The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1907-07-09
Open Chance, and. Time
To "Puf Up or Shut Up"

are glad to note, is taking calm and
sensible view of this matter, and we
commend the following statement
from John Collins to Nthose editors
whose spleen seems to be taking on
abnormal proportions just at this
time:
The newest Internal Improvement
Investigating Commission have met,
organized, and we suppose are at 1t
in dead earnest, and for the sake OF
the states good name and all Of
ficials, the 1rue Democrat hopes 1t
will be faithful to the trust and its
acts just all round If there has been
no wrong done in handling l. l. az
fairs, and particularly so in connec-
ton with those cheap sales, no One
will be more pleased of it than this
newspaper. We have criticised 1t re-
peatedly, believing from affairs, as
we see them, that lands have been
sacrificed, and that much better prices
could have been secured, had the Of
ficials made known the fact that the
lands were on the market, and thus
given other purchasers an opportunity
to compete for them.
We have the very highest respect
for most of the state officials, and no
personal feeling against any Of them,
and most aSsuredly hope their every
act will be proven justified, but we
do not wish to see farce investiga-
ton pulled off in the now popular
whitewash style. So let the commit
tee get at the bottom of all these
cheap sales, starting with the one to
Mr.. Bars at 80 cents an acre, the
one through Senator Williams, an
agent of timber lands in Taylor, La
fayette and other counties at low
prices; those to Joseph Jennings at
Al % cents an acre, and perhaps 9th.
ers. Find out how soon thereafter
they were re-sold to others, what the
prices and commissions received all
along the line were-dn fact, all
things connected Herewith.
Surely, all the peoplL, connected
with all those transactions, are will
ing to go before that commission, II
everything is just as it should be, and
clear our state and our officials of
the clouds that cast their shadow
still. This business is costing the
people of Florida something, and the
people expect to get right and just
results from 1t. and will be satisfied
with nothing else.
The above statement shows that
the True Democrat has faith in the
members of the commission, though
nearly all of them are opposed to him
on general policies of state govern
ment, and that he wants only a fair
and impartial consideration. 1t
breathes the spirit of fairness hard
ly comprehensive to most of the
papers that have heretofore been fol-
lowing in the wake of the True Demo
crat on this matter.
There is absolutely no ground to
charge that this commission intends
to whitewash anybody. If it is com
posed mainly of the personal and po-
litical friends of Governor Broward.
it is also true that the political
enemies of the governor were given
the first chance to serve on the com
mission.
1t is said that the commission will
whitewash the administration of the
present governor and his predecessor,
because the personnel of the commits
sion is of the same political faction,
but it is also true that the commits
sion will investigate the acts and
doings of the trustees under other ad-
ministratiOns, and it can not be said
that the Mitchell and Fleming admin
istrations we're along the same line
&C fboco of Tonninpc apd Prouord
as the former and latter belonged to
two different, separate and distinct
factions in state politics.
The Journal believes that every
member of this investigating commits
sion is honest and conscientious, and
will deal with all matters coming
before it with absolute fairness and
impartiality. The very first act of
the commission showed this, when
they decided to hold open sessions
The commission has given out
the statement that it would be glad
to receive any evidence in the posses
sion of any one having any relation
to any of the acts of the trustees,
and inviting such persons to come be-
fore it, or to send the same in such
shape that it can be properly received
and considered by the commission.
This is an invitation to those editors
who have been worrying themselves
of late about these matters, to bring
before the commission the facts upon
which they are baSing their charges
of graft and mismanagemento Of this
great trust
Now is the accepted time. The COM
mission is in session, and waiting for
these charges to be presented. This
opportunity may never again come,
and. in the street vernacular. II
seems to us that it is about time for
them to either put up or shut up
Hot Words.
sTT cuOnOCn if-c tho dry Upafbor