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—jercer Tells For What He Stands
Candid ate for Congress Makes Known
Platform To Voters of Third District.
WILL OF THE PEOPLE SUPREME.
Tariff Should Not Protect the Classes. Would
Drain Swamps and Aid In Road Building,
Erect Postoffice Buildings Automatical
ly. One Cent Letter Postage,
: Regulate Corporations.
To the Voters of the Third Dis
trict: .
lam a plain farmer, but I see
no reason why I am not justitied
in asking my fellow citizens of
the Third District to give me their
support to represent them in the
Sixty-Third Congress. I have an
nounced for that office, and in or
der that the people may know my
views on public matters I submit
them the following summary of
my political beliefs:
In the first piace I stand for
and advocate every principle set
out in the platform of the Demo
cratic party. The supremacy of
the people is the chief corner stone
of our government, and that su
premacy should be maintained at
any cost. Hence, anything that
sayors of class legislation is en
tirely foreign to my ideas of right.
The will of the people must con
trol. In order that it may do so
it is the duty of those men whom
the people elect as their repre
sentatives to see to it that all ex
pressions of the people’s will are
epacted into wisely constructed
laws, |
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”" l T IS -B O et oe - P e .-
1 will advocate and vote for all
redsonable measures that look to
the improvement and ccnserva
tion ofthe natural resources of the
country,as forests, soils and water
ways. In pariicular, I believe in
such legislation as secures the con
tinued public ownership of public
lands containing phosphates, ores,
minerals and coal. The interests
of the people should be carefully
considered in this connection,
especially whera the lands in ques
tion vield mineral supplics, such
as are used in the manufacture of
commercial fertilizers and other
commodities yielding a profit,
I believe in tariff for revenue;
that is, in sucn taxes or tariffs as
are necessary to maintain a correct
administraiion of the government,
I am opposed to deriving revenue
from the necessities of life. and I
think that there should be such
reguiatiou of the rates and the
sources of revenue as will protect
the masses of the _people and not
enrich certain classes at the com
mon expense,
1 favor the Federal constitution
providing for the levy of the in
come tax, and believe that this tax
should be collectible on all incomes
of $5,000 1 over, The ‘‘un-earn
ed inc .’ as it exists in the
case ¢ tocrats and non-pro-
ducers. should be made to bear its
share of the general burden.
_ AID FOR PUBLIC HIGHWAYS,
1 am strongly in favor of the
government giving its interested
attention and its actual aid to pub
lic highways and to the reelama
tion of swamp lands, If it should
become necessary to 4o so I should
favor the floating of government
bonds at 2 per cent for this pur
pose, The improvement of our
public highways is, to my mind,
the key to the cconomic salvation
of the rural districts,
There sections would be opened
up, they would become so attrac
tive to those interested in agricul
ture and so much more comforta
ble and protitable to the farming
classes that there would of necessi
ty foillow in the wake of road im
provement the solution of the pro
blem of the dwindling farm®popu
lation. We should encourage our
young men to form partnerships
with nature by becoming farmers,
The quickest and most profitable
way to do it is to give the people
the best roads that can be provid
ed.
FOR BETTER AGRICULTURAL CON
DITIONS '
In this connection I would call
attention to the fact thatten vears
following the census of 1900 the
population of the United States
increased 21 per cent, but the
number of farms did not keep‘
pace with this measure in popula-f
tion, Measured by the number
of farms, agriculture exhibits, a
diminished rate of increase, and in
large areas of tie country are
practically stationary, Yet, not
withstanding this fact, there hrs
been an increase of 117.4 per cent
i 1 the value of all land in farms.
T'he average value of farm land
penr acre increased, during the ten
years’ period indicated, 108,7 cent.
1o this connection 1t is interesting
to note that there has been a much
‘more rapid iccrease in urban than
iin raral population, The popa
lation classed by the Census
Buresu as urban copstituted 46 3
per cent of the total in 191 C as
compured with 40.5 im 1900. In
view of these facts I believe it is
the bounded duty of the govern
ment to study the causes of this
decrease and so to legislate as o
stem the tide that is flowing citv
ward: The bistory of the world
teaciies us that the agriculturai
classes are the backborue of the
producing power of all nations,
and that when tiliers of the sol
have ceased their labors -~ In time
THE LEADAR-ENTERPRISE, TUESDAY, MAY 21, 912,
of wars and disaster, there have
been suffering and economic cramp
in every department of the nation
al life. 1 believe that we should
devote special thought and study
to the betterment of conditions
for the agricultural classes, and
that we should enact Jegislation
that will not only be beneficial but
stimulating in its effects.
I am in favor of laws that will
prohibit gambling in farm pro
ducts, an evil that is unquestion
ably responsible for the depression
of prices and consequent injustice
to the farmer. I am, as before
statea, strongly on the side. of
good roads, believing that they
are absolutely essential to the
general improvement of rural con
ditions,
POSTOFFICE BUILDINGS FOR TOWNS,
I favor such legislation as would
automatically provide postoflice
buildings for all towns, based on
their gross receipts from one thou
sand to thirty thousand dollars. It
should not be necessary for a
special bill to be introduced for
each town when a postoflice build
ing is needed, A general bill,
such as [ favor, would automatical
ly authorize a building to.cost the
amount justified by thegross re
ceipts of the office at that point.
