The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1912-03-08
HILBURM REPLIES
TO FRANK CLARK
Putnam Candidate Hands 1t
Back on the Same Salver
The Congressman
Handed Him.

ehuhuuSn thhhs
Sam 7. Hilburn candidate for Con
gress to succeed Frank Clark has replied
to the latter'S most recent epiStle, as
follows:
Palatka, March 5, 1912.
Hon. FRANK CLARK,
Washington, D. c.
Dear Sir:-I am in receipt OF your la
test communication. From its general
tenor of evasiveness and braggadocio 1t
begins TO seem quite futile Tor me TO
bring you to the point of naming dates
and places for the proposed joint dis
cuSsions OF public questions before the
people of this district.
served you with notice when ! be-
gun upon my campaign that would dis
cuss your public record, and that |
wished to take no advantage OF you on
account of your absence. Though we
have exchanged several letters we are
lust as far from reaching any arrange
ment for such meetings as we were in
the beginning. This you must admit
has been no fault OF mine.
You maintain that il is your duty to
remain at your post of duty in Washing
ton. agree with you and wish TO COM
mend YOU upon your commendable reSo-
luton. am glad that you have at last
come to some sort OF adequate appre-
citation and comprehension OF the duties
of a Representative in Congress. II
pleases me to observe that your views
in this regard have changed so much
for the better, and ii pains me to be
obliged TO refer in this connection TO
the campaign of 1910 when you failed
to exhibit the same exalted sense OF pub
lie duty which you now assert, having
deserted your post TO take part in a po'
litical campaign other than your own.
wish 10 especially acknowledge my
peruSal of that paragraph OF your recent
letter in which you say that nothing has
happened in many years to cause you so
much real pleasure and general placidlty
of temper as my candidacy. That state
ment, and here trust you will pardon
me, hardly carries at long distance the
ring of sincerity which you undoubtedly
intended it to convey, yet withal, take
| il 10 contain just as much OF that COM
mendable quality as many other things
that you have said and many other po-
sitionS assumed by you during the course
of your political career, the prime and
Ultimate purposes of which appeared TO
be for press agency effects only.
Judge from your most recent commu
nication that you are very busy man.
Your office must be one of onerouS du
ties and unremitting demands. | recall
now that you once publicly made the
statement that if you were not reelected
that you would be the best pleased mar
in Florida, or words to that effect. fee
therefore, that in seeking TO relieve you, o
this burdepSome position that am do
ing you no less kindness than an
doing myself an honor in the effort tt
become more useful to greater numbe
of people that it has yet been my priv
lege to be.
Because of the fact that you are Sucl
a busy man, shall not further intrud'
upon your time, and as ! am mysel
pretty busy at this time shall ask tina
you do not take any of the time tha
properly belongs TO the people to write
me unless you have something pertinen
and of importance TO communicate.
Yours very truly,
S. J. HILBURN.