The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1908-06-18
FROM Mr.. PYIES

To the Honorable Joseph Bell, Coun-
ty Judge: My attention has been
called to a private letter of mine,
written by me to a friend whose name
you omit to publish, but which you
publish as paid matter in the issue of
the Weekly Star of date June 18th,
1908. under the title, "Who Enticed H.
w. Long to Slaughter; and after
quoting the letter you add Why?
I will say in the first place that the
Hon. H. w. Long and l have been
friends for many years, extending far
beyond the date of the birth of the
honorable county judge. During the
last forty years some things of i'm
portance have transpired besides the
birth of the honorable county judge
All of us have not forgotten that there
was time when it meant great per-
sonal sacrifice and perhaps even per-
sonal danger to espouse the cause Of
democracy against negro and repub-
liCan opposition backed by Federal
pressure. These old political warriors
were really such, and to compare them
with the younger members Of the
party, without casting any reflection
Oh young democrats, is, I say, to COM
pare the labors of the polemic with
the labOrs and the privations and
the perils of the hero of many battles.
The honorable county judge asks
why" which is the only word he
adds to my letter. / ask him by what
authority he calls me to book for a
letter written in behalf Of a friend,
and g. worthy and honorable friend,
who happened to aspire to an office,
which office happened (by chance) to
be filled by the Honorable Joseph Bell.
There is no word in that letter that
reflects upon the honorable county
judge, and the honorable very far for
gets himself and discredits his high
office by this display of temper. Shall
judge carry into his office personal
resentment against me (WhO has not
done or said anything to reflect on
him) merely because l eSpOused in the
primary the cause Of another? The
temper of the honorable judge is put
on edge by this, and we find that the
| judicial temper is still as feather
| eGge twenty four days after the pri-
mary, as then it is he publishes my
letter Such a temper i'll COMFORTS
| with judicial office. and l will say to
! the honorable judge that his temper
| is likely to serve him more falsely
than either MI Long or the writer.
The honorable judge heads his let
| ter, "Who Enticed H. w. Long to
Slaughter" and then copies my letter
with my signature. The inference is
| that I not only was a personal enemy
Of the honorable judge, but that he
| led out Mr.. Long as sheep to the
shambles, as a victim to be ground
under the wheels of this modern judi
cial juggernaut.
The honorable judge has been pro-
rouEced worthy by the votes of his
fellows, but 1 charge him to cast from
him that temper, and reflect that there
are infirmities that fasten themselves
upon even the brightest young minds
and mar them in public service more
than all that train Of infirmities which
! is the common lot Of old age.
With such an opponent and such
vote the honorable judge might we'll
lin twenty-four days. have forgotten
any small scars of the primary, and
! turned his mind to those good and
useful purposes of which he is capable.
S. r. PYLES.