The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1912-05-15
TURPENTINE MEN AND TOOMER

The impression that Mr.. Toomer is
the candidate of the turpentine men of
the state is abroad, and is much
strengthened by various members of
that calling, who are quite active and
emphatic in their opposition to
LEngle.
Mr. LEngIe states that he has let
ter, dictated by Mr.. Toomer. one OF
number to be sent to turpentine OPP
orators, asking them for donations to
help in the campaign, and saying, Il
am really making the fight for TINS
industry" Mr.. TOomer denied signing
this letter or sending it out and charg-
ed Mr.. EEngle with robbing his waste
basket to obtain it. But he did not
DENY debating it, and IL he believed
that any man Of Intelligence for
minute believes that Mr.. LEngle rob-
bed his wastebasket, he does not
possess that degree of intelligence that
Floridians have a right to expect in a
man who wants to represent them in
Congress.
Mr. Toomer would have won more
respect by coming out and saying that
he had intended to mail the letter, but
changed his mind, and that 1t was his
right to do SO. People would have be-
Iieved him, and given him far more
credit for his frankness than they do
for his silly evasion.
Wastebasket or no wastebasket, GER
tain 1t is that letters are being sent out
and attempts being made by some big
men in the naval stores business to line
the rank and file up for Toomer The
Star knows this is being done. because
1t has seen one of the letters, and beer
informed by reliable parties Of others
Some of the best friends the Star ha:
are in the naval stores business, so We
are going to take the liberty Of asking
them to study over the matter calmly
and dispassionately and make sure they
are not undemocratic and unwise il
working for Mr.. Toomer as their spe
cial representative. Undemocratic be
cause 1t is directly opposite to TIT
spirit and principle Of democracy t.
elect the representative of any specia
interest to office. Unwise. because il
doing so they will awaken resentmen
and crystalline opposition to them am
and their policies and in the long rul
be worse off than they are now.
If they want special representative
is Mr.. Toomer the best man for the of
flee? Says Mr.. L'Engle:
Another small group of the peopl
of Florida know the name w. NJ. Toom
er as one with which to specify a ma
who, as president of the defunct Nava
Stores Export Company of Jackson
Vile, in full management of the liqui
dation Of the business, dissipated $50,
900 in cash and twice much more i
valuable property that was turned owe
to him to save for the stockh older:
and which by his bad management wa
lost, and the stockholders, compose
almost entirely of naval stores opera
tors scattered in the woods throughou
Florida never saw one cent of. Their
cent to the stockholders before w \
Toomer took charge, but there wa
never a distribution after he too
charge"
In the heat of politics, men ofte
make false charges, but we all kno'
Claude, and we know he isn't foC
enough to make a serious charge ur
less he has strong proof. One of eth
boys in the woods" that is, one of tn
naval stores operators who has NJ
such an easy time to make both END
meet informs the Star that he has pei
sonal reasons to believe the foregoin
charge is not altogether based pei
sonal prejudice. Mr.. Toomer is nC
making a very good show at disprovin
L'Engle's charges. He says they al
untrue, but denial is one thing an
disproval is another.
L'Engles public career as an editt
has been a steady fight against speci;
interests. If he is elected he will rel
resent us ALL Isn't it better for all
to be represented?