The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-03-14
Replies to Letter in Which
Official Explained His
School Fund Opinion.
MATHEWS SAYS GOVERNOR
sRoWARD, AND NOT ELLIS, is
ENTITLED TO CREDIT FOR
scHoL FUND vIcToRY-RoARD
ACTED BEFORE ATTORNEY
GENERAL DID.
GOVERNOR

The following open letter from Hon.
G. G. Mathews, member of the last
legislature anw now editor of the
Polk County Record, is self-explana-
tory:
Mathews Replies to General Ellis.
As Attorney General Ellis recently
published an open letter addressed
to me on account of an editorial ap-
pearing in my paper, the Polk Coun-
" Record, l wish to let the public
know little more about the subject
In Mr.. ElliS's open letter he practi-
cally admits my contention, except in
his misconStruction of one part of
my editorial. l never said that his
opinion was based upon or founded
upon Gov. Broward's suggestion or
Ideas, but | meant to convey the idea
that by reason of Gov. Broward hav-
ing claimed for two or three years
from the stump and through the
press that the school fund was emit
tied to 25 per cent. of the proceeds
of the public lands and having re-
quested an opinion from Mr.. Ellis
upon the subject, that the opinion
was called for, was brought about as
the result of the suggestion or agita-
ton of Gov. Broward. | did not mean
estly given upon the law, but / claim
that the governor was the leader in
the matter and Mr.. Ellis does not
deny this.
What / kicked on in my editorial
was the apparent effort of certain
corporations papers in the state to
give Mr.. Ellis more credit than was
due and at the same time actually
not even giving the man who brought
up and pushed the question anv credit
whatever I understand the tactics
of these papers, they want to mis-
lead the public and just at this time
upon the eye of the primary make
the people think Mr. Ellis has done
wonders for the school fund
School Boards Demand.
AS a matter of fact the state school
board, at meeting when Mr. Ellis
was absent, about three months be-
fore he rendered his opinion, passed
resolution declaring that the
school fund was entitled to % per
cent of the proceeds of public lands
and made a demand on the internal
Improvement board for the same
They acted without his opinion, three
months before he rendered it. Why
did not certain papers praise the en-
tire board for this action? The
board was some months ahead of the
attorney general. Could it be q mat
ter of politics with these papers?
The law has been the same since
long prior TO the time the present at
torney general went into office. He
talks about a servant of the people
is bound 10 perform this constitution
al duty, for about four years passed,
failed to do the constitutional duty
that a servant of the people is bound
to. perform?
The school fund has suffered to the
extent of many -OuSand dollars dur
ing his term of Office, yet not until
February 9Th, 1908, just on the eve
of a primary, did We ever hear of him
advising or advocating that the school
fund was entitled to this part OF the
proceeds of the public lands. | ask
the question. why? Has it been ignor-
ance or neglect of duty on the part
of the legal adviser of the state cab
met? | still think the attorney gen
eral has played a second fiddle in this
transaction and that the Times Union
and True Democrat were unfair in not
telling the whole story and in ignor-
ing Gov. Broward's efforts in the mat
ter.
Very truly.
G. G. MATTHEWS.