The demand for labor and'materi»]
thus created would giverise to a
very desirable industrial activity,
In case of necessity the govern
ment could float bonds at 2 per
cent, At present, in many instan
ces, it is paying ten per ceat rental
for buildings used as postoffices.
Another desiraole feature of this
plan which I advocate Isthe sav
ing of time to Congress. Under
the present system each bill must
be passed on separately and with
considerable loss of costly time.
~ ONE-CENT LETTER POSTAGE,
I favor and increased rate of
postage on advertising, per.odicals,
pamphlets, catalogs &c., which
class of matter the government is
now carrying at a loss, Through
such an increase I believe that a
one-cent letter postage would soon
justify itself, Based on the re
ductions 1n the past which have
brought us down to the two-cent
rate, I am of the opinion that
with an increase in the department
referred to a one-cent rate would
soon be self-sustaining. £’
The rural mail service. is one of
rhe greatest and most profitable
iuvestments ever made by the
vovernment. I favor all such legis
jation as has for its object the
strengthening of this arm of our
postal department. I believe that
the highest efiiciency should be
‘the aim;- and that, as a means to
obtuin it, increased combensation
for the carriers, together ‘\?ith\ the
improvement of public highways
will be the most effectual.
I am 1 favor of a general par
cels post, but with this.restriction;
that it be operated by a wel da
fined zone system, Its = object
should be toe hold the local mer
chant and farmer. I would oppose
a measure that would give unique
advantage to the big merchant at
a distance and to the far-away
mail order houses.
REGULATE CORPORAUIONS.
I favor government regulation
of corporations. No thinking
citizen can say that corporations
when operated according to law
are an evil. They are necessary to
the economic and industrial growth
of the country, Properly main
«ained and legally conducted they
are beneficial agency rather than
otherwise But the tendency of 501
many of these heavily capitalized
concerns has been to operate solely
for their own ends, and in their
own interests, rather than with
due regard for the public good and
‘tor the laws’ of the land, that the
\ntervention of the government
has been necessary in many cases,
I veheve that the government,
having taken the very wise step of
estalishing a court of commerce,
should see to it that there is a rigid
‘enforcement of the laws.
I am opposed to the dominance
of our legislative bodies by the “spe
‘cial interests.” When we consider
that in a majority of cases these
special interes ts are engaged in the
utilization of public or natural re
sources for private gain, that they
are suppressors of fair competition,
that they pay unfairly small wages
to the workers who are in truth the
producers of their wealth while
they themselves are piliug up enor
mous and swollen fortunes, we
realize that the menace from the
“special interests” is great.” That
‘they should maintain : lobbies and
seek to control the law-making bod
ies of the country is a peril that
should be handled with severity
and dispatch.
DANGERS OF INTEMPERANCE
I am in favor of all laws that tend
to suppress and restrict intemper
ance in the use of alcoholic liquors
deleterious narcotics. Just how to
handle the problem so as to secure
the desired results is a matter for
the serious consideration of all good
citizens. lam well aware that in
many cases a strict. legal prohibi
tion of the sale of spirituous liquors
has tle effect of adding to the evils
which it was designed to remove.
Whatever will teach the dangers of
intemperance and whatever will
impress upon communities the im
mense importance of regulating the
traffic and holding it in stern check
ought to be made a part of our code.
I am in favor of having the truth
concerning the dangers of alcohol
ism and other ihtemperance im
pressed upon the youth of our land,
and I believe that our schools should
teach as far as possible what these
dangers are and what they mean
to he future of the race. 1 favor
the legislation already enacted look
ing to the safe-guardiwg of the ship
ment of liquors from other states
into prohibition communities.
OPPOSES ' LOOPHOLE™ LAWS.
I strenuously oppose laws that are
framed with “jokers” or loopholes
for the purpose of - defeating or off
setting the very result which th>
law itself or the spirit of the law,
was designed tosecure. Child labor
is an example of what I mean. Ex
empted from the provisions of this
law are children who have no pa
rents or disabled parents. Such
children are the very ones who
should be provided with an educa
tion in order that they may be en
abled to maintain themselves and
become useful citizens. The gov
ernment is able to provide an edu:
cation for this class and should see
that it is done. Another example
of the “loophole” law is the framing
of a law against unlawful business
deals and then leaving to some court
the interpretation of such terms as
“unresonable restraint of trade.”
I favor a strong Department of
Labor, to be maintained separately
from the Department of Commerce.
1 believe that the man who fills the
cabinet office of Secretary of Labor
should come from the ranks of the
laboring people.” The emphasis that
such an appointment would lay up
on democratic freedom from “class”
would, I beliéve, go far toward
strengthening the bonds between
the government and labor. It would
not only be a merited recognition of
this great element of our national
population, but a sure method of
securing a desirable and friendly
co-operation.
