The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1916-09-19
AGAIN CAUGHT CATS
WITH THE GOODS ON
(PaIatka Times-Herald)

That old saying about "the trouble
with the liar is that once he gets the
habit he will tell 'em even if he knows
he will get caught up with" surely
must have been intended for Rev.
Cats, who "tells 'em" by the whole
sale.
Now, take that speech Rev. Cats
delivered here-and that was made
after friends had ordered the "soft
pedal put on" and the anarchy spiel
cut out. From beginning to end it
was mass of misstatements. In our
report we took the liberty to show the
absolute untruthfulness of some of
his wild utterances, and the absurdity
of several of his statements.
One of the richest things, however,
was the narrowing picture the hero
painted of Florida in the event of Mr.
Knott's election. Mr.. Knott who is
consistent member of the Baptist
church and man whose public and
private character is of the purest
order, is transformed by Cats into a
tyrannical monster who would put
Florida in chains at the bidding of the
Roman ierarchy-whatever that is.
Then Rev. Cats cites Pensacola as an
example of what we might expect
along this line. In his Palatka speech
be said that Pensacola had a special
law, passed by the Catholics, prohibit
ing the offering of prayer or the
singing of hymn in the public
schools the penalty for violating the
act being fine of $25.
In telling this yarn Hero Cats was
extremely dramatical. He pathetical-
ly told how young lady teacher,
beautiful and pious, might not only
want to open school with prayer, but
with singing hymn. He quoted a
few favorite lines from those touch
ing, soul-inspiring songs, "Nearer My
God to Thee" Crock of Ages" and
others, and then tearfully told of the
dire consequences that would follow
such a heinous infraction of the law
90 in that city.
Now, Rev. Cats probably thought
that as he was several hundred miles
from Pensacola, he could tell this pa
thetic story and get away with it.
Doubtless many of the more gullible
ones swallowed it, but some who had
heard of Sidney J.'s fondness of the
untruth were a bit doubtful, though
they, too, were deeply touched by the
heart-rending story. A prominent
citizen-a sort of "doubting Thomas"
or this Cats stuff-wrote to Pensa-
| cola to ascertain whether the Rev.
Cats was only joking or merely pre-
varicating. This is the reply he re-
ceived from Hon. John B. Jones, who,
as city attorney, and lifelong resi-
dent of Pensacola, should know the
laws of his town if anyone does:
Dear Sir: duly received your let
ter of the 9th inst, stating that the
Honorable" Sidney J. Cats, candi-
date for governor, in speech in Pa
latka a few nights since, told his audi
tors that the offering of a prayer or
the singing of a hymn or any devo-
tional exercise at all in the public
schools of Pensacola was punishable
with fine of s25, and requesting me
to advise you whether or not Mr.
Cats is right in his statement, or
slightly misinformed."
The city of Pensacola has no such
ordinance, and has never attempted to
impose any such penalty, or to inter
fere with the affairs of the public
schools in such manner as Mr.. Cats
is alleged to have stated.
Yours very truly,
John E. Jones, City Attorney.
II