The Lakeland evening telegram., 1920-08-30
SCHOOL SUPPLY
CASE IS HINTED
BASIS OF REMOVAL

Inu'SndsiVA VI NVuiity % AIOuSeu
and Public Ready to Stand by
Present Officers to the Last.
Denouncing the removal of Supt.
John A, Moore and the three mem
bers of the County School Board, by
Gov. Cats, as a public outrage
expressing omplete confidence in the
officials attempted to be removed, and
pledging not only moral support but
financial aid to help these men retain
their positions, large gathering of
citizens from all over the county me-
at Barlow yesterday afternoon, and
after heated discussion, adopted
ringing resolutions to the effect
stated.
The meeting had been advertised
by posters spread throughout the
country, and Notwithstanding the
rather short notice, there was fine
representation from every section of
the county, evidencing the interest
the removals had aroused. The
gathering was held on the court
house lawn, Mayor Oliver, of Bar
tow, presiding. In calling the meet
ing to order Mayor oliver stated its
object as being to give an expression
of protest against removing these
county officials without hearing,
and without declaring the nature OF
the charges against them. He then
introduced as the first speaker Hon.
Reid Robson, who paid high tribute
to the character of Supt. Moore and
Messrs. Murrell, Law and Bowers,
dwelling particularly on the life and
record of General Law, that grand
old man of the Confederacy, who in
his latter years is subjected to the
humiliation of removal by the Gov
ernor from an office he has always
honored.
Speaking somewhat along the same
lines, next In order, came Rev W. d
Turnkey, former Cats supporter,
and sorry for 1t; Hon. John M. Keen,
and Hon. George Wilder, Speaker of
the Florida House of Representatives.
The latter expressed a desire that
II might be possible to call the Legis>
lature together and start something"
"a suggestion which met with enthu-
siastic evidence Of approval.
The principal speech was made by
Prof. G.. NJ Jones, of Lakeland, who
went into & detailed history of the
Clifton case, which Is the origin of
the present trouble. Mr. Jones did
not mince words in referring to the
acts OF Clifton, producing evidence
from the court records to back up his
statements. He referred to the notes
amounting to some $4,000 held by
the Union Supply Co., which were un-
authorized by the school board and
which the latter properly refused to
nav While he did not make such q
statement, there was feeling among
those present that new board ap-
pointed by Cats might possibly agree
to the payment of these notes. ne
declared that he did not believe ths
men named by Cats as appointees
would accept the commissions undef
the circumstances. He presented
proof of the falsity of the only charges
that had been made against the sehooi
board, producing the requisieionS
expenditures in a certain district TOT
which it was claimed no requisitions
bad been issued
Senator o. NJ. Eaton was next
called on. and his intimation tha'
money was involved in the handlins
of the school board situation IN FolA
seemed to be in harmony WIN tne
popular conviction The Senator toiu
Of his connection with the handiihs
Of removals by the Governor, IN inc
Senate, referring first to the case OIL
J. c. swindell, county commissioner
against whom. he said, there were
absolutely no charges. He SAID tne
Governor fold him that he was more
interested in the Clifton removal De,
ing sustained than any other ne h''O
made-the man whom ne is no" -
aNyi9as to reinstate.. Both ne anu
n1fAc-