The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1905-09-22

progress And its absolutely unneces-
sary sales Of lands for the two years
named aggregated the sum Of nearly
1924, 900!
A WORD TO THE FOOLISH.
1t has been our purpose to make no
further reference to the Wales claim
until such time as discussion concerning
it might aid in the righting Of the great
wrong that has been done both to him
and to the State; but since we have re-
Gently been informed that the State
Comptroller and one Of his supernumer-
airy clerks have been endeavoring to
connect Col. WALES with the manage
ment Of The True Democrat, by refer
ring to him az one of its editorial writ
ers, hackers or advisers, we are forced
to mention the matter again.
We would regard it as an honor Of
10 little moment to be connected with
Colonel Wales in any business enter
prise, but, of course, the assertion that
he is in any manner connected with
The True Democrat, aside from his
friendly interest in a public journal
which has always endeavOred to do him
justice, is utterly false while the ami
mus of those who imagine that by
circulating such report they might
bring discredit upon The True Democrat
or upon Col Wales is abundantly evil
dent
Mr.. Groom has always been regarded
as the special friend and confidant of
Ex-Governor Jennings, and his assO-
ciate and adviser in many, if not all,
Of the extraordinary performances,
while in office and since, which have
brought upon his administration and
himself the emphatic condemnation of
very large proportion Of the press
and people of the State; while his clerk
(who is also said now to be Secretary of
the Pension Board, drawing salaries for
both positions with not much to do as
clerk, and who was formerly private
secretary to Governor Jennings, and
still rests under the condemnation of a
legislative committee for croOkedness
in connection with the management Of
the State hospitan was actively instru-
mental az his agent and errand boy in
gathering members of the Legislature
into the Governors office and elsewhere
so that jennings could lobby with them
against the Wales claim Doubtless
he performed like service in the lob
bying operations Of the Ex-Governor"
during the last session. but Of this more
may come later, If necessary.
Here, then, we have the amazing
spectacle Of two State officials who
were most active in the operations of
the jennings lobby against the honest
payment by the State of just claim,
based upon valid contract made by
the Governor and other administrative
officers of the State government, and
ratified by every succeeding administra-
ton and Legislature for a quarter Of
century, the purpose Of such lobbying
being to discredit Florida in the eyes of
the world as repudiator Of her honest
obligations, attempting, in their puny,
malicious way. to serve their former
and, perhaps, present master, by cir
culating what they imagine to be an
injurious rumor to the effect that their
intended victim is running news
paper
While neither Col. Wales nor The
True Democrat is likely to be injured
by such rumor. we desire to extend to
these worthless friendly warning to let
our affairs alone, for a day Of reckoning
Is surely coming.
The government printing office inves-
tigation develops the fact that the wives
Of certain employees Of the printing de-
partment own stock in big manufacture
ing concerns that furnished a great
number of monotype machines to the
printing Office. When you see a man
begin using his wife's name in his bust
ness transactions. you had better watch
him. - Madison Recorder.
Look out! You're getting mighty
close to ''lese majestic" in that last
sentence.
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