The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1918-11-02

Lane of Fort Lauderdale, chairman of
the committee for increasing taxa
ton, is so anxious to see in the Star.
If Mr.. Lane had said please" in
stead of demand" when he first sent
his letter, it would have been printed
at once.
The Letter
No money has been received from
the state campaign committee except
from two sources: 1st, from public of
fcials who, in the face of the neces-
sary demand for funds with which to
pay teachers an average yearly salary
of less than $500, saw their treasur-
les facing bankruptcy, and who are
legally and morally charged with the
duty of securing funds for their
schools, of protecting their treasur-
les, and of supplying efficient teachers
to the schools; End, from private citi-
zens who have contributed some small
amounts from their private funds
many Of whom by similar contribu-
tons made it possible six years ago
to secure ratification on a constitu-
tional amendment which has made it
possible to erect school buildings in
Florida.
Altogether, the campaign will prob
ably cost much less than the amount
you charged to be an impossible
figure, and every dollar of it will be
properly accounted for by the treas
urer, an honest and incorruptible pub
lie official. No book trust and nobody
with hidden and unholy motive has
OR can, if we know it-put one
request that you withdraw this libel
lous charge this week.
regret much to see that you have
seen fit to "camoufage" your opposi-
ton to the public schools by resort to
such unbiased charges. You know--or
ought to know as newspaper man
that teachers are generally the most
poorly paid public servants, or private
servants, in the world They do not
these educated white women of Flor
ida who make the big sum of $685. a
year-ask anything but the chance to
continue in their chosen work and
live. The man who sweeps the streets
builds the fences, cuts the wood, re-
ceives an average at this time of SIS
to $18 week for So weeks in the
year-a total of 1896. Face this fact
and the additional one that the mind
and soul of child cannot be compar-
ed to street and fence and firewood-
and ask yourself whether the women
who deal with these priceless things
should be charged with conspiracy
against the state, as you have charg-
ed them, and have that hated term
that now goes only with the Prussian
menace, "autocracy," applied to them.
The teachers of Florida ask no fav-
ors at your hands, or at the hands of
any one. But when you attack them,
they have the right to a place in your
columns. They are self-supporting
men and women. They ask only jus
tice and the right to live and serve.
They will serve you as long as they
can live. They love Florida and her
children. If you love the children of
Florida, quit attacking their teachers
these chlldren'S friends.
Respectfully yours,
B. B. Lane, Chairman.
1t will be seen by the foregoing that
Mr.. Lane admits that public school Of
ficials have taken public money to
help finance this campaign: This was
illegal and it is surprising that any
man can be so ignorant as to say it
wasn't.
We print Mr.. Lanes denial that the
Book Trust has had no finger in this
pie, and it's up to our readers to be-
lieve his statement or not, as they see
fit. We stand by all we have written
until we have proof we are wrong.
Mr.. Lane and Mr.. Brinson have got
US guessing about the school teachers