The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1920-06-04
HEAD OF MIAMI SCHOOLS IN BAD
LIGHT

r. E. Hall had no idea, of course,
that his contributions to the campaign
funds of Sidney j. Cats, candidate
for United States senator, and to the
campaign funds of Van c. Swearingen,
candidate for governor OF Florida,
would become a matter of public re-
cord.
He did not know that his contribu
tion of two hundred and fifty dollars
for Governor Cats would be listed for
publication in the newspapers.
R. E. Hall joined the Fletcher club
in the belief that voters supporting
Senator Fletcher would not know that
he was one of the largest contribu-
tors to the Cats campaign fund.
f. E. Hall denies that he made
these contributions to the funds OF
Sidney j. Cats and Van c. Swearin-
gen.
He says that the five hundred dol
lars was his brother-in-law's money,
and that he merely sent his checks for
the amounts because his brother-in
law had no checking accOunt-or
something to that effect.
No explanation has been made as to
why Mr.. Halls brOther-in-law is in
terested enough in politics to contri-
butte five hundred dollars to the cam
paign funds of candidate for United
States senator and candidate for
governor.
The fact of the matter is that r. E.
Hall has been caught with the goods,
and like any rascal in the same sort
OF dilemma, he is trying to find way
to shift the blame.
AS the matter stands now he is not
only convicted of playing double with
the voters of Dade county, but is
clearly viOlator of Section IA of the
primary election laws of Florida, IN
which it is provided that mo candi-
daate. for nomination in a primary
shall directly or indirectly himself,
or by another person, give, pay, eX-
pend or contribute any money or thing
of value for the furtherance Of the
candidacy of any other candidate
The punishment for the violation OF
this provision is not only fine or
imprisonment, or both, but absolute
disqualification and ineligibility to
hcId the office to which he aspires or
or any other county or state office or
position.
r. E. Hall sent his personal checks
for two hundred and fifty dollars eacl
for the campaign funds of Sidney J.
Cats and Van c. Swearengen, but he
ciaims-nOw that the tranactiOn has
become a matter of record-that it
was his brother-in-law's money.
The law says that he shall not con-
tribute to another candidates funds
DIRECTLY or INDIRECTLY HIM
SELF, or BY ANOTHER PERSON"
If the checks represented his own
contribution to the funds-and this is
sworn to, in the statements of Sidney
J. Cats and Van G. Swearingen-his
contributions was DIRECT one; if
his brother-in-law paid the money for
him. he has contributed BY ANOTH-
Err PERSON.
Van c. Swearingen believed, and
made sworn statement to that ef-
feet, that the two hundred and fifty
dollars came from r. E. Hall.
Sidney j. Cats believed, and made
sworn statement to tina effect, that
the two hundred and fifty dollars
came from r. E. Hall
Governor Cats felt assured of r.
E. Halls support. He did not know
that r. E. Hall was member of the
Fletcher Club.
The people of Dade county know
by these signs something of the charc
ter Of the man who is at the head cs
their public school SYSTEM -
Metropolis. -aiens