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

upper part of Dade. east Of that river,
public speeches. l have waited in vain
for any denial or disproof thereof from
you or in your behalf.
In my pubic addresses have repeat
eddy stated that since October. 1895,
the national bank of which you were
president has had a government de-
post beginning with about $65,O00, and
Increasing in recent years 10 upwards
Of 100000, without interest, and upon
which no taxes are paid, and this / con-
slider a special privilege enjoyed by you.
which the great masses of the people,
including myself. have never enjoyed.
AMI have strivcn 10 make il clear that
if these special privileges were defen-
sible. if they were not undemocratic,
If the principle of them was not direct
ly opposed 10 the spirit Of our institu-
tiOns and our Constitution. then
would have no word Of criticism or OBJ
lection 10 your enjoying them in the
fullest measure. have upon all oc-
caSions discussed this matter as
question of public policy and of good
honest, democratic government. and
you will find that 1 am backed in my
post on by the historic and the present
atttI1e of the democratic party sc ex
pressed and reiterated in its party
platforms from the earliest days to the
present. I have commended that these
special privileges should ho prohibited
to any and everybody by the enactment
Of laws by the Congress Of the United
States and by the Legislature IF THE
state. each acting in it, respective
sphere-and l have publicly charged
that you have not, during your Con.
FrcssiOnal service. attempted to secure
tue enactment of any laws or this sub
sect. as was contemplated BY the dem
ooratic platforms under which you were
elected AMI served as =, nator; but
that. on tie contrary. you have per
sisted in the violation of this funda-
mental principle Of democracy by Sc
curing and retaining for your bank the
special. priv ieges to which l have re-
ferred. And n proof Of my assertions
regarding tbs matter 1 have offered to
the people the official records of the
United States Treasury Department.
Finally, l have called 20 the atten-
ton of those Of the people whom have
been able TO address the facts that as
Senator you voted against an amend
ment to the money bill TO strike the
word gold and insert the words in
coin OF standard value in interest pay
ments Congressional Record. vol 80.
page 1S29)-a direct and fragrant viola
ton Of the platform. That the national
platforms of both 1885 and and 1900
and the state platform Of 1900 denounc.
81 the issuance by national banks Of
notes intended TO circulate as money,
whereas you have done nothing what
ever in furtherance OF this demand:
but, on the contrary, you voted against
an amendment to grade national banks
according TO population CCOngression-
al Record. vol SO. page 299O. } That the
platform. seeking to uplift the condi-
ton Of the American nottingham. call
ed for the creation Of a department Of
labor, in charge of a secretary. with
seat in the cabinet, while you, when the
bill to create a department of labor and
commerce was under consideration,
voted for an amendment to strike from
the title the words labor and" ICON.
greSsiOnal Record. vol 80, page 105D, !
thus disregarding the platform and es-
pecially the interests of the laboring
people of Florida and the nation.
In connection with these matters,
and all other matters bearing upon
your official record and my own, 1 re-
spectfully invite and urge and chaI-
lenge you 10 meet ne in joint public
discussion before the people of Flor |
ida, at any times and places to be
agreed upon. And l beg TO request.
further, that this VIII receive your
prompt attention
Very resp eCtfully,