The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1908-05-08
Jacksonville. Fla. Nav 4. 1908.
To the Editor Ocala Banner:

Dear Sir-My attention has been }
called TO an article in the Ocala Ban /
ner of May LIST. headed Gus Morton +
Tells His Story" In that article Gus /.
Morton makes certain statements cal I
culated to mislead the people who DO
not know either of US. In justice TO
myself I will state briefly that l have /
never treated Gus Morton or any per
son or corporation otherwise than
with absolute fairness and honesty.
do not owe Gus Morton a dollar, buJ
on the other hand he owes me cOnsid- /
cradle sums of money, which I am
sorry that 7 cannot hope TO collect, (
for the reason that I do not think that
a judgment against him would pro-
duce the money. When we entered
into business relations connected with
the phosphate business some eight Or
tract were reduced to writing and spc-
cifically provided that any differences
arising between US should be submit
ted for final adjudication to the judge
Of the fifth judicial circuit of Florida
as an arbitrator. both Of us agreeing
TO abide by his decision, and, until the
publication of this statement, l had
never heard that Gus Morton claimed
that owed him a dollar, or that there
was anything due him, or that | had
ever treated him with the utmost fair
ness and liberality.
The last time saw him prior to his
famous challenge. published less than
thirty days ago, he was enthusiastical-
ly supporting me as a candidate for
the nomination of governor. In fac-,
I have letters from him written re-
Gently, in which he expresses great
interest in my campaign, and in one
of them says: Il am satisfied that this
is the time of your life to win this
victory. In fact. have not run across
a single man who supported you be-
fore that is not ready to fall in line,
etc. I attach hereto copies OF two of
his letters which are dated respective
1y November 5, 1907, and December
18th, 1907. AS late as March 6 he
wrote me, in which letter he say
~'In regard TO yourself, [ think it is
fOregOne conclusion that you will car
ry Alachua county overwhelmingly.
Subsequent to March 6, he was in m
Office in Jacksonville and assured M
of his hearty support, saying that ne
would do all that he possibly could for
me. This was said TO me in the pres
ence of other persons. who heard the
conversation. This | say in reply ID
his statement that when he saw my
Photographs spread broadcast all Over
the country. claiming TO be the peJ-
pies candidate and the working man ;
friend. he could not help but come TO
the front and tell the people of these
transactions in order that they might
see clearly what I think of the work
ing class and how sincere am in or
position to corporations.
His article is too long {" answer ia
detail, even if it were nee assary to an
swer in detail b@s l1ry :lte-lent,
when il is shown hat e was 80 en-
Enthusiastically sUppor ng 2 % or gov
ern0r until about "a CO. .-.r weeks
ago. as the transa~ '.a.s 4 - mentioned
occurred, the las. Il t.aIs. uearl,- tour
years ago. and nc IN. " foJh Eears ago
everything abe It his after which he
knows now.
viii, however, briefly correct a
few of his misstatements:
Under the contract between US he
was not to receive One-fourth interest
in the property of the Levy County
Phosphate Company until after all Of
the money invested in the company
should be repaid out of the profits. He
was 10 have no interest whatever in
the company until the money actually
invested was paid back out of the
profits. The Levy County Phosphate
Company, like most of the phosphate
companies organized about that time
made no profts. but lost a large
amount of money. never got back
out of that company one dollar of my
investment in il. but on the other hand
I have paid out of my own earnings
several thousand dollars of debts OF
the company over and above all mon
eys 1 have received from sales of the
phosphate and the property of tbs
company I paid debts of the com
pany for which was not legally liza
BILE. because I believed that the com
pany had been credited because of my
connection with it. The only stock
holder. other than myself, who paid
for his stock in the company, was Col
A. W. Cockrell, who took four thous
and dollars worth of stock and paiC
for II in fun. This four thousand dol