The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-03-08
LETTER
FROM At TY'.
Gen. ELLIS
Explains His Opinion on
School Fund Claim
Against Trustees.
ANSWERS STATEMENT OF EDl.
TOR OF BARLOW RECORD WHO
is ALSO A MEMBER OF STATE
LEGisLATURE-AN INTEREST
ING DISCUSSION.

The following correspondence is
self-explanatory:
Tallahassee, Fla, March 6, 1908.
Mr.. Frank L. Mayes, Pensacola, Fla.
Dear Sir: Enclosed you will find a
copy of an open letter which is self
explanatory. This is public matter
OF no little Importance and If you
think the enclosed open letter will be
of interest to your readers, you have
my permission to publish same. Its
publication will assist in correcting a
false impression, and, incidentally, an
injustice to this office. Your paper
is the only one in your immediate vi
cinity to which this letter is sent.
With kindeSt regards and best wishes,
| am
Yours very truly,
w. H. ELLIS.
An Open Letter.
Tallahassee, Fla, March 5, 1908.
Mr.. George Mathews, Editor, Polk
County Record, Barlow, Fla.
Dear Sir: In a recent issue of the
Polk County Record" the following
paragraph appeared:
Certain newspapers in the state
that are known far and near as cor
poration papers have endeavored to
praise Mr.. Ellis for his opinion on
the question of the school fund be-
ing entitled to % per cent. of the in
ternal improvement lands. Strange to
say that they are treating this as new
proposition, when, in fact, Governor
Broward for the past two or three
years, has been making this claim both
through the press and from the stump.
And he is the man who deserves the
credit.
The opinion of General Ellis was
suggested by Broward'S course and
his request for the opinion. Such pa
pers as the Times-UniOn and the
True Democrat need not try TO mis-
lead the people. For they know where
it originated"
wish to correct two errors in this
paragraph: The opinion given by me
to Governor Broward does not hold
that the school fund is entitled to 20
per cent OF the internal improvement
lands" but holds that the 25 per cent.
of the sales of public lands constitutes
a part of the school fund and that such
part of the sales of public lands, be-
ing part of the school fund. must be
held sacred and inviolate because the
constitution so requires.
In the second place, my opinion
was not Suggested by Browards
course" Governor Broward asked for
nv opinion upon the application of
certain constitutional provisions to
the lands in the hands of the trus-
tees of the internal improvement fund
of Florida" and in reply to that re-
quest I gave the opinion of Feb. 3,
1908.
Neither you nor any other man in
Florida or elsewhere can truthfully
say that any opinion of mine as at
tornev general of the state was sug-
gested by any one.
Now as to the credit, concerning
which you say certain newspapers in
ida have tried to mislead the peo-
pie: have never asked for, nor claim
ed credit for asserting that % per
lent. of the lands in the internal I'M
urovement fund was school property,
but | do claim whatever credit there
NAV be in rend aring conscientiously a
'ound opinion and standing upon that
conviction until it is removed by sound
reasoning. Therefore, it is my pur-
pose to insist that 25 per cent. of the
sales of public lands by the trustees
shall be covered into the state school
fund. and shall not be expended for
anv other purpose.
This is a matter of great import
ance to the people of this state, and
the value of it should not be lost
sight of in any unseemly efforts on
he part of any persons to as-r1bs
credit TO any one who. as the servanf
- +--7--,le. is bound to perform his
constitutional duty. In a duty w
formed. there is credit enough for all
who participant il discharging it,
ours very truly,
W. H. ELLIS. s