The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-04-22
BY ]. n. Reese,

Tallahassee, Fla, April 21.-Speaker
Jennings left the chair today to argue
in favor Of the passage Of a resolution
offered by Mr.. Watson of Dade, con-
corning the pardon OF W. S. Harlan
and others who were convicted several
years ago of the charge of peonage and
who have recently been incarcerated In
the federal prison after exhausting all
the resources Of the courts for their
release.
Mr.. Jennings said that he couldn't
speak of the case without the deepest
feelings; he felt that the men had
been done a grave injustice; he said
he was bondsman for them, and he
was certain that they have committed
no Intentional crime. The resolution
was passed. The full text of it fol-
lows:
Whereas, W. S. Harlan, S. E. Hug
gins. G. c. Hilton. Robert Gallagher
and Walter E. Grace. citizens of the
state of Alabama, are now serving a
term in the federal prison in Atlanta,
Georgia, under a conviction in the fed
eral court on a charge of a conspiracy
to commit peonage; and
Whereas, in addition to the said SEN
large fines in the aggregate amounting
to approximately twenty five thousand
dollars; and whereas, It is the univer-
| sal opinion among those who know the
facts of the case, that If guilty at all,
that they were only technically guilty,
and had no intention OF offending
against the laws of the United States
regarding peonage; and whereas, we
| believe that the ends of justice have
already been met by the time served
and that the dignity and sovereignty
of the courts and of the United States
have been fully maintained,
| Now therefore, be II resolved by the
1 house of representatives, the senate
concurring, that the president Of the
| United States. Hon. William H. Taft,
be and he is hereby most respectfully
requested to issue to the aforesaid per-
sons a full and complete pardon for
the said offense, restoring them and
each of them to all civil and political
rights.
Be 1t further resolved, that a copy of
! this resolution be transmitted to the
president of the United States and
! that a copy be transmitted to the de-
partment of justice at Washington.
REPORT PINELLAS BILL.
The hearing on the Pinellas county
bill continued until midnight last night
and a number of speeches were made
| in that intense and exceedingly earnest
manner which preached at times upon
the fiery and sensational There was
no question that the people In Hills
borough take this county division
proposition very much to heart. The
people Of Pinellas have been before
three legislatures now asking for in
dependence, as they style it, and they
have failed twice. The committee was
divided in the report Butler. Somer-
vile and Igou voted against reporting
the bill favorably; Butler of Palm
Beach, the introducer of the bill. Rob-
inson and Lamb were in favor of a IA
vorabIe report; the tie was broken by
Chairman Wall. He voted for a favor
able report. The delegation from
Hillsborough designated the attempt to
| divide the county as nothing less than
an outrage. for they said the question
| had been made before the people OF
the county; that the last election had
been fought out on that ground and
| the candidates who We're elected had
DGen CnOSen OH an dHIl-dlNlslOH pldnhs
Mr.. Somerville, Of the committee, Is
| one of the representatives from Hills
| borough, and he voted against the IA
vorable recommendation Of the meas
ure In his speech before the commit
tee President Bowyer, Of the Tampa
Board Of Trade, referred to the intro
duction of the measure by Representa-
tive Butler Of Palm Beach county, and
a
! this action on the part Of any other
representative when it was well known
ontinued on Page Two)