The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-03-31

Tallahassee, March s0.-Governor
Albert w. GiIchrist has issued the fol-
lowing letter In reference TO the Clark
Gilchrist episode which concerns all
Florida:
On March 2sth the Florida Times
Union published telegram from
Washington TO the effect that J. A.
Arnold. OF the department Of agricul-
ture, testified before the COMMITTEES
that he assumed the responsibility for
the suppression Of the report upon tho
Everglades; that he did It because of
the obvious irreconcilaiole differences
between the engineers of the depart.
nlent and the conflict OF opinion OUT
side Of the department" He said that
MI. Clark told him In the presence
Of two of his friends that II tho
Everglades report was very favorable
it would hurt some Of his constituents
who owned Florida land outside Of tho
Everglades that was just as good as
the Everglades It looks as If Clark
was trying 10 have this report
suppressed.
In the issue Of the Florida Times
Union Of March 2sth, referring to MIR,
Arnold's statement, Clark said Il de-
Eire to say that the statement Is alb
solutely and unqualifiedly false. can
prove this as true, not only by my
own statement but by the statements
Of Hon. w. r. Hardee of Jensen. Fla
and Capt H. f. sewall OF sewaIrs
Joint, Fla"
CAN HE PROVE IT7
Clark delights in using the word
-falsiher.' Let's see II "Faislher
Clark can prove It by these two
gentlemen.
In Bulletin No. is. hearing before
the committee on expenditures agri-
cultural department, published by the
government March 1912. appears tho
following, page s18, cross exam ina
ton OF the said Hardee:
Mr.. McCabe attorney representing
the department OF agriculture: did
you hear Mr.. Clark say to MIR. Arnold
that there were other good lands i'm
the state Of Florida besides the Ever
glades?' Mr.. Hardee: I don't recall
that"
Mr.. McCabe: Would YOU say he
did not say it7" Mr.. Hardee: -No,
sir; / would not
Mr.. McCabe: DO you recall him
saying to Mr.. Arnold that It was un-
fair to other owners in the state OF
Florida to drain the Everglades? ?" Mr..
Hardee: Il don't think I heard him
say so, but am frank to say that
would think so myself"
Mr.. McCabe: That Is your opin-
ion. And did you hear Mr.. Clark ex-
press that opinion?" Mr.. Hardee: II
did not express II at that time. l am
expressing II now"
Mr.. McCabe: viii you say that
when you went with Mr.. Clark TO the
department he did not express II at
that timer" Mr.. Hardee: Il don't
know anything about It."
Cross ss-examination of said Sewaal,
page 926:
Mr.. Sewall: We'll, we went down
to the agricultural building, and I
think went into a DIR. Arnoid's office,
but 1 was so unwell at that time that
sat apart and did not hear anything
or the conversation between DR.. Arnold
and Mr.. Clark; and from there we
went to Secretary Wilson's office"
Can Clark prove his statement by
these two gentlemen? But he can
prove II by his own statement" No
one has ever fixed a false statement"
upon him.
/ understand that he is sending by
the government frank, free of postage.
his unwarranted attack upon me in
the house Of representatives. I would
like to know II he is sending his other
political literature out at the govern
ment's expense.