The Ocala evening star., 1919-06-30
PLACES WHERE FRIENDSHIP
HAS SECOND PLACE

In yesterday mornings issue OF the
Palm Beach Post, there appeared IN
this column an article regarding SEN
ator Fletcher that seemed to be an
endorsement and full support extend
ed to his candidacy by this paper.
The facts are, this article was a
reprint from the Tampa Morning
Tribune and a eompositor neglected
to give that newspaper credit for
same. Senator Fletcher has many
friends in Palm Beach county, and no
one has more sincere regard and high
respect for this able man than Joe
Earman.
AS chairman of the board of con-
troll and state plant board, | have had
considerable correspondence with him
in the past two years, and have had
his full cooperation, which means
much.
Governor Sidney j. Cats is friend
of Palm Beach county. He has never
failed to do all possible for Palm
Beach county, both as governor and
citizen of Florida.
Be it known that he is my personal
friend.
Be it known that he appointed me
as member of the state board of
control
Be it known that his influence made
me chairman of this important board.
Be it known that we are not on the
migrate list, and that we have never
deserted friend.
Be it known that we are going to
support Sidney j. Cats for the Unit
ed States Senate.
Be it further known that we have
never sidestepped an issue.
BIT it further known that printers
neglect to give credit for an editorial
to some other newspaper put the is
sue squarely up to as, and brought
about this declaration early in the
campaign.-Joe Eaarman in Palm
Beach Post.
Friendship is one of the finest
things in the world. 1T comes next
to duty and love-but there are two
places where it should have second
place, and they are poker game and
public affairs.
tt is out of place for you to favor
your friend in a poker game, for if
you let him win your money he will
not be grateful. neither viii he be
better off, for he will straightway be-
come conceited and go up against .
Ebetter player. and lose hissentire wad.
| Tt is even more necessary that il
take second place in public affairs.
for il you favor a personal friend at
the expense of the public, you wrong
your other friends, and the friends
of other people, and worst of all you
wrong your greatest tho impersonal
friend, your Uncle Sam, whose inter
Iest you gave your sacred word Oh
honor to guard on the day you be-
came a citizen.
Joe Earman does not owe the gov
ernor anything. Either the governor
appointed him because he thought he
would make good (and he has)s but il
is the governors duty to appoint
only men who he believes will make
good; or he appointed him because he
thought he could use him; or he ap-
pointed him because of genuine
friendship. In either case, Joe Ear,
man owes him nothing The friend
ship of Joe Earman is more valuable
than the friendship of Cats.
1 IF Joe Earman believes Cats vii
make a better senator than Fletcher
lit is right for him to support Cats
hut if he thinks Fletcher will be tn,
i better senator, he will wrong hi
state and his nation if he does no
support Fletcher.
| We have many friends, and W,
q have some enemies. but we will no
support our dearest friend for /;
: public office that we believe he is no
competent to fill. Rather will we sup
! port an enemy if we believe he vii
!, do the public the better service.
The Gainesville Sun, the Miam
I