The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1908-06-12
sRowARD sELF,AccusEp

claims on the stump that he is being
abused and misrepresented by his op-
ponents and critics he should be re-
minded that the Severest charge
against his Official character has come
from his own lips.
The governor, of course, denies the
utterance of the language attributed
20 him al Gainesville, but the News
and the fairminded people of Florida
will have no besitancy whatever in
accepting the word of the reputable
citizens of Gainesville who heard him
make the statement; and, further
more, Congressman Frank Clark has
openly challenged the governor TO de-
hate with him on the stump the ques-
ton whether or not he did say it, Mr..
Clark offering TO prove conclusively
that the identical language was used.
BY saying at Gainesville that he an
pointed board to select a site for the
state university with the full knowl-
edge that il would select Gainesville
as such site, and, that in fact, he made
the appointments with that end in
view: and that, while thus packing a
jury" for that is just what il amount
ed TO, he personally voted for and adj
vOcated Lake City. thus adding du-
plicity to nefarious cunning, the gov
ernor indicted himself of an act that
is little short of a crime.
Here was a great public question,
involving the location OF the state
university-an honor for which two
cities were struggling, and in which
contest both sides had a right TO eX-
pect fair play. The governor had
proclaimed himself a friend of Lake
City in the fight, and Lake City trust
ed him and expected his favor. While
thus publicly espousing Lake City,
the governor, according to his own
statement, mind you, connived TO Sc
cure the honor for Ginesville-conniy-
ed with all the secret machination of
the fellow who fixes" a jury.
No wonder. as Frank Clark says,
the people of Gainesville who heard
this astounding admission hung their
heads in shame, surprise and NORTH
cation to hear the governor of their
state confess such duplicity!
The statement was undoubtedly
made to secure Gainesville votes n
his candidacy for the senate. But
Lake City could not be kept in jg-
norance of the utterance of the gov
ernOr The news travelled fast, and
Lake City was not long in hearing Of
IT Then Lake City, in its injured in
nocence, got TO work II investigated
and It became convinced that the gov
ernor did use the language quoted.
Thus, the governor, in sowing the
wind at Gainesville. has reaped the
whirlwind. in Lake City, in Gaines
Vile, and likewise throughout the en-
tire state. There are several consid-
erations which must figure in the az
itation.
Either:
The governor told the truth az
Gainesville, in which event he stands
convicted of prejudging, pre-"fixing"
the decision of an important board or
a great state question ostensibly ad-
Focating the other side;-
Or. the governor did not tell the
truthtruth at Gainesville. in which
event he stands convicted of falsify-
ing his own record in order to gain
votes.
And, in either event, the governor
finds himself in a most unenviable DO
sitiOn, placed there by his own lack
Of ordinary political wisdom, by his
own incapacity for handling great
questions, by his utter unfitness to ap-
pear before the people in an impor-
tant public capacity.
The News is inclined to the belief
that the governor did not tell the
truth at Gainesville. The News be-
heves that the governor expected the
board to select Lake City as the site
for the university, and that he ap-
pointed it with that end in view. But
the governor, il appears, was mistaken
in how at least one member of the
board-T. B. King of Arcadia-would
vote on the subject. He thought that
King was such a friend of his that he
would join him in his desire to win
the honor for Lake City; but King
had been student at Gainesville, and
he voted that way. The governor, I'D
against a proposition of proclaimed
enmity TO Gainesville, went to Gaines
vile to speak, and he was not DOS
sessed of sufficient political common
sense TO avoid a transparent attempt
10 curry favor in that city by giving
out an impression that, while openly
for Lake City, he was secretly and Of
i