The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1913-10-03
REFUSES TO TAKE
SCAPE GOAT JOB
Attorney Blackwell Makes
Vigorous Reply to School
Board.

Editor Palaika News:
Please allow me space in the columns
If the News for a reply TO certain state
ments contained in the Statement of
school Board" as The same appeared in
your issue OF September 18th, 1918.
The first sentence of the first para
graph OF the boards statement is as fol-
lowS:-
"The Board OF Public Instruction ap-
piled 10 Col. ]. N. Blackwell to procure
a COPY of The law, just passed by the
legislature, providing for the issuance OF
school bonds"
This sentence is utterly untrue and .
misleading; the Board of Public lnstruc-
tion did not apply 10 me for any such
copy, nor did any one else for them.
The truth of the matter is just this.
Early during the session of the legisla-
ture last spring, MIR. P. J. Becks request
ed me, in writing 10 my son w. V.
Blackwell, 10 ask him (my SOM, TO send
him (Mr. P. ]. Becks), a copy OF the
bill then recently introduced in the
senate, and complied with his request.
and my son sent copy OF the bill 10
Mr.. BeckS.
The second sentence of the first
paragraph, in so far as it refers to me,
and down TO the first comma, is as
follows:
''He procured what purporied TO be
copy of the law" This part OF this
sentence is also utterly untrue and mis-
leading, for did not procure any copy
at all for the Board of Public lnstruc-
lion or for any one else for them, and
The COPY of the bill sent TO Mr.. L. J.
Becks, by my son, does not purport ITO
be copy of the law" but it is copy
OF bill which had been "Read LIST.
time Alb" april 1lth, 1919 in the
senate and referred to the Senate Com
mittee on Finance & Taxation, as is
shown on the face of this copy my son
sent to Mr.. BeckS, and al the top of the
first page of the copy.
In the second sentence of the second
paragraph of the Boards statement, the
following language appears: The copy
furnished by Mr.. Blackwell" etc:
This statement is utterly untrue and
misleading, because did not furnished
any copy OF any kind Soever, either TO
The Board of Public Instruction., or TO
Mr.. p. ]. Becks, or 10 any one else ior
them or for him.
To show how utterly unreliable are
I0H thC OAatS
ment of School Board" it goes on TO
say in the third paragraph, as follows:
THE copy did not require that the
resolution calling lthe election should
be printed. The printed law does SO
require This last omission occurred
because Section 2, as il appears in the
printed law, is omitted in the copy
mentioned"
By the statement quoted above, ii is
sought to make it appear that section z
of the "printed law" requires the publi-
cation of the resolution calling the cleo
tion; now, as a matter OF fact, section
of the printed law does not require the
publication OF the resolution, and does
not mention publication at all, as a
reference 10 page 4S9, of the acts of
1918 will show. Publication of the
resolution is provided for in Section 5
of the Acts OF 1913, at page 49O. ! call
attention TO this blunder because it
shows that, being anxious to shove the
blame of their own blunders on to some
one else, and in their eagerneSS 10
screen themselves from the conse-
quences of their own mistakes, either
Mr.. S. ]. Hilburn, attorney for the
Board of Public Instruction, or the
board itself, failed to refer TO the proper
section of the law.
| did not advise the Board of Public
Instruction in any manner relative 10
the bonding election, and | am not in
any way responsible for the blunderS
committed in calling or in holding the
election.
The Statement of School Board" in
so far as it refers to me, is an adroi
unscrupulous, shameless and utterly un
truthful effort of the Board of Public
Instruction and its attorney, Mr.. 5. J.
HilburE, TO place the odium of theiI
own mistakes upon me.
AS a matter of justice TO myself car
not remain silent under the circum
, stances; my absence from the State TO-
two months and at the time the State
| ment" was published, accounts for m!
{ delay in replying to it.
p Mr.. Editor please give this communi
{ cation the same prominence on III
{ front page OF your this weeks issue a
! was given the Statement of Schoc
g Board" in your issue of September 18th
| 1918.
n Respectfully,
IS ]. N. BLACKWELL.