The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1912-08-02
"ON THE OTHER LEG"

Under the above head, the Tampa
Times prints another of those slick
reading articles which are so easy TO
tear to pieces when assailed with facts
and some of its own previous state
ments. The Times says:
cit Is rather refreshing to read from
the columns of our very dear contem-
porary, the Ocala Evening Star,
complaint of the gambling dens" Of
Tampa-observe that they are always
"dens''-being run contrary to state
law" 1t has been but a very little
time ago mat the same paper was ad-
hitting, with rather a boastful air,
that the people of it's town knew per-
fectly well that a certain act of theirs
was contrary to the state law" but
as they saw fit to think that 1t was "a
dead letter." they deliberately violat-
ed 1t. Now. when 1t Is stated that
these vandals of Tampa are breaking
another state law the little Star hides
its Mortified face and only wrinkles
feebly between its fingers"
We are glad to refresh the Times
II needs refreshing. 1t is quite anus
ing, tho, to see the Times, which only
a few weeks ago rebuked Ocala for
allowing two able bodied men to open
ly meet in fair competition Of strength
and skill, squalling like a spanked
baby when the Star and other papers
denounce Tampa for not only allowing
hut protecting what even shady citi-
zens admit to be a crime.
The Times is correct in saying
gambling dens" are always dens. We
make no apology for so styling them,
and are glad to have the Times back
us up in the statement. But the Times
has no warrant for saying the Star
ever boosted of the Ocala boxing bout,
or that 1t now hides its Mortified face
at Tampa The fact is, that IL the
Times had confined itself strictly to
the truth in this controversy, it would
have had mighty little to say.
The Times further remarks: "It COM
plains that men from other commun-
tiles go into them and lose their mon
ey, and are roughly handled IL they
make a kick Is there no moral guilt?
Is there no legal guilt attaching to
these guileless rustics who would
beard the tiger in his 'den?' Are those
who leave, perhaps, innocent wives
and dependent children in their homes
in other communities to revel with
the scarlet women in wicked Tampa
spotless from guilt and free from
blame?"
The Star has never excused the fool
ish flies who walk into the spiders
jen, but their Stiffness does not lessen
the guilt of the spider. The Times
plaintively inquiries:
Must Tampa provide for them
guardians to steer their erring foot
steps clear of the pitfalls?'
Yes, Mr.. Times; that is one of the
duties of your police. When stranger
comes to simple and countrifed Ocala
our policemen keep him out of trouble
if they can; and IL he insists on trou-
BILE anyhow, our city court is 1enient
with him instead of soaking him with
a double-barreled fine. 1t Is true tha
we have not Tampa's incentives to pro.
mote the ENHANCEMENT of strayins
feet, but so far no one has accused oul
officers of protecting gamblers, and
certainly our city Judge has even gone
from his own courtroom to defend
gamblers before another tribunal.
The Times winds up by saying: eve
ere willing to bear our share of cen
sure for what we are guilty of as &
community, but those who assume the
role OF censors should first clear theil
own skirts OF all spot or stain. Com
ment all you please, but apportion your
structures according to degree of guilt
and we shall not complain"
1t Is our impression that the Times
started in on this censure bushes:
with a long, double-leaded article, In
which 1t denounced the entire city OF
Ocala because some 800 of it's citizens
quite openly and above-board, wit
messed boxing bout. Now, the Star
does not arraign all the people OF
Tampa, nor even a majority OF them
because some OF the worst gambling
dens OF the state are in their city. but
e does say they exist. that they could
not exist without police knowledge
that 1t looks like they have police pro
lection, and that the newspapers OF
Tampa could break them up if they
would.
A man who witnesses a boxing bou
doesn't believe he or the boxers are
committing a crime or lowering theil
moral standard. A man who CANDLES
knows he is SHINING man who run:
gambling house knows he is break.
ing the moral as we'll as the state law
And the little Star has not twinklet
In defense OF either.