The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1907-04-26
A Last Word as to
the T.-U. and Mr.. Flagler.

The Ocala Banner is fast making it
self ridiculous in its volubable efforts
to prove undying loyalty and devotion
to the Times-Union and Mr.. Flagler
In a recent issue it said:
The Pensacola Journal, having been
inoculated with the belief that Mr..
Flagler, through the East Coast Rail
way and his other agencies, seeks to
dominate and control the politics of
Florida, from constable to governor,
and being called upon to cite instances
and establish proofs, replies by say
ing that it rests with the friends of
Mr. Flagler to disprove and not for it
TO prove what it says, or words to this
effect.
A distinguished statesman of Eng
land once said:
II could, by malicious interrogation,
disturb the peace of the most virtuous
man in the kingdom. L could take the
decatogue, and say to one man, did you
never steal? To the next did you
never commit murder? And to an
other, did you ever bear false witness
against thy neighbour"
Would the burden of proof in
these malicious interrogations rest
against the innocent persons so &C
cuSed of crime?
Mr.. Flagler will have spent one hun
dred million dollars in promoting the
development and resources of this
state when he shall have completed
the extension of the East Coast Rail-
way to Key West, and has been en-
tirely too busy to give his attention to
electing "constables" to office.
Now the truth about this whole tenn
pest in teapot which the Banner is
trying to stir up is that The Journal
a few weeks ago answered a question
prOpounded by the Times-Union as to
what it thought about Mr.. Flagler And
because, while giving him great credit
for the marvellous enterprise which he
has exhibited in Florida, The Journal
did not endorse his political activity
and political methods with that
idolatrous sufficiency which character
ICES the attitude of its Jacksonville
and Ocala contemporaries on the same
subject, they challenge The Journal to
stand and deliver the evidence upon
which its opinion was based
The Journal refuses to be put in any
such attitude. 1t accommodated the
Times-Union by answering a question,
and it was the only paper in the state
that really did answer the question 1t
does not care whether the answer suit
ed or not. If there are other answers
to be had, our contemporary is well
come to them. We are not interested
as TO what they are or where they
came or whether the Times-Union
likes them or not. 1t wanted to know
where The Journal stood and it found
out, but it must be admitted that the
profound silence which reigned among
The balance of the state press was
BAR from complimentary to the Times
Unions question.
That is all The Journal has to say
or will have to say on a matter of
which neither the Times Union nor Mr.
Flagler can have much to boast. For
the rest, suppOsing the statements
made by it to be correct. we are per-
fectly willing TO agree with our Ocala
contemporary when it says:
After his arrival in the state, the
two morning newspapers in Jackson
Vile, in order to enlarge their useful
ness and help along the states onward
movement, issued bonds and by argu-
ment and preteXt got Mr.. Flagler to
subscribe for them. and when in the
course of events he was compelled to
take both newspapers, and for econ
Cmy's sake consolidated them, he
could, If he had been disposed, had the
consolidated paper conducted by his
Ohio friends, but, instead of which.
he placed it in the hands of those who
had the full confidence of the people of
Florida Mr.. Wilson, who was made
editoT-in-chief of the consolidated
paper, had been an active democrat
all his life and had been the recipi-
ent of many honors from his party. He
was secretary of the congressional
campaign committee and was collector
of internal revenue while Mr. Cleve-
land was president, and in both posi-
tons won distinction
Mr.. Stockton had long been connect
ed with the Times-Union, was a con-
spicuous democratic politician and
stood we'll with a faction of the party
which was partly named for him.
Had Mr.. Flagler been a politician
he would not have put these gentle |
men In control7-of the Times-Union. |