The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1913-02-28
REPUTATION AND
DISHONOR.


DISH0NOR.
When Sidney l. Wales lost his
mandamus case in the United States
Supreme Court against the State OF
Florida, and on the bare technicality
that it was brought against A. C.
Groom, Comptroller, who was dead
at the time judgment was rendered
but who was alive and Comptroller
at the time suit was brought, the
Palatka News was one of the first
papers in the State to cry "Shame"
Mr.. Wales had been the agent for
the State of Florida before Congress
for the collection of money due the
State for losses sustained in the In
dian wars. The claims were known
as the "Indian War Claims" and
these, to the total amount of $685.
1886, were paid into the STATE
treasury during the administration Of
Gov. William Sherman Jennings, who
with the legislature of the time, re-
pudiated the claim of the collector
Mr. Wales, for his Is per centu,n of
the amount, although every governor
from Geo. f. Drew to Jennings had
approved his contract for that com
mission.
The contract is published in full in
another column. 1t speaks for itself
One legislature subsequent to the
Jennings regime appropriated $4,000
in settlement of Mr.. Wales claim,
but this amount the old gentleman
refused to touch; tn ) money had laid
in the States vaults for four years:
finally, when the old man lost his
mandamus suit in the U. S. Supreme
court on a mere technicality, he wa
forced from poverty to accept =.
1t was then that The Palatka News
uttered its cry Of Shame"
Since then the leading papers in al
parts of the State have taken up tft
cry, and last week Dixie under thu
head of REPUTATION AND DIS
HONOR" publishes the following a
its leading editorials
The word "repudiation" has bee
often used in the past connected wit
the history of some sovereign State
and it has been a very lasting dis
grace and discredit to their history
A State, while it is an impersons
creation, must not think it can, os
trich-like, hide its head in the san
and leave its body invisible with res
pect to traits of statehood either nor
Orablc or dishonorable.
A State that has been guilty {
reputation of any honorable COZ
tract made with any agent, need ne
think that it's disgraceful failure
make good is unknown to mankin
in general and especially unknown
other States of the Union who hav
maintained their reputation for hons
and integrity to the fullest extent.
The State of Florida has bee
guilty of an unconscionable act of II
pudiation when it refused to obserH
the solemn compact or contract mac
by Governor Drew, as authorized b
the state of Florida, and Sidney
Wales, its agent, to settle deot {
the OHILSu 2taNS9 "uG i0i tH"' N''''
as the Indian war CLAIMS
This question OF contract was
solemn as ever could have been el
gagged in by individuals.
The sovereignty OF the state va
pledged hohofaoly 10 carry ouC II
contract with its agent,
The agent performed his 1ulI a.
ties, settled the Indian war clam
with the Secretary of the IreaSul
of the United States and delIEer'
the goods in the shape OF over OF
million dollars into the treasury
the State OF Florida. -,
The testimony tnat SupoprIeu u
cIalm OF oiune! l. TallGS I E}or G2e"''
the hghest cltlzehShlp n n, ri9 2l5l
NolhlhS couiu o';u'ai ! ~ H. ,U'' Xxx
PIE more " ls'' 4i - ilieI ,,ho bovo ni
aoIe lI4i,1eS I"'t a. t +hn ,,a,tad serTi
et f S S;io,',.0T'' Wo;los and to tbe rffa
4 tbo 4'T ba ,,,is oetitIa,' 70 lis conne
e,i"s ne ,, "I, +ho noo+roc+
S" STon,, ", nf +bosn witnesses have ma
od 'i intG The Graa+ Bavond, but the
records Of testimonial have been lc
behind them.
Tbasa testimonials bv letters or
e+o+nn,artc today as voices from t
dead dpnrpcate the position of rep
Jio+ion hat tha State of Florida h
assumed AGAINST the aged ve-yri
Who 50 successfully performed
dnty wbarnhv fine State became t.
reoiniant
TPnra ,ova, was more ontraono
oba,,+;ar ~ ;net;ce +han has heen No
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