The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1909-11-12
Mr.. BLoUNT's HANDICAP

7 Several weeks ago the Herald. ia
referring TO The candidacy of Hon. W.
A. Blount. Of Pensacola TOR United
States senator. stated that he had
TWO handicaps. viz: a Gigniied rec
serve. that prevented him from bei"-
a good mixer" and his connection a-
attorney with the Louisville d Nash
vile Railroad Company These were
mentioned simply as handican- and
net as objections 10 him. NOT as things
.GiacreaitabIe to him. but as facts that
would weigh in the minds OF some
vasers against MIN. The Pensacola
News. however appears TO think. in
mentioning them. the Herald dii dH
injustice 10 Mr. BIouu, which i' .lr
uasly aisolaims any intention of ao-
ms. That excellent paper rle News
Says.
MI UI5nr may have di-.H.r
reserve bar we are rather .' 'U.
opinion shat be- is more 0Igr.l.. .uH
reserved in the sense referred .o. For
ere Of his station in life. H" o. uu.
auasJiouahIv one of the easiest mon
sf auproJcE enc O. The Ins- home.
Ike % talk to. and one O.. fu" n..
satisfactory 10 DO business with. H..
is neither cold in his manner nor
short in bis conversation.
IF BENG able 10 hOodwluh -lu Icn- .
pie with false promises. uU promise.
thaJ are known 10 be without hope obi. .
fuIGllmant. then we are willing .n Hf-.
uir THAI Mr. BlOuut is NOS going fn .
prove a good mixer. lie IS posses -Dl .
Of giant intellect. but am Intellect .
that has felt the pulsaJlons of % ua..
uraIy warm and sympathetic heart /.
and IL an honest and fearless ..-...
sion Of the issues OF the campaign.
and the meeting and answering of ev-
cry question face 20 face with ru. men
whose suffrage he IS asking. I- any
criterion of success as a nike 'u.u
We predict he is going I'D prove a good
one
It was solely in IFS social sense that .
he Herald used Jne word mike I|
had heard that Mr. BIomr is cold aaI .
ormal in his manners, and. therefore .
IS not good mixer" but 10 is glad
o know that the information was ar
'oneOus.
As TO Mr.. BIounrs second handicap.
lis connection with a railway THAR is
Unpopular in its own Florida terri
CRY. the News lets him speak for him
self By quoting from his published a5-
lress TO the voters. Notwithstanding
he force and reasonabIeness of what
Mr. Blount says, the sincerity and
ruth of which the Herald cheeruGy
grants. il still maintains that. with
many voters. Nh Blouut will find his
ailway connection a handicap. But
his paper takes pleasure in publish
ng what be has to say in this behalf. ,
which is as follows.
1T has been suggested thar many ,
.Oters will vote against me- becaus,
have been and am the attorney for.
he Louisville * Nashville Railroad
Company for the state Of Florida. It.
s fact that | have been and am SUCH
attorney, but I have 10 regrets boz
ause of it nor apologies for it. Ny.
connection with il has, however. been
nurely professional. and concerned
n no wise with its politics. A. It's {
aWyer, | have served II faithfully and
honestly. and 10 the best of my ah.I- 3
Jy and in the same manner and not
otherwise. as / have served my other
lients. 1t has been one Of my clients
nd nothing more. and mas not infu- {
need the independence of my
thoughts or actions. The emOlumeuts
eceived from it have been but a
mall part Of my income from my &
eneral professional practice. and my
ctlOnS toward II or for ir have been
S unbiased by any consideration OF
Is employment Of me as my actions
CWard or for other clients have been
by their employment of u,
zone Of my other clients have IN any
wise ever attempted 10 influence wg .
ctlCns in respect TO the public. u0r|
las the Louisville q Nashville Rail.
cad Company. Neither 10 nor auy off
hem would have been allowed by Odd, 4
o demand or induce from me AN iu-
uStlce TO an opposing litigaut for he
'uOlc. II any confirmation of flfSI
Iatement Is required. reference may
pc had TO the attorneys and Htigauf-'
o whom | have been opposed. and .1I
my local attorney of the railroad {
Company. 10 whom I have given dire,- :
ions as 10 the conduct of its matters
committed TO their care. or more
BROADLY still. to the people OF Peusa-
ola, among whom am proud 90 have
wed lifetime. / think The uuurem-i
Iced will fail TO see i'm such relation
With that railroad company any iu-|
consistency between my duties fo it|
nd the performance of the highest y
uty as a citizen 20 the public. or any
eason why | should not be- elected roi
erye the people Ny freedom from
ny slavish adherence 10 that railroad
omDany is best illustrated by the
act that. for twenty-five pears I have
cen actively and publicly ASSISTING