The Brooksville Journal

Former Governor To Make Race On Past Record

Cary A. Hardee, governor of Florida from 1921 to 1925, made his formal announcement this week as a candidate for governor in the primary next year.

In a statement issued from his home in Live Oak, Hardee said that when he went out of office he left the state without a dollar of indebtedness and with a balance in the treasury to the credit of every fund. He explained that he was not the candidate of any faction, laid down a sweeping program for elimination of every unnecessary expense, and declared extravagance not only wasteful but produces no beneficial results.

The former governor urged an end of the reckless creation of money-spending agencies, the cutting out of fads, insisting that every dollar be made to do its full duty. He said the expenses of the state increased from $15,000,000 in 1924 to $44,000,000 "within the four years following my administration."

Hardee's complete statement follows:

I will be a candidate for Governor in the Democratic Primaries next year. From time to time I shall discuss the issues and later promulgate more complete platform declarations. In reaching such determination I am not unmindful of the responsibilities of the Governorship of a great State, accentuated and more pronounced in days like these through which we are passing. Such an exalted station may not be lightly regarded or flippantly sought. The Governor is more than a man. He is a symbol. He personifies the State Government. The people look to him and expect to find in him an exemplification of the highest personal and governmental ideals. Let the Governor hold high the standards and lesser officials will observe and follow. Let him think of the state's interest as the chief concern, sacredly guard the interest of the people, protect their rights against selfish exploitation. Only by such a course can there be maintained in the hearts of the people wholesome respect for that office. This is my conception of the Governorship.

I held the office from January twenty-one to January twenty-five. My campaign will be based on that record. Promises are easily made - sometimes for the purpose of fooling the public. The record one has made is the best test of what he is likely to do again.

When I assumed office conditions were somewhat chaotic. Large deficits of several thousand dollars existed in several of the Departments, but I would not censure my predecessor. He served in a trying period. The great War was on and following that we had the usual period of reaction and near panic. Such was the condition when I assumed office. The Legislature with my co-operation instituted wholesome policies. We (Continued on Last Page)
HARDEE ANNOUNCES FOR GOVERNOR.

It is with a great deal of pleasure on the part of the many friends over the state of former governor Cary A. Hardee, to learn that he has issued his formal announcement and will again be a candidate for the highest honor within the gift of the people of the state. His announcement to become a candidate will in deed be received with much interest and eagerness on the part of his thousands of admirers from every nook and corner of this great commonwealth. for they feel that a man of his calibre and material worth is what is now needed to put the state where it rightfully belongs. They believe he is the one man that can again measure up to what is naturally expected of a great chief executive.

It goes without saying and without argument that Cary Hardee made Florida a good governor before and practically all agree that he will even make a better governor next time than he did before. Experience counts for much. and this. coupled with a deep knowledge of public affairs and the needs of the people. Hardee will fill the bill more than any other one man.

Cary Hardee is possessed of a brilliant mind and a desire to be of service to his constituency. This is what is needed now and the people realize this fact. They will get behind the candidacy of Live Oak's favorite son and again elect him governor of the state.