The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-11-18
Correspondence B etween
Governor and Attorney
Very Interesting.
LEADS UP TO AND
INCLUDES BREAK"
MAN Who Put Cats Over
Makes Public Some
Readable Documents.

The Journal begins the publication
herewith of the correspondence be-
tween Gov. Sidney j. Cats and VIM.
w. Flournoy, leading up TO and in
ernor and Mr.. Flournoy.
The latter is we'll known attorney
of DeFuniak Springs, popularity de-
scribed as "The man who put Cats
over" by acting as his legal advisor
in the primaries. Since the Gov
ernor's Inauguration he has been
known as the administration unoffi-
cial prime minister.
The correspondence includes letters
from Mr.. Flournoy to the Governor.
and from the Governor to Mr.. Flour
noy, dealing with the leading sub
jects of the Cats administration. in
cluding the suspension of Sheriff
bowling of Duval county.
The letters will be published seri-
ally, and will appear as they were
written, in these columns daily It
SO happens that the first two pub
hshed this morning deal with the very
timely topic of Sheriff Dowling's re-
moval, and afford grounds for inter
esting speculation as to why the sher-
l
In making these letters public, Mr..
Flournoy said: II take this step with
considerable reluctance, but | realize
with chagrin that the time has come
for somebody to call a halt, and to
use his influence to re-establish CON
stitutional government in this stat,
endured the situation as long as i
could. l now feel called upon To E
rifice my feelings in the inteses
the public welfare"
The First Letters.
The first two letters OF the 60.
spondence, from Mr.. Flournoy ~
Governor follows:
June Z, 1917.
Governor S. j. Cats, Capitol.
Dear Governor:
Pursuant to your request, l have
examined the paper handed to you by
H. H. Lewis upon conditions in Duval
county as affecting the action of Sher-
iff w. III. Dowling. / am of the opin-
ion that the facts stated are not suf-
ficient to justify the removal of Sher-
iff Bowling. One of your usual strong
letters to the sheriff mentioning
these violations of the law and re-
questing his constant alert attention
would probably suffice to secure
prompt and proper execution of the
laws referred to in the papers.
Yours respectfully,
VIM. w. FLoURNoY.
June 10, 1917.
Governor Sidney j. Cats,
Tallahassee, Fla.
Dear Governor:
L note IN the press report this !
morning that you have suspended
Sheriff w. ii. Bowling of Duval coun-
tv md onnnintoI
as sheriff. Also, that you will sus-
pend the four food and drug inspec-
tors and the hotel commissioner and
will appoint other persons.
Without reference to the indiyid-.
uals, either the present office holder
or the one to be appointed and with
neither of whom l am for the purpose
of this letter concerned, may / again
suggest to you what in my opinion
is the legal status.
When was with you last week,
At was my pleasure and honor to ex-
anime for you the charges filed
against Sheriff Dowling of DuvaI
county, and l was clearly of the opin-
ion that the charges were not suffi-
c1ent to require the Executives
power of suspension, but rather
should be given only a letter from
sco oy SoiiiiiS dtItIlIOn TO the COM
plains that were being made and the
apparent lack of obedience on the
part of CITIZENS of Jacksonville to the
laws governing the sale of intoxicat
ing liquors. | assume, of course. that
other charges have been filed upoI
which you acted in suspending 49,.
Bowling.
The questions presented COME 8.
only the Executive and the pc
office holder. The appointee,
course, has no legal status until s,
pointed.
The power and authority is linite
by the Constitution. Section 27, Ar
tlcle III, and by the statute which
created the office and authorized the
appointment Some of the statutes
authorize the appointment to be made
by and with the consent of the SEN
ate; other statutes, at the pleasure
Of the Governor, while other statutes
merely authorize and prescribe the
term of office. Such statutes have
reference only to the appointment. If
the statute does not require the ap-
pointment to be made by and with
the consent of the Senate, the an
pointment need not be referred to
the Senate. But such statutes have