The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1897-01-29
A Timely Warning.
TO the Editor q the BANNER.

Pate VI tuo tiuts out you cannot 100
all the people all the time" was the
wise, yet witty expression of Presi-
dent Lincoln. The maxim has lost
none of its potency because OF age OF
use, and we daily see lis application.
Since territorial days it has been an
unwritten law of Florida to reward
faithful servants, and mans useful
ness in Office has been shown time
and again by reelection by his con.
stituents.
When that servant proves recreant
to the trust, there is the seclusIon OF
private life, TO which his constituents
firmly remand him. There are many
living monuments in Florida to this
factFan it will ever be so while the
people hold the reins.
Two years ago the attention of the
members-elect of the legislature then
soon to assemble, was forcibly called
20 the conditions then existing.
The Ice King had in. one night
wrenched from our people property
variously estimated at from ten mill
ions and upwards. Colonel Chipley
stated at the recent tobacco conven-
tion in your city that The loss reached
fifty millions. While it was not nee
essary for the newspapers to tell our
Solons of these crushing losses, yet
they did emphasize the fact and asked
mercy at their hands in the economic
cal administration of the states az
faiyin the approaching session of the
Legislature. What was the result of
these appeals? The venerable secre-
tary Of state, DIR. j. l.. Crawford, tells
us 1t was the most expensive session
that has been held since the people of
Florida regained the control of their
own affairs $70,0 900 was the heavy cost
of as poor legislation as has afflicted
the state in years, and this after warn
ing and appeal has been made TO the
members to rember terrible losses 10
the people. Two members had been
overheard expressing their utter dis
regard of these appeals. One really
bankrupt, who said: II mean to
have the top notch allowed by law for
my services;p the other said: II am
in for all the constitution permits in
this business
Such was the selfish character of the
men who composed The last legislature
and their acts speak louder than any
excuse they may try to make to their
fA2rstituents. Some, indeed, pleaded
the baby act and tried to convince
their clients that they would have
been more economical but they were
overpowered and outvoted by the Dra-
jority.
y The grand jary, "the people, re-
viewed the acts of their servants and
have condemned them as unworthy
and improbable. To the cool shade
of seclusion in the narrow walks OF
their contracted home circles they
have been remanded.
OF the sixty-eight members of the
house but eight of those who served
in the session of 1895 have been re-
turned by their constituents. That
they 1.-THE people) refuse to be fooled i:
apparent in this, and if experience
counts for anything then would it not
be prudent for the members of the
coming session to profit by the fate o
their predecessors?
In the winter of 1S94.5 the lee Kinl
reduced from affiuence to poverty
~ many who by lives of industry anC
patience had arrived at ease and com
potency, and destroyed in a nigh
millions of taxable wealth. In tn
autumn Of 1895 the twin fiend, tn
Storm King, in less than four hour
tried his savage poWeE@upon The ~
and pronestg, ce z 49, 80 Of the
=. ). 3 osi5Fida.
Thu Sse. asday y the loss again OF
nillitr lie Values and hundreds of
our people dead and injured. So con-
3srvatiye financier as DR.. ID. G. AM
hlar estimated the loss in timber alone,
sbat he was able to inspect, at one and
one half million dollars. There was
much more territory that this expert
could investigate. therefore 1t is rea-
sonable to ext0 le values consider
able beyond ht Imates.
Houses, buildings, fencing, stock,
merchandise, and in fact everything
tano,l,le in the track of the Storm
K,nr went the same way. while hu,
man life was also sacrificed upon the
altar of this fnsatiate fiend. Who
can place a safe and conservative es
t,mate of these losses2 All the mem
hers Of the legislature know the facts
DO they want more impressive objee
lessons than the freeze and the storm
s. y. convince them of their duty to
wards the state and the people?
II they do, then let them again rea'
the quotation at the top of this articl
and remember the rewards melted gu
- the members of the late lamente
IL |kture.
g comparison of the list of the las
= 'tlature with that Ct the member
shows that not single count
z returned the san delegation
7 win the coming session rsse above tn
mere per diem of So and the full linn
= time that they may secure all ths
Re is in it for themselves, or wi
Nav profit by the blunders, selfish
and then the punishments |
predecessors and give the state
less, brief and economical session
st us hope the coming crop Of s,
iona may profit by the experience
e =. 4, n.tSsBY this note of warnip
"a meet. that disgrace and d
ext ext thafis visited by the people upc
i 1Ssir unworthy servants. PERT.
Ia r n ~