Gainesville daily sun. (Gainesville, Fla.) 190?-1938, 1909-05-27
rHE GOVERNORS MESSAGE.

On Friday last Governor Gilchrist
cent q special message 20 the Legis-
iature On ne wales claim. In the
ouinion of The Index. there was no
special reason Tor sending In a mes
sses on thIs subject a. this time. IS
both branches Of the Legislature had
previously declined 70 favorably con
sider ne Wales claim.
But the Gvenor's message, which
covered fifteen pages Of closely type
written legalcap sheets. offered lit
lie n anything new IN regard TO the
history or merits Of tie claim. An
explanation a. 90 Why be thought the
$4,000 appropriated siN years ago.
and suggestion as 20 a division BE-
tween Wales and Beard. we're In
clrded IN the message: but these. TOO.
are intangible.
In another message 20 the Senate
On Monday. the Governor. IN referring
to the Wales claim message. stated
that certain newspapers Of tire state
nad intimated. directly or Indirectly.
kat the Legislature had repudiated
the States solemn obligation and
that. IN order 20 have the people
know that the honor o. the State Is
protected. be had sent copies Of the
message 20 these newspapers for pub
lication. but 90 far they had refused
70 DO 90.
The Governor. IN the opinion Of The
Index. cannot consistently feel az
grieved because this message has not
been printed. ITS contents would hll
the -columns Of the average weekly
paper. 90 the utter exclusion Of al
other matter. and the larger papers.
with sufficient space 60 carry the
message. might easily be forgiven for
dsvotlng their columns 20 real. live
news matter. Besides. those news
papers thar have taken the time and
trouble 10 examine into the merits Of
the Wales claim. may be pardoned
for entertaining views different from
those expressed IN the Governors
message. especially after considering
the able and exhaustive report sub
mltted BY the Senate Committee Of
1903. and reported TO the Senate over
the signature OF Wv. A. Blount. Act
ing Chairman"
So far as The Index knows. the
present Legislature has not been
charged with repudiating the Obllga-
lions Of the State. but IL cannot be
denied that as long as Colonel WALES
ls denied the right 90 have bis claim
adiudicated By the courts Of the
state the conclusion Is inevitably
forced upon The Index. and other
newspapers Of the State. and the
people Of Florida generally. that the
Legislature. though not regulating
che claim. is creating a condition with
similar results.
No better argument has been offer
ed ln support Of the effort OF Colonel
Wales friends % get this claim into
the courts Of the State than Is con
taiued In the Governors message a.
self This document. from the begin
Ing 90 end. Is a mass OF acts. con
tracts. resolutions. accounts. opinions.
guesses. conclusions and other more
mystifying and confusing matter that
positively and forever precludes the
average legislator-f0r no other rea-
son than lack Of time 10 study law and
history-irom mastering the details
of the claim. that a reasonable and
just conclusion might be reached.
The Index having been one Of the
Governors most ardent supporters In
the last campaign. and feeling that
lts editor can still claim the right 10
be his friend. writes this In explana-
ton and defense OF the country press
OF Florida. those papers which were
his strongest supporters when he
needed them. and which do not de-
serve his censure.-Lake City In
dex. May "a.
&C..