The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1911-07-07
WHY JUDGE JONES WAS NOT RE-
APPOINTED
Executive Department

I
My attention has been invited to
two recent editorials of yours, re-
lating to my failure to reappoint Judge
Minor S. Jones of the 7th judicial cir
cult. In the first editorial you stated
that it was done in an effort TO make
political capital" I consider this a
reflection on the gentleman who was
appointed. 1t is impossible for me to
conceive of a judge of circuit court
using his official position to make
political capital for any one.
From information received from
the United States Census of 1910, the
population of Judge Jones circuit con-
sisted of 67.426 people. In the count
les of Volusia having a population of
1910 of Orange, having a popula
ton Of 19107, and Dade, with
population Of 1899, criminal courts
of record had been established. The
total population of these counties is
41,124. The population OF the count
les having no criminal courts of
record, aggregates 2C,302.
IN Virginia the average population
represented IN a judicial circuit is &C.
800; in North Carolina, 1880; in
South Carolina. 10000: in Georgia.
10000: in Alabama. 125,700; in Mis-
sissippi 105, TOO and a chancellor for a
population Of 1900: in Louisiana,
$4,000: in Texas there are district
judges.
was led TO believe that Judge Jones
was not we'll UP with tile work Of his
circuit. From information received. I
did not consider him physically able
10 make good. The conditions OF his
circuit were such that any 1--we Judge
should have kept up with the business
of his court. I was told that Judge
Jones could not hold a paper in his
hand without the same shaking. In
consequence of which | exercised my
judgment and appointed a new circuit
Judge. For information I would state
that Mr.. Perkins did not seek this ap-
pOintment Judge Jones was not the
only judge. the records of whose court
were looked into by mysel "Polit-
cal capital had absolutely nothing to
do with the appointment
In your issue of June 10th you state,
"Gilchrist has also vetoed the general
revenue bill because it taxes foreign
insurance companies. You should
have said because the act discriminate
ed against foreign insurance compa-
MES by taxing them per cent. on
the premiums and by taxing home in
surance companies only 1 per cent.
Such companies had already been
admitted to do business in the state
and secured vested rights. "Gilchrist"
quoted the recent decision of the SUI
preme court of the United States,
showing that under the 14th amend
ment corporations are persons, and
entitled to equal projections of the
laws. BY the time the next legisla-
ture meets, these companies will have
paid into the state treasury fully
! s230,000. Counted four years for case
to have been finally decided by the
supreme court of the United States,
/ Folrida would have had tied up in
such a suit over 100000 You should
have said "Gilchrist' vetoed this bill
because the state could not afford to
have tied up for four years over $780,
600 in suit. the decision against the
state being known before the suit was
commenced.
Referring to a certain fish bill. you
state that the same passed May 25th;
'Gilchrist waited until more than
/ v-eek had elapsed and the legislature
was dead and gone before he used the
axe"
During the last three days Of the
session over 200 bills were delivered
at my office, among which was this
fish bill. Before the legislature ad-
/ iourned. IS or 20 of such bills were
examined approved or vetoed, and
the legislature notified. Fully 100
bills were left in my Office. the consti-
tuition allowing me ten days after the
adjournment OF the legislature to APP
prove or veto the same.
Your remarks are unfair, unjust and
unworthy Of even yourself, and unwor-
Thy Of any other editor in Florida
In a more recent issue of your pa
per you have stated, 1T is rumored,
as a reason for Gilchrist's fool action.
that he. Gilchrist. was told that Judge
Jones made a remark that Gilchrist
was a Jew. and that the name orig
inally was Kill-Christ."
This is the first time l have ever
heard of such. If had any Jew blood
/ in my veins, would be proud 10 say