SIX-YEAR TERM FOR PRESIDENT.
I favor an amendment to the Con
stitution fixing the term of the Pres
ident at six years and make him in
eligible to re-election for the succeed
ing term. The criminations and re
criminations indulged by the candi
dates and their advocates in the
present race by both the great par
ties. I regard- as regretable by all
good men. This amendment will
serve to preclude the probability of
such a spectacle in future contests
for the highest office of the greatest
government cn earth. |
The foregoing are the main fea
tures of the platform on which I ask
}your support. I believe these to be
‘the tenets of the true political faith
and for them, if elected, Ishall stand
lfirmly. If you honor me with elec
tion I promise no great or sweeping
revolution, no visionary reforms. 1
can and do pledge to you, however,
a fair, ' nest and conscientious
%dischar;:« f every duty connected
‘with the 11gh office of representa
tive 1. ugress 1 believe in the
applica: /{ roaservative and sen
sible b« : methods to the duties
of the office. It is a great honor to
represent such a constituency and
if you should bestow it upon me I
shall esteem it a sacred trust, and
employ my very best endeavor to
serve you acceptably and in such a
manner as to merit your fullest ap
probation. ,
IS NOT A POLITICIAN.
As to the methods I am using in
my race may I say this word: lam
not following the ' tactics of the
average politician. I am a plain
man and am content to run my
race in a plain way. Because of bad
roads, press of work and bad weath
er, I have thus far traveled the dis
trict but little.
I am not sending out circular
lletters in the hope of making the
people think I am writing to them
personally. [ do not like the idea.
It strikes me as rather bad taste to
thus address a man whom I have
never met and whose name is known
to me only through a list paid for
at so much per name.
As to stump speeches, I think the
people are weary of them. I shall
not inflict upon the district a series
of oratorical fireworks and long
talks. I want to reach them with
the least possible motion, thus sav
ing their time and mine.
I am not in favor of hiring mana
gers to conduct my campaign for
me, paying them either in noney or
in promises of appointment to office
after election. The only statement
I have made in regard to appoint
ments is this: That I will appoint,
if elected, my secretary from the
county in the district that gives me
the largest majority of votes, by per
centage, regardless whether it is my
own ceunty (Terrell) or not.
AN OLD-FASHIONED DEMOCRAT.
I shell not form “clubs,” as I do
not believe in this threadbare old
itrick of getting unsuspecting voters
t 0 commit themselves before the
Jlection. I am old-fashioned enough
to believe that every voter should
wait until the day of election andi
then express his own convictions at
the ballot box, regardless of heelers,
fixers and so-called leaders.
I have told you simply and I
trust comprehensively, what I be
lieve and how I hope to secure your
votes. I ask your careful attention
to every word of the foregoing and
I feel assured that if you will con
sider all the facts I shall be perfect
A A lAPPY
\EIEixY [N REACH
Joy o <OF ALL
SICKNESS S\
DON'T CHUM ’Z =5
TO BE HAPPY KEEP WELL ' 7 " ¥
USE ONLY g
DR. KING’S &~ it
NEW DISCOVERY 5o benT
4 (BROUGHT
TO CURE sOY |
COUGHS AND COLDS\ T 0
WHOOPING COUGH k- Millions
AND OTHER DISEASES OF |
THROAT AND LUNGS rrice 50c and $l.OO
lENEREREENE SOLD AND GUARANTEED BY HENESEENENAE
DENMARK DRUG COMPANY
B i J z E'-/;‘ i fi :
Harness Maker e ,—r : By |
d Rapairing Sl 1Y
Old Harness Made Good as New,u both in
Looks and Durability.
See me. Satisfaction Guaranteed
221 E. Pine Street.
CITY PRESSING CLUB
211 SOUTH GRANT STREET
Proxe 367. \
Clothes called for and deli&ri'ed.
=——=TRY ==
Keefer's Barber Shops
UNION BARBERS
BATHS H
FITZGERALD : : MANCHESYIR
$lOO,OOO to Loan
| ON BEN HILL FARMS
And on Fitzgerald Ci. * Property
Loans Negotiate 1 'vomptly
| Terms the Best; Interest
the Lowest. ‘
Come and See Me.
W. M. BRYAN
Garbutt-Donovan Building
| Room No. 311, Fitzgerald, Ga.
Representing
{ELLIS & ELLIS, Tifton, Georgia
DR. J. . POWELL
Specialist
Eye, Ear, Nose =i Throat
315 Century Building:
ATLANTA, GEORGIA
5 Room House For Rent—All
conveiniences. near school, Park
and bathing pavilion, Apply to
Fitzgerald Tailoring Co., South
Grant st, H6-4t.
Lost a plain gold bracelet between
Orange and Lemon St, Finder
please notify Miss Annie Laurie
Jolly. It,
ly safe in your hands when clectio n
day comes.
If you endorse my platform and
my methods give them the seal of
your approval by casting your vote
for me on the day of the primary.
» Very truly yours,
JOHN R. MERCER.