The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-04-23

hearts of men-honest men.
It is not expected to appeal to men
who are viIfuIly dishonest, to men
who would sacrifice principle for poIi-
teal gain, or to the catspaws of such
men, 1t is written, as stated, purely
'for men only"
This little journey" is not a plea
for sympathy; it is not a request for
charity-it is a plain, unvarnished de-
mand for justice-justice for Sydney
I. WALES, to whom the state of Florida
is indebted, and justice to Florida, the
citizens of which are honest despite
the continued injustice that has been
and is being done this aged man.
Through the expenditure of thou
sands of dollars and years of service,
Sydney /. Wales secured for Florida
from the national government the sum
of 81 ,0S9, 900 in Indian war claims. for
which he received nothing. although
his efforts and his expenditures were
almost solely responsible for the i'm
mense sum being secured. He also
brought to Florida from. the national
government more than 100000 acres
OF land, for which he received the in
significant sum of two cents an acre
payable in land, not money!, while %
cents an acre has since been paid for
g, 900 acres which another man secur-
ed from Uncle Sam. These separate
and distinct contracts have often
been COMPOUNDED in the successful eff
forts to defeat payment of the just
debt This refusal causes Florida to
be scorned in the money markets of
the nation, and the state will deserve
the scorn just as long as the injustice
continues.
There are honest men who believe the
claim should not be paid. Why? Be
cause they have been beruddled by
those most responsible for the injus-
tfce-by men who hoped to gain po-
litically by refusing to pay Col WALES
after he had delivered the goods"
The subject is a big one, covering
many years, and some noodles seem
incapable of digetsing these facts:
That Sydney /. WALES, under contract
with Governor Drew and succeeding
governors, brought to Florida from
the national government more than a
million dollars, which the state would
not have secured except through his
efforts; that he spent thousands of
dollars in the mere getting of data
for this work-spending money when
Florida scrip was selling at 40 cents
on the dollars-and that the validity
of his contract was never once ques-
toned until the money was in the
state treasury, and how showed the
bold affrontery" to ask for his COM
mission of Is per cent. He was offer
ed s12,500 when he had spent nearly
twice that sum in his efforts to COL
lect the claim.
Since his first defeat during the
Jennings administration, succeeding
legislatures have turned the claim
down, each time by a narrow mar
gin, although not one just argument
has been presented against the pay
ment of the claim.
Not only have these legislators re-
fused to pay a just claim, but they
have deliberately refused to allow the
claimant to go into the courts-the
state courts-in order to prove the
validity of his claim.
Why should an honest legislator OBJ
jetc to having this claim acted upon
by the states own protectors-the
courts? Simply a question of poll
tics-questionable politics.
Fearing that the claim might be
paid, and that a bill may be passed
giving Col. WALES the privilege of
bringing suit, those most responsible
for the defeat of Col. Wales, who
lives in a hall bedroom while some
of his friends live in pensions, be-
gin systematic work before each legis-
lative session, and continue that work
throughout each session. Some of
them are in Tallahassee now and have
been since the opening day of the ses-
sion- If the claim should be passed
they would not be held responsible
Why, then, their continued opposition?
Because it would be unpleasant to be
shown to have treated one to whom
the the state is indebted. unfairly.
The best men of the state, includ-
ing Governor Bloxham, General Bull
lock, George P. Raney. ST., who are
now dead; Hon. w. A. Blount, of Pen
sacoIa, regarded as one of ~ 'o~Iine
lawyers of the entire country have
declared that the claim is just, and
fought for it's payment. l present
herewith the statement of another no
bic Floridian. who probably knows
more about the claim than any man
living today, and who is known and
honored throughout the state as a man
who has gained great wealth honestly,
and who has always worked for the
development of Florida. I refer to
Capt. John L. Inglis, with whom 1 re-
Gently had the following conversation,
and who has read and sanctioned the
publication of the statements at
tributed to him.
Again, if you desire to do justice,
read the following statement Of Capt
IngIis. If not, forget it:
Capt. Inglis, learning that you
were. in 1876, the most active man in
securing the nomination of Governor
Drew. and afterward his closest friend
and adviser, 7 would like to have you
tell the people of the state why Gov
ernor Drew made contract giving to
s. I. WALES such a large commission
as IS per cent for collecting Florida
, Indian war claims?"
Cant. Inglis said: You are right
I know a good deal about that con
tract and the cause for making It !
am astonished, though, TO hear you
saw big commission The state in her
condition at that time could much
better have agreed to pay 80 per cent
than not to have had that work
done"
what were the facts found by Gov
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