The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1902-1905, 1904-03-11
TALIAFE RRO'S REPLY
Senator Answers the Letter
of Mr.. Frank Harris.
REFERS TO ATTACK ON RECORD.


REFERS TO ATTACK ON RECORD.
Clean, DlenlHed and Conservative
Statement of Facts-ocala Banner
Presents the Communication In
Attractive Form-strons Editorial
InGorscment
We print in today's paper letter
from Senator Taltaferro in reply to
certain charges made against him by
those who oppose his return to the
United States Senate.
1t seems to Us that the frank and
syrIlci1 manner in witch he meets these
charges clearly entities him to a fair
and impartial hearing, and his letter
must appeal very strongly to the
Democratic voters Of the State.
A man should discharge his poIiti'
cal duties as conscientiously as he
does his moral and religious obliga-
tions, and In exercising the right OF
suffrage should weigh the evidence
as IN a jury trial.
We feel that Senator Taliaferro Is
fairly entitled to a reelection, and be-
ueve that this will be the peoples
verdict at the polls.
His record as a Senator has far
surpassed the most sanguine eXpecta-
lions of his friends, and no public
servant from this State has accom-
plished so much in the same length
of time.
Just what his achievements have
been is modestly stated in the letter
that we today lay before our read
ers.-Editorlal Leader in Banner
Hon. Jas. P. Taliaterro, Washing
ton. D. c.: Dear Sir-The unbIoken
custom OF the Democratic party In
Florida has been to give its officials
two terms II their conduct in office
has been at all cred!table.
without any attempt to fatter
u. ii
record has been exceptionally good
During your term in Office the Indian
war claim has been collected; the
soldiers of the Seminole Indian wal
of lS5G-57 ana their widows have
been pensioned; the State has receiy
ed larger appropriations for river and
harbor improvements and for the 10
cation and erection Of public build
ings than In any similar period, ant
your name appears on many of the
most important standing and specia
committees of the Senate, whict
shows that your influence is felt anC
recognized In that body.
Notwithstanding these facts, you
must be aware that certain charge:
have been made against you in the
newspapers and on the stump by
those who are opposing your return
to the Senate. To be specific, it /!
charged:
Il. That your election by corpor
ate influence was so brazen that thu
people were astOunded.
- That you are opposed to the pri
mary systom.
-. That you denounced the Kansas
City and Chicago platforms.
- That by unmistakable implica
ton you we're in favor of the Fowler
asset currency bill and the Aldrict
bill In the interests OF the trusts.
IS. That you went to Tallahassee
during the last session of the Legis
laturc and oGn0sed the passage of the
antitrust bill.
Il. That through your influence re
bates were obtained from the rail
roads for the c. B. Rogers Company
"i That through these rebates com
petition was stifed, and that as a re
suit Wholesale house after wholesale
house failed in Jacksonville in an Ell
fort to compete with that company.
IS That you are under the influ
ence OF the Standard Oil Company
- 1t is also charged that you havr
done nothing for Florida and deserve
no credit for the collection OF the In
dian war claim.
AS your public duties require yol
to be in Washington and hence can
not reply to these charges from tn,
stump, your constituents, or at leas
a humber of them, think that 20,
should reply to them in some publi
manner, and for this purpose ten
der you the use of the columns o
the Ocala Banner. Very truly,
FRANK HARRIS"