The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1904-01-29
Tallahassee. Fla. Jan. - 1904.


Hon. Frank Harris. Editor Of the Ocala
Banner. Ocala, Florida:
Ny Dear Sir-I am handing you
herewith copy Of letter which 1 recently
addressed 10 Senator James p. ITALIA
ferro. relative 10 attempts made by him
in a recent letter published in your pa
per. in which reference was made to
me.
Since Mr.. TaliaferrO has not seen
proper 10 modify his original state
ments. 1 feel confident that your sense
Of fairness and justice will prompt you
10 give publication TO my reply Cen
cIosed) by publishing in your paper.
Yours very truly,
w. :. Jennings.
Hon. James P. Taliaferro. Jackson
vile. Fla:
Dear Sir-AIy attention has just been
called 10 that portion Of your open let
Ter. published i'm the Ocala Banner Of
December -. 1903. and reproduced in
the Times Union Of December 30. 1903,
in which YOU use this language:
No. 9. Governor Jennings says I
have done nothing since I have been in
Congress.
positively deny that I have ever
used the language which you attribute
10 me-either the language itself IN
substance. or its equivalent What l
have said on all occasions when have
addressed the people or any portion OF
them. has been repeated more than
once publicly in your presence and
hearing, and not denied.
In your open letter above quoted you
proceed 20 assert that you. together
with your Congressional associates
from Florida. have procured appropria~
tions. aEgregating S4lOo.ooo 9looo'-
900 Of which YOU place under the head
NJ Indian War Claim collector and
add this comment
This means more than s. per capt.
., fo- every man. woman and child in
the state OF Florida; and the collection
Of the Indian War Claim. provided the
affairs OF the state are administered
vriselv and honestly. should have the
effect Of lowering taxes and lessening
the burdens Of all the people.
Won must assuredly appreciate that
this statement is grossly unfair and in
accurate. and that Of the total amount
n, $500 s4s received 10y this state from
the United States in the settlement OF
che Indian War Claim. the only amount
which under the disposition of the FUND
made by the legislature OF 1903 could
have the effect Of lowering taxes and
lessening the burdens Of all the people,
Is the sum Of $430. S33. which was, by
legislative direction. upon my recon-
rnendation. applied TO the payment OF
the states bonded debt. which resulted
in reducing the interest charges an
nually paid on the debt.
In connection with the Indian War
Claim settlement. while giving the full
est credit-to every man. who helped TO
secure the massage of the act OF Con-
eress authorizing il. have publicly eN-
plained that It's passage through the
United states Senate was no new and
miraculous performance. showing from
official records that. largely through
the efforts Of former Senator Pasco and
his associates in Congress. the same
hin. or one equivalent in effect, was
passed by the Senate in the Fiftieth.
Fifty-Second. Fifty-Third, Fifty-Fourth
and Fifty-Fifth Congresses. but failed
in the House of Representatives.
T-pon the showing made by the rec
ords Of Congress. 1 assert that after
drawing the necessary bill and stating
the account. Senator Pasco accomplish
ed in the Senate during each of hve
sessions OF Congress prior to your term
All that YOU accomplished as a Sena-
tor. ard that the basis Of your accom-
plishment was Mr.. PascO's work,
adopted by you without the change of
one cent in amounts-and that If this
is the work that entities a man TO
seat I'm the Senate. then Senator Pasco
should have been reelected in 1893.