The Lakeland evening telegram., 1917-07-10
DOUBLE CROSSING :.
THE RED CROSS

| or course, when We presented
plain proposition of fact and hacked
! it up with the money, we knew that
the point would be lodged There
| is column or more outburst of slOsh
and venom, but the only reference to
the point on which the champion
long and short distance falsifier was
called is that 1T makes no differ
erce" whether we went before the
Commissioners or not. 1t makes the
difference between a falsehood and
the truth; and this man, by his own
failure to present the simple proof
of statement which he has repeat
edly made, stands branded as reck.
less and malicious falsifier, who will
make any kind of statement, and
then wriggle out Of it in the most
brazen way. That he knew he was
making false statement is evident
from the fact that he did not even
make a pretence of securing the
pIOOly WHICH IL HIS CldILlS WoIS rus,
was right at his hand.
The only thing that makes us feel
bad is that the Red Cross has been
dcuble-crossed out of some money.
Everybody knows that this fellow
would have moved heaven and 4arth
to have caused us to make our offer
good and pay over 500. But he
couldn't do this, of course, and he
hasn't the manhood to admit that he
was wrong and hand over $50 to the
Red Cross. Now we are going to
give him another chance, although,
in view OF this disappointment, we
would not advise the Red Cross to
get it's hopes up too high.
/. Mr.. l.. w. Bloom has repeatedly
stated, in an effort to create preju-
dice, that the ADVERTISING bill for the
tax list would run about $1,000. "
The lowest figure he names is $4,941.
Now, we will make this proposition
We will submit this work to any
three newspaper men, either in Polk
county, or outside of Polk county
who know how. to figure such mat
, ters. If they do not find that the
utmost that could be charged for it
without any adjustments or conces
sions, whatever, is fully ONE THOU
SAND DOLLARS LESS than the low
est figure named by Mr.. Bloom, We
viii, pay the expenses of these news
paper men and will hand over 2
: check for 500 to the Lakeland Rec
Cross Association-Mr. Bloom 20 pay
Cross if our contention is correct.
2. Mr.. L. w. Bloom has repeat
edly stated that we are indebted tt
: some architect whom we will no;
pay this statement being repeated by
! inference this morning. If he will
produce a statement from any archi
tect to whom we owe cent or will
whom we haven't settled to the las
> penny, we will pay 500 to the Rec
, Cross of Lakeland-Mr Bloom tC
pay 500 if he does not produce his
architect within reasonable time
!, 3. Mr.. l.. W. Bloom stated thi'
:, morning that in controversy witt
Mayor Cox some time ago, we failed
:, to put up certain money in the First
: National Bank as we claimed to hav.
: done. If he will produce a state
ment from any officer or attache OF
the bank that the money was not in
it's hands exactly as we stated, we
will pay s100 to the Red Cross OF
Lakeland-Mr Bloom to pay the Red
Cross 500 If he fails to produce such
statement.
We could go on multiplying in
stances like this indefinitely, but We
believe these will suffice. They are
Just few matters of cold face, the
truth or falsity of which are so sus
ceptible of proof that man who
makes such statements and fails
to substantiate them must stand be-
fore the community branded as a will.
full. wanton and malicious liar, and
very crude, clumsy, and easily
caught liar at that. 1t cannot be said
that in referring to these things
we are lodging the issue:' all these
, issues were raised by Mr.. Bloom and
i not by us. But watch him wriggle,
: and writhe. and squirm,
5 To incur the abuse of this crea
'ture is a certificate of good citizen