The Palatka news and advertiser., 1917-11-16

Pensacola Journal: Governor Cats
mas again made of himself a disgrace
tul spectacle.
His violations Of the code Of de-
cency have been so frequent and he
has so often lowered the dignity of
his high office that his offenses are
usually permitted to pass unnoticed.
But his public interview given in Pen
sacola, because of the nature Of the
case involved, surpasses anything that
he has previously been guilty Of
His letter to Sheriff Van Pelt-
comparing c. Moreno Jones, judge of
the court of record esteemed citizen
and once mayor of Pensacola, to a
Guinea negro-Was outrageous. Prob
ably never before has a governor
made so pointed a threat, couched in
such mcouth language, against the
! iud~e of any court.
That the lawyers of Pensacola, in
the most representative gathering in
the history Of the local bar, adopted
resolutions condemning the attempt to
influence and dictate judicial action
and decision, was but dignified eX-
preston of their disapproval Of the
Governors unwarranted action. The
resolution was concurred in without
dissenting voice. Every lawyer pres
ent, and only three or four members
Of the local bar were absent, signed
the resolution.
Some of them actively supported
Governor Cats in his campaign.
Others have vigorously defended his
administration against all criticism.
Few have evidenced feelings of hos
tility toward him. But all were
agreed that he had committed griev
ous error which threatened the sane
titv of the courts.
Had the Governor felt that his let
ter was misunderstood and its mean
ing misconstrued he would have been
entirely justified in correcting the i'm
preston which it created. But he
would be expected to do so in man
uer becoming a gentleman and in
keeping with the DIGNITY attaching to
the hiph Office which he occlDPs.
Instead he rushed into nrint, and
stigmati2ed the lawyers who signed
the rosolution-amOng them leading
ba1'risters OF tie State and most hon
ored citizens Of Pensacola-as malli-
cous wilful falsifers. He denies
them the right Of protest, but i'm
nurns their motive and accuses all of
| irving to protect blind tigers-men
who have given their time and money
and best services to suppression of
the liquor traffic. Without oualifi-
cation. he accuses them of attempt
ting to impede the law. And the
! LANGUAGE Of the Governors attack IS
coorsn. brutal, vulgar.
Without knowledge or without
thought of the facts, he burst into a
violent TRADE Of abnse more hefittin@
an itinorant tinker than the chief eX-
ccutivc Of great commonwealth.
The Journal vigorously opposed Mr.
Cats election because it seemed evil
dent that he possessed no oualifica-
ton for the place. but since he took
Office the Journal has refrained from
criticising him. When the voters
elected him. the Journal accepted him
and sincerely hoped his record as Gov
ernor would prove our opinion of his
qualifications entirely wrong. But he
canrot be permitted to malign some
of the best citizens of Pensacola with.
out nrOteSt.
His actions since the day Of his in
auguration show clearly how untitled
he S for high public office.
Eccentric and fanatical. possessed
OF violent temper which knows NJ
restraint, vindictive and easily eX
cited to amer. he is disgrace TO the
Statn which he Governs.
But Florida is discovering her mis-
take. The glamor of his clustering
bullying egotism is fading. This was
evidenced when he came to Pensacola
last Friday night. Aside from mem
hers of the party which he iorTneyeC
here to ioin, lust three politicians
awaited his coming. ONLY seven were
at the station TO greet him. Prob
ably no other Governor ever received
so cold a reoeption. Certainly nj
other more fully warranted it.
Yes, the people of Florida have