywords are associated?
Fletcher Campaign
Broward Machine
Florida Politics
Senate Primary
Political Appointments
Campaign Lies
Democratic Primary
What entities or persons were involved?
Duncan U. Fletcher
Governor Broward
Bear
Lamar
Florida Democrats
National Banks
Editorial Details
Primary Topic
Support For Duncan U. Fletcher Against Governor Broward's Political Machine In Florida U.S. Senate Primary
Stance / Tone
Strongly Pro Fletcher, Anti Broward Machine Politics, Urging Clean Campaign
Key Figures
Duncan U. Fletcher
Governor Broward
Bear
Lamar
Florida Democrats
National Banks
Key Arguments
Fletcher Is Free From Corporate Obligations, Unlike Broward Who Uses Poverty Claims For Political Effect
Broward Built A State Wide Machine Using Appointments To Electioneer For Himself
Broward's Appointees From Various State Offices Actively Campaign For Him
Florida Constitution Prohibits Governor Succeeding Himself To Prevent Machine Politics, But Broward Seeks Senate Seat Similarly
Broward Seeks Personal Power Over State Welfare
Fletcher Runs Clean Campaign Without Vilification
Majority Support For Fletcher In Upcoming Primary
Dismiss Last Minute Campaign Lies Against Fletcher