The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-11-04
John S. Beard Asserts Gov
ernor Is Attending to
Catch the People.
PEOPLE NOT BE
MISLED, HE SAYS
In Interview Gov. Cats
Flags Pensacola Lawyers
Who Signed Resolution.

In discussing the remarks attrlblt-
ed to Governor Cats in a published
interview on the resolution adopted
by the lawyers of Pensacola condemn
ing his letter to Sheriff Van Pelt,
John S. Beard, who called the law
yers together and who prepared and
presented the resolutions stated yes
terday afternoon to The journal, that
tho Governor was attempting by an
appeal to prejudice. to catch the un-
thinking people, and becloud the real
issue at stake.
"If the governor had read the order
in the case of Hillard VS.. Van Pelt,'
said Mr.. Beard, Il hardly believe he
would have asked the following oues-
ton attributed to him in his pub
hshed interviews"
s'If one blind tiger can get per-
nit from the court to operate his
business, with a guarantee that
the sheriff shall not nlolest him,
why cannot they all do it
eff he had read the order in t,.o
case he would have clearly seen thst
no permit was granted to blind tige:
nor was there any guarantee that
sheriff would not modest them.
the order distinctly and plainly
This order is not to be talsea as
hibiting or staying any proaseli T.
which may have been, or may lae
after be instituted against conIptaf
nor as authorizing the complainant
sell beers or liquors at his said pia
of business
THE order in this case is the orr
upon which Governor Cats based
letter to Sheriff Van Pelt, whi
brought forth the resolutions from
lawyers Of Pensacola. There is Il
federal policy involved in the matte
it is simply question of the suprenlN
acy of the constitution and laws of
the State of Florida, and the dignity
and independence of the Judiciary.
4 do not believe the people of the
State of Florida will be mislead by
the Governor political camourfage.'
The Governors Comments.
In brief interview to The Journal
last night, Governor Sidney J. Cats
refused to discuss the comment on
his published statement yesterday on
the reolution adopted by the lawyers
of Pensacola condemning his letter
to Sheriff Van Pelt, in which the law
yers claim the Governor attempts to
influence judicial decisions by threat
of removal from office.
Despite the efforts of the inter
viewer, the Governor refused to af-
firm or deny his published statement,
nor to add anything 20 it, or retract
anything, or, in fact, to mention tte
case in the least, stating simply that
he had nothing to say. His silence
in the matter is unexplained, rs his
statement published yesterday caused
much comment among the lawyers
of the city, and brought forth some
statements in reply to the chief eN-
ecutive.
His original statement follows:
81 just want to brand as q mali
cious, unjustifiable and wilful falsifi-
cation of facts said the governor,
"and diabolical attempt to place me
in a false light before the people of
West Florida and of the state that
part of the resolution which said the
governor of the state of Florida at
tempts to dictate, control and infiu-
ence judicial action and decision un-
der and by threat of suspension of the
Judge of the court of record in and
for Escambia county from Office.
II also brand as a deliberate false
hood that part Of the resolution which
says the letter which I wrote the
sheriff is an executive threat to sub
stitute executive will, caprice and pol
icy for the constitution and laws of
the state by an arbitrary and uncon-
stitutional exercise Of the powers of
suspension from Office"
Continuing on the subject Cover
nor Cats said: ''Of course know as
well as the people of Pensacola do
that the instigators Of the LAWYERS
meeting were the same ones who
were so violently opposed to my hold
ing the Office after l was nominated
in the primary on platform Of re-.
formation in Florida.
T told the people right here IN
Pensacola as we'll as all over the
state that / was going to break NJ
service clubs or modern blind tigers
gambling and other vice that had long