The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1917-09-10
SIZING UP THE
NEW SECRETARY

Goode Query of the Howey Tn
bune, is pleased with the appointment
of Sim Bitch as private secretary to
the governor, but seems to think
Burke should have been sent home in
stead of appointed on the state tax
commission. Goode was mixed up
with the whole bunch last summer,
when he helped run Cats campoign,
so he should know, Here's what he
says:
Governor Cats has finally come to
the conclusion that he needs an hon
Iest, intelligent and dependable man in
his office as private secretary. This
paper predicted many months ago
that the governor would find this nee
essary when he named j. V. Burke to
that position, for the naming OF
Burke to position of such response
bility was the first rift in the lutte
after the governor took office, and it
was the entering wedge between the
chief executive and some of his most
ardent supporters.
But it was not the naming of Burke
to a special office that so offended
those familiar with his record in the
various sections of the state in which
he has lived, but the naming of Burke
to any office of responsibility. Burke's
private life is a matter for his own
concern. Be that as it may it had
very positive bearing on the opposi-
ton that was expressed to his being
iplaced in a position of responsibility
with the state government. But his
acts while publicly engaged in the
pursuit of notifies are open to crit
icism by every citizen. No one knows
better than those closest to the gov
ernor during the strenuous days of
| 1916 the questionable tactics employ
ed by Burke, the violation of faith
with his own associates, double deal
| ing between the prohibition and the
| liquor selling element and his ques-
| tionable methods of gathering and
idisbursing money.
| Burke has been named a member of
| the state tax commission. The rea-
son assigned, by dispatches from Tai
lahassee, for his resignation from the
governors office was that his eyes
were giving him trouble. There had
to be reason, and this will serve, per-
haps, as well as any other. But in
the light of past events it is reason
able to suppose that the governor
had reached that point of conviction
where he must unload the very SER
ious handicap he was carrying in his
private secretary. If he had stopped
with the dismissal of Burke he would
have healed the breach which has
been widening between the governor
land some of his former political
friends. But Burke a member of the
powerful tax commission is certain to
bring a storm of protest now just. as
| it did when he was mentioned for the
Iplace before the governor made his
appointments.
Burke's own business affairs have
demonstrated that he is not fitted for
position on the tax commission, and
he has never displayed that calibre of
citizenship which would win for him
the confidence and trust of the tax
payers of the state. His appointment
to the commission was even a greater
mistake than his appointment as the
governors private secretary.
The naming of Senator Bitch as
secretary to the governor will be COM
mended by those who know this gen
tleman. Not as we'll trained and edu-
Gated, perhaps, as he might be for
such a position and in the diplomatic
practices essential to an ideal dis
charge of duties as secretary, he is,
nevertheless, man who holds the
confidence and esteem of his acquaint-
ances among the loyal followers of
| the governor