The Ocala evening star., 1915-09-04
PINELLAS AND BLOXHAM

Among Kipling's stories is one in
which an English family, couple of
cobras, a mongoose and an honest but
boneheaded little bird were the prin-
cipal characters
In the past few days cur friend
Straub of the ST. Petersburg Times,
has made some remarks that remind
US of some of those attributed by
Kipling to the little bird.
In Kipling's story, the mongoose
and the little bird were friends of the
English family and the cobras were
its enemies. The mongoose was try
ing to exterminate the cobras, in
which it had the hearty help and SYM
pathy of the little bird until it found
the cobras' nest and tried to destroy
their eggs. Then the little bird struck.
The little bird had several times
had it's nest invaded and its eggs de-
stroyed, sometimes by cobras. So 1t
had with some reason come to con-
slider destroying eggs the worst of
crimes. 1t had not occurred to the
bird that there was a difference in a
birds eggs and snakes eggs. Eggs
were eggs, in the little birds opinion.
Some years ago, Straub headed a
justifiable and successful fight for
county division. Since when all coun-
ty division fights look alike to him.
He doesn't take the trouble to find
out whether there is a difference in
people or circumstances. Consequent
ly he jacks the Star up for opposing
the partition of it's own county, and
rather broadly insinuates that it is
the Stars duty to boost for Bloxham
We will ask Straub to take these
matters, which he seems to have for
gotten, into consideration.
In the fight for the creation of Pi-
nellas, in which the Star agreed with
the Times, the demand for a new
county came from within it. In the
attempt to cut off a part of Marion
the move came from outside. The
people of the Marion precincts affect
ed were not consulted, and only few
of them were notified. Were you wise
to this, Straub, or do you approve OF
it?
If bunch of politicians afsOdesss
wanted to form new county, taking
in the northern part of Pinellas, woult
you help in this partition of youl
county, Straub, or would you not?
If in the section affected, your pa
per had a large number of friends
who asked you to help them stay il
Pinellas, would you help them, o.
would you help the fellows on th'
other side who were far less to yoI
in numbers and good will than you
own friends?
Straub says that if the editor of th'
Star lived in a Bloxham precinct, h,
would boost for Bloxham. Why is it
then, Straub that scores of men wh'
have passed a lifetime in those pre-
cincts, desire to remain in Marion
and praise and thank the Star fo
helping them in their fight to stay il
their old county?
If D. NJ. Barco, 2. A. Crumpton
Ben Bitch, J. T. Hutchins, L. K. Ed
wards, G. T. Wilmington, S. q
Bitch, R. d. Zetrouer, Richard Er
vine and hundred others whom W
could name, all citizens of the Mariol
precincts affected, are against Blox
ham, why should the editor of tn
Star be for Rloxham.
1t is true that if we lived in Willis
ton, we would be for Ploxham. vii
iston is for Rloxham, and Bloxham
for Williston-for Williston's benefit
We do not see it any other way, an
perhaps Straub will admit that w
know more about the country and tn
people than he does.
Straub rebukes the Star for drag
ging Pinellas into the coontroversv
He likes to express his opinion of al
fairs hundred miles off, but he doe
not like people hundred miles off
have any opinion about his bailiwicl
However, Straub need not shak
any CORY locks at US on this point. W
did not drag Pinellas into the ma
easily find out-that there is no sin
ilarity in the cases of Pinellas ar
Bloxham. Pinellas was dragged int
the controversy by Bloxham adv
Gates, and whatever we proceed
show is untrue in their statemen
comes from Pinellas people.
Straub also wants US to specify tt
instances in which he has measur,
other peoples corn in his half bush,
.Straub is as fair as the avera,
journalist and smarter than the ave
age. There are times however VIII
he, perhaps unconsciously, insists tn
his own views be accepted as t
standard and is not able to see me-
in those of the other fellow. If
cannot, on quiet reflection, convin
himself of this trait, it is no use +
others TO try to convince him.