An honest politician

 I am lucky in so many ways but one of the most important facts about me is my Florida heritage. I can claim ancestors back to 1800 or so, before Florida became a state. Most of those came from the mountains of North Carolina, people who moved south to get away from the crowds that were flocking to the Carolinas from the British Isles. 

Due to the current politicians who believe they can lie, cheat, or steal and get away with it, I thought I would relay a story which was passed down from my grandmother about her father and father-in-law.

My great grandfather, Jesse Fairey Council was originally from South Carolina. The Councils moved there from North Carolina and there are books written about their influence and lineage going all the way back to England. Jesse became the district superintendent of the Atlantic Coastline Railroad having a territory from Wilmington, North Carolina to Ft. Myers, Florida, He was a newcomer to the state and first came here in the 1880s with the railroad. 

My great grandfather, Daniel Henry Sloan, was born in 1864 in the area of Hillsborough County which became Polk County. He had very little public schooling, it didn't exist then, but was taught basic reading, writing and arithmetic and was given a good Christian upbringing. 

In 1899 he served as a representative in Tallahassee from Polk County and then went back as a state Senator in 1909, 1911 and 1912. It was while he was serving as a state Senator this story happened. 

The railroad had decided they wanted to re-route the tracks in the state and the only way to do that was to have backing in the Florida Legislature. Knowing that my great grandfather Council's daughter was married to the son of one of the Senator's who sat on that committee, they went to Jesse Council and requested he meet with Daniel Sloan.

When Mr. Council tried to explain that Daniel Sloan was an honest politician and would only change the tracks if it was for the best of the people of Florida, the railroad executives admonished him as his bosses, to try whatever tactic was necessary to get the tracks moved. The executives continues to harp at him, using his job as a levying tool. He finally relented and said he would take the train to Tallahassee to speak to Senator Sloan.

When Mr. Council arrived at the Capital building, Mr. Sloan met him on the steps. After greeting one another, Senator Sloan said to Mr. Council, "Jesse, I know why you're here." In response Mr. Council said to Senator Sloan, "Well D.H., if you know why I am here, I know what your answer is." He then turned and went back down the steps and took the train back to Lakeland.

The tracks were never changed and Daniel Sloan left Tallahassee and said it was too crooked for him. He came back to Lakeland, ran his many businesses and never returned. 

Tallahassee being a place of crooked politicians is nothing new. I am glad my great grandfather was not one of them.