The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1911-04-28

Douy and everything beyond reason
OF II Dlackguarded everybody and ev-
erything. Each of the offices (the
Courier and the journal had Just then
Deen consolidated) was stocked with
the rin-raffs of dead-beats and drunk
ards
They were not all dead-beats and
drunkards, We're they, Mr.. Waiter
SOM"
Oh, no; of course there were ex-
ceptions. am speaking of them in
the main. 1t was the time-honored
habit of most of them to get drunk
every day"
Going back to the saying of the
bright young editor that Jacksonville
is without daily newspaper, perhaps
he made that observation because it
is publicly rumored that Mr. Flagler
or the Florida East Coast railway,
and perhaps other railways of the
state, hold certain amount of stock
in the Times-Union.
l was told, not by Mr.. Flagler, but
by one who once held an important
place on the Times-Union, that Mr..
Flagler's interest in it was purely &C
cidental and patriotic. That he had
no desire for newspaper fame nor for
the emoluments that newspapers are
supposed to pile up.
At that time the Times-Un was
owned by the Stockton Brothers, and
in their patriotic desire to give to the
people of Florida a newspaper at
once creditable and praiseworthy
they overtaxed their financial re-
| sources, and as Mr.. Flagler was in
terested in the states development he
was appealed to to take stock in the
enterprise. He did so cheerfully, be-
cause he was interested in the states
material growth. For the cash he adj
vanced he was given bonds bearing
six per cent. interest, payable semi
annually perfectly legitimate
transaction. When the six months ex-
pired, instead of paying interest there
were so many things to be done to
put the plant on paying basis that
he was induced to advance more mon
ey and take more bonds. It was the
story of Oliver Twist repeated. The
cry was for more, more! In the mean
time the politics of the state was split
into factions, and the Times-Union
was supposed to be hostile to the in
terests represented by Mr.. Flagler,
so another newspaper was started in
Jacksonville, and Mr.. Flagler was
grounds to take stock in it also. He
did So Neither investment proving
pleasant or profitable, and growing
tired of putting up" for both of
them he effected a consolidation. This
paper is now supposed to be on a
paying basis, and if it has not paid off
it's obligations, it is rapidly doing So.
That, at least, is my understanding.
This brings up the question:. Has
a man who is interested in the devel-
opment of a state, who has builded
railroads, hotels, planted groves and
I converted wastes and marshes into
beauty spots, rights that other people
are bound to respect? Has he right
to own a newspaper or own stock in
newspaper, or be on friendly terms
with a newspaper. When he is smit-
ten on one cheek, to gain the respect
of his fellow men, must he crayenly
turn the other, or hit back hip and
thigh?
honor the school which says:
"Lay on MacDuff; and damn'd be
him that first cries, Hold, enough"
1t seems to me that the do alls"
should have at least as much voice in
the administration of the government
as the "do-nothings;" that the boom
ers" should be put on an equal foot
ing with the Knockers
Those who refuse to subscribe to
opposed to the doctrine of Equal
rights to all; special privileges to
none"
Along the same lines Mr. William
J. Bryan, in a public utterance, re-
Gently accused the criminal corpora
tions" of owning many of the great
newspapers of the country, and ex-
plains that "it is not now possible to
learn who owns the stock of these
journals" He would like to have a
law passed ito make those assassins
come out of the dark and stand be-
fore the public gaze"
In the Commoner of April 18th he
says that the predatory interests"
never sleep. They haye their Off
GERS named for governors, senators,
representatives and wherever an. Of
fee is to be filled. "They are now
laying their plans" he says, ito cap
ture the national democratic conven-