The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1918-06-25
POLITICS AND THE ARMY

We are rather interested in Joe L.
Earman's disclosures as to the differ
enees between the governor and the
junior senator from Florida. The edi-
tor of the Palm Beach Post is in close
touch with the inside workings of the
state administration, IL not also with
the inside workings of the guberna-
torial mind and If anybody ought to
know, Joe ought to know He init
mates that the governor and his
friends are not at all pleased with the
junior senator because that eminent
statesman did not come to the relief
Of the governors son, who failed to
secure much coveted commission IN
the army. Joe intimates, IN his mimi
table way, that when the campaign
was on that did not select but did
elect the governor, the governor and
his friends were earnest and efficient
supporters of .'Park, who was rum
ming for the United States Senate at
the same time. Now, they think that
there should be some reciprocity, and
that the junior senator should have
jumped into the ring and saved that
commission for the governors loyal
son. But he didn't show that he re-
mefnbered that he owed anything to
the governor for past political fav-
ors, and declined, refused or neglect
ed TO come to the governors assist
ance when the coming was good. Joe
says and what Joe says goes in this
administration says that the
governor and all his friends are going
to remember that little incident when
it will be necessary for ssPark" to
come before the people at the election
some four years hence.-Miami Her
add
We had heard that there had been
a break between Cats and Earman,
and felt like congratulating the gov
ernor If such was the case.
We have not seen Earnan's paper,
but If the Herald quotes it correctly,
it shows a state Of mind that deserves
the most severe condemnation.
If any young American soldier tries
for commission and fails, or having
one fails to keep it, what right has
his father to ask an United States
senator TO obtain for his son by fav-
oritism what the son cannot gain or
keep for himself?
Is it not scandalous for any citizen
to do such thing, and is it not a
thousand times worse in the governor
Of a state than in a private citizen?
IL any citizen OF Florida has APP
piled to Park TrammeIl to use his
official power to forward the interests
of a son or other relative in the
army, is it not Mr.. Trammell's duty
to fatty refuse? If he goes to the
war department and says, Give this
mans son commissions. or Don't.
take this mans sons commission
away from him." how long does any
body suppose his colleagues would let
him stay in the Senate; and if they
did what would the fathers of the
thousands of boys in the army do to
him, at the polls?
What sort of a Congress would we
have, and what sort OF an army could
we have, If the commissions went 10
The young men whose fathers have
political pull
And what should be said of a gov
srnor who threatens an United States
senator with political opposition if
said senator does not guard the in
5erests of the governors son in the
army?
And what shall we think of a poll
,ician, a member Of two of the states
most responsible boards, who can
publish such information in his pa
Der without denouncing it?
If we have such governors, such
such politicians in sufficient
'orce to control affairs, they would be |
IS rotten as Russia under the car.
We hope Earman has misrepresent-
d Cats. And if he hasn't, and Cats
md his faction try to defeat Tram
nell for such a reason, all TrammelI /
vii have to do viii be to show the
'eople the proof and they will snow
5atts and his faction under so deep
hat Gabriel won't be able to blast
hem out.
As for Earman. all we have to say
) We hope the Herald nlisquobes him.
he kind Of stuff it attributes to him
5 as bad as embalmed beef.
Since It began to form an army, the
government has tried to keep politics
nd favoritism out of it. It has made
! the rule that every man must stand
n his merit. That it has succeeded
cry well is shown by the quality of
he army it is raising. Any man who
RES to break this rule deserves not
My political damnation, but TO spend
he remainder Of his dishonorable life
4 the penitentiary.