The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1913-02-04

Throughout the state newspapers
and business men, including bankers,
are again complaining at the fact that
state legislatures for ten years past
have refused to pay the celebrated
WALES claim. in which Col. s. 1. Wales
has demanded $163,5oo, or is per cent
of S1,089, 900, which he collected for the
state from the United States under
contract with Governor George Drew.
This contract was ratified by all gov
errors and legislatures succeeding the
Drew administration until the sum
was collected in 1902 during the ad-
ministration of w. S. Jennings. The
men who have led the fight against
the aged claimant have been mem
bers of legislatures which ratified his
contract.
Revival of condemnation resulted
from the fact that Col. Wales, on &C
count of poverty, was recently forced
to accept $4,000 appropriated by the
last legislature which, like other leg
islatures, had even refused Col. WALES
the privilege of bringing suit. His
case had been taken to the United
States supreme court through man
damus proceedings, and lawyers of
prominence were of the opinion that
he would win. However, his attor-
neys overlooked the fact that Comp
troller A. G. Groom had died and had
been succeeded by Hon. w. Y. Knott
and also failed to appear before the
court in behalf of their client, as a
result of which the case was thrown
out purely on a technicality. It has
never been before any court on its
merits.
The leading lawyers of Florida, in
GLIDING Hon. w A. Blount of this city.
have declared the WALES claim to be
absolutely just, and have fought for its
payment in full. The politicians have
beaten them, however, but it is be-
lieved that the people of the state,
once they are cognizant o. all the
facts, will demand that Col. Wales
either be paid or granted the privi-
lege of bringing suit. He fought for
the claim % years and spent over s40,-
900 in his efforts to collect it for
Florida,
The following communication on the
subject from a Confederate veteran re-
Gently appeared in the Jacksonville
Times Union:
Editor Times Union: have been
young and now am old. but my pride
in my state has been deeply touched
by a late incident in her history so
that I am moved to give expression to
my sorrow and humiliation. Most of
us have forgotten the old days when
the first settlers of Florida stood ready
to defend their homes and their lives
by day and by night, but the lessons
of that time were impressed on me in
my boyhood and justify my pride in
the state and my sorrow when she goes
wrong. I married a daughter of H. E.
Osteen, whose father was killed by the
Indians near the present site of Lake
City and he escaped by running
through the woods for protection from
neighbor. He was trained by a life
on the frontier and was such a man
as kings and titles cannot make-such
an American as all of us should try to
be now.
My great uncle, Absalom Causey,
lived on st. Mary's river. In his abb
sence the Indians entered his house
and slaughtered his family. The baby
three years old, was seized by the feet
and its brains dashed out against the
walls; boy was Drained with a light
wood knot; a girl of IS, was toma-
hawked. The father returned to find
the mother and five children murdered
and all these could only be buried by
placing the mangled bodies in the pi-
oneer's cart and heapfng the earth
upon them! Such men loved their