The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1918-08-05
STILL IN BAD SHAPE


We regret to see that our old
friend, Joe Caldwell, has become ag-
grieved at our remarks about the city
plant. We did not know the plant was
Joe's personal property. Moreover, we
did not refer to Joe personally. Any
body that reads the article over will
see that it speaks of conditions and
events for which no one person is re-
sponsible. We have always supposed
we had a right to criticise anything
we thought wrong in public affairs,
and Joe has several times compli-
mented US for making disparaging
remarks about things he agreed with
US in not agreeing with.
We are also sorry Joe did not see
fit to make his reply to the Star in
the Star. We told him he could have
all the space he wanted for that pur-
pose. 1t may be just as well, how
ever, that he sent it to the other pa
per. We do not write personalities
nor insinuations, and we do not let
anybody else write them for this
paper. To make remarks about a
mans personal appearance, to make
yelled attacks on his character, to
make halfway allegations, especially
when he is several hundred miles off, ,
is not argument. 1t is half scandal,
half Stiffness, and while it may appeal
to people of low grade of intellect,
it makes thinking men weary. We
would have penciled some Of Joe's
vi fhak
disconnected him.
1t does not look we'll for Joe to
speak of gum shoeing, secret inspec-
tons, etc. There was nothing secret
about it. The mayor decided he want
ed to look the plant over, and invited
certain persons to go with him. He
has a perfect right to do that. So far
as we are concerned, we beg to re-
mind Mr.. Caldwell that he has given
US to understand that we were well
come in the plant at any time, and
that we have been thru it scores of
times, and have never heard any OBJ
lection from him nor anyone else.
We don't know why the mayor
didn't call special meeting of the
council, ask permission to visit the
plant and publish his intention of GO
ing 'sfor thirty days as it (not) re-
quired by law" Perhaps the mayor
has learned that an investigation
that goes with a brass band never
finds anything out. For that matter
he invited two of the aldermen. AS
the other three can go any time they
choose, we. don't see where anybody
has any kick coming. Joe complains
the mayor doesn't visit the plant
often. He seems to have visited it
once too often to suit Joe
It is Mr.. Caldwelps duty to keep
the plant. in such condition that he
will not object to city officials or re-
porters going thru it whenever they
think it necessary. It's the peoples
property, the peoples representatives
have a right to inspect it and report
on it when they see fit.
We also regret to see Mr.. Caldwell
try to answer, Mr.. Woods report
about bad conditions in the plant by
slurs at Mr.. Woods. Mr.. Caldwell
employed Mr.. Woods and after Mr..
Woods had been here for some time,
Mr.. Caldwell told Mayor Chace and
some other citizens, including the
writer, that Woods was competent
man. Mr.. Woods came here with very
fine recommendations. and he left to
fill much better position that the
one he had here. As for the Skinner
engine, it did not break down all at
once 1t gave signs of the trouble
it was in for some time before it had
to be stopped. If Mr.. Woods allowed
it to get in that condition, why did
not Mr.. Caldwell put stop to Mr..
Woods delinquencies?
We are not sufficiently posted on
oil engines to decide on the consis-
tency of the oil they should use, but
we know Mr.. Caldwell told us some
time ago that some crude oil he had
received was too thick and had to be
thinned with kerosene, which doesn't
agree with his present statement
that the pump lifts thick oil better
than thin.
There is no blame attaching to Mr..
Caldwell for the location of the con-
dCficSI, Vile gas 1IUui Tic cISIIc, Iuc
general bad arrangement of the
plant, and the Star hasn't said there
was. Joe has kicked four or five times
where. he was spurred once.
As for Mr.. Woods remarks, they
were mostly made in reply to ques-
tions put to him. Mayor Chace and
Alderman McIver asked him a good
many questions. Perhaps they haven't
visited the plant often, but like al
most everybody else in town they
know the plant is not running right
1t is very true that the plant is
running better than it was some time
ago, and it is noticeable that it ran
better while Mr.. Woods was there
than at some other times. 1t did not
run very well while the Skinner en-
CINE was out of commission We have
a machine in this Office that registers
the action of the plant like a baro-
meter registers the weather. When
/ "a cloud comes up in the daytime and
uaonia all over town turn on their