The Key West Citizen Newspaper, May 19, 1952, Page 3

MIAMI HANDWRITING (Continued From Page One) Key West on Wednesday, 7th, for the purpose of examining the handwriting on the absentee ballots. To say I was amazed at what I read is an understatement. I wish to strenuously protest this misleading write-up. “For your edification, I wish to advise you of the following facts: “Shortly before noon on Wed- nesday, I was approached by a charming young lady who iden- tified herself as one of your re- porters and who asked me if I would make a statement con- cerning the absentee ballots. At that time I advised your report- er that I had no statement to make, that any statement that ‘was made would have to come from Mr, Joseph Y. Porter, of your city, as I was there at his request to examine the hand- writing on the absentee ballots. At that time the young lady asked me to pose for a photo- graph and I told her I had too much > do and, subsequently, your photographer actually made, I believe, two photographs while I was busily engaged in the examination of the hand- writing’ on the absentee ballots. “I left the Court House after the Election Commission had finished canvassing the absentee ballots for Precinct 4, at about 4:30 P. M., since I had to return to Miami by National Air Lines plane which departed from Key ‘West at 5:00 P. M. Upon my ar- rival at the airport I was ad- vised by the ticket agent that there was a call for me. I ac- cepted the call,and someone con- nected with your newspaper asked me for a statement. Again I replied that I had no official statement to make, that any! statement would have to come from Mr. J. Y. Porter. “I do recall-that I asked your representative at that time to mail me a copy of the paper if a photograph was used, as I like to keep a scrap book of my cases. “Two copies of your publica- tion and a photograph were mail- ed to me on May 12th and for same I wish to thank you. If there is any obligation, please send me an invoice and I will gladly send you my check. “With reference to the front page article which appears in your publication of May 8th, which allegedly quotes me, I in- sist that the entire article is a complete misrepresentation of facts. The caption which ap- pears :bove my photograph reads: “Gounty Election Certified ‘Clean’”. Such a statement from me would have been highly pre- sumptive, as, in the first place, ; I had no interest in or knowl- edge of your county election whatsoever, or the campaigns conducted therein. My sole pur- | pose in coming to Key West was to investigate the integrity of the absentee ballots. I came as a handwriting expert to ascer- tain whether or not fraudulent votes were among the absentee | ballot’. Not being a resident of Monroe County and not having the facilities for ascertaining facts concerning the election, I have absolutely no knowledge of what went on during the cam- paign prior to the election. Therefore, for you to use such a caption, claiming T certified the county election was clean, is a misrepresentation of facts. “Having been a resident of Florida for many years and hav- ing lived in an adj for more than twer have on many many unfavorable rep the cleanliness of elec paigns in your count. this is hearsay and actually, of my own knowledge, I kn nothing and am in no position to However say whether the campaigns are | clean or crooked. “Your caption on the article is a complete feature isrepre- I was busily engaged in compar- ing the handwriting, I could not May | help but overhear conversation with reference to ballots which were questionable and overhear the convers: tion of judges in de- termining whether a ballot was to be thrown out or accepted. My observation indicated ‘that they were fair and impartial in ac- cepting and rejecting question- able ballots. Therefore, where you quote me as having said: “Your office,” said bennett, “is to be congratulated on the way it conducted this election” you have misrepresented the facts, since I have absolutely no knowl- edge whatsoever of how the election was conducted, as my only knowledge had to do with absentee ballots in four of the fourteen precincts. What you should have written was “Your office,” said Bennett, “is to be congratulated on the way it con- ducted the canvass of the ab- sentee ballots.” “You further say in your sub- title: “Handwriting expert could find nothing wrong during check.” How and where you ob- tained such information is be- yond m, powers of comprehen- sion. I made no such statement to your reporters or to Mr. Pin- der or to anyone. In a few of the irregularities found by ine, I con- ferred with Mr. Pinder, and where the registration of the ab- sentee voter could not be found in its proper precinct, Mr. Pin- der or one of his assistants went to the master registration list and checked to see if the absen- tee ballct had been placed in the wrong precinct. In a few insta ces this proved to be so |and I was advised by Mr. Pinder that the record had not been purged in several years, but that this would take place following the present election. Therefore, it was possible that some of the voters might be listed in other precincts or their name might be carried when they had moved away from Monroe County. “It is absolutely preposterous to ullege that I said nothing was found wron, during my check. “Out of approximately 12,000 ballots cast in the election, my opportunity for scrutinizing sig- natures was limited to 350 ab- sentee ballots out of 988. “With reference to the propor- tion or percentage of absentee ballots as compared with the number of ballots cast, I would say that beyond any question of doubt the large percentage (8%) is attributable to considerable pressure having been brought to | bear by some candidate in order {to cause the voters to vote an | absentee ballot. In normal elec- tions a 1% or 2% ratio to the total number of votes cast is considered good, yet West the ratio was many times | this; therefore, I think this is highly significant and irregular, but, with no definite information in my possession, I have no statement to make as to the rea- son for such an abnormal condi- tion. “With reference to differences |in signatures in the registration, any discrepancies and other iz- regularities, a detailed report has been made to Mr. Porter. He is }at liberty to release my report or to retain possession of it, as he sees fit. “The average person, unfam- iliar with conditions in Monroe County, reading the purported statements, alleged to have been }made by me, could draw only }one conclusion and that is — completely white-washed the en- tire election in Key West and gave ita ‘clean bill of health.’ It is quite obvious that this was the impression you tempting to convey to your read- ers, which is in direct conflict with fac “I have no knowledge of the amount of money that any candi- | date expended in his campaign. |I have no knowledge of the tac- ed by any candidate in his in Key] I} were at-| FHOUSANDS VIEW (Continued From Page One) brought cheers from the crowd. Lt. Col. Charles D. Barrett in| full unifocm, carrying a polished | sword, saluted the reviewing | stand as he passed and was sa- luted in turn by Capt. C. C. Adell, commanding officer of the U. S. Naval Station from his place among the judges. No mili- tary marching units were eligi- ble for awards. If they had been, the Marine Corps would have undoubtedly led the list. In Division 1-A, came the win- ning theme float entered by the {Fleet Air Detachment. The big truck showed models of a blimp, a helicopter, a fighter plane, bombers and other units brightly |illuminated and symbolical of unity and strength for the cause) of freedom. The second division was led by the trophy winning marcnirg unit, the huge Coral Gables High School band in red and gray uniforms with gold trim, red cockades on their caps. Pretty majorettes twirling batons pre- ceded the band which was fol- lowed by another bevy of girls in short skirts who pranced like a precision chorus. Two outstending units in the second division were the U. S. Naval Air Station float with fliers wearing Mi West and helmets seated in yellow inflated rubber rafts and gaz- ing at an airman’s dream, a beautiful girl in front of gigan- tic bronzed conch shell. In the third division, most striking float was the Naval Ord- nance entry with an _ all-girl crew manning a ship in 1812} naval uniforms. The Civil Air Patrol Cadets Marching unit in khaki uniforms and snappy blue caps drew applause. The U. S. Fleet Sonar School band and marching unit was outstanding: | Welter’s Cornet Band and the Douglass High School Drill Team with its expected strutting rhy- thm pointed up the action in the fourth divis‘on, The Key West High School band, leading the fifth division featured twirling silk banners on ; the batons of the majorettes. The | most amusing prize was in this section. The Cayo Hueso Grotto and Key West Shrine Club got roars of laughter with their Mod- jel T Ford towing a shining 1952 Cadillac. The marchers of this unit distributed balloons to hun- dreds of children along the route. The organizations sponsored the Crippled Children’s Hospital and ' the Cerebral Palsy and Cripples association work. One of the most appealing floats was the one for the crippled children’s hospital on which posed a nurse land several chubby patients. The most beautiful float was also in the fifth division. The Key West Outboard Club entry pictured a green paper sea with two outboard motors whirring on top of the float body and a lovely girl gowned as Liberty holding aloft an il- luminated torch posed above on a pedestal. Other highlights in general were the Little League Baseball Teams in playing outfits, beauti- ful girls in evening dresses and bathing suits, the sturdy Boy Scout and Girl Scout marchers, decorated cars, school troops and all of the Naval Station march- ing units. Winners of the prize-winning | floats and best civilian marching | unit of the Armed Forces Day | Parade were presented with | beautiful trophies by Post Com- | mander Vance C. Stirrup, of Ar- | thur Sawyer Post No. 28, Ame |} can Legion, during the band con- cert at the Bayview Park fol- | lowing the parade. The Coral Gables Post 98 American Legion, Drum and Bu- | gle Corps, and the Coral Gables |High School Band performed during the concert to the delight of the vast audience in Jr_-Sr. High PTA Meeting Tomorrow Night Installation of officers of the Junior-Senior High School PTA will be held at the high school auditorium tomorrow night at 8 p. m., Mrs. E. E. Hood, retiring president announced today. E. O. Schweitzer, principal of the school, will install the fol- lowing officers: Mrs. Robert Dopp, president; Mrs. Merville Rosam, vice presi- dent; Mrs. R. H. Brooks, recorc- ing secretary; Mrs. C. B. Harvey. corresponding secretary; Miss Mary Trevor, treasurer, and Miss Catherine Lowe, Historian. Mrs. Thomas F. Curry will re- late the history of the PTA under the presidency of Mrs. Hood. There will be a short concert by the High School Band to open this the last meeting of the year Mrs. Hood, outgoing president, has asked that all outgoing offi- cers and chairmen attend this, the final meeting of her ad- ministration. Refreshments will be served after the meeting. Hostesses for the occasion are Mrs. Elizabeth Singleton and Mrs. Walter John- son. TWO FIRES SUNDAY (Continued From Page One) graham, 16-C Porter Place caught fire. Both engines No. 1 and No. 3 responded to the call from Box 134. The blaze lasted about 15 minutes and was extinguished by use of 200 feet of booster hose. Chief LeRoy Torres said that both fires presumably started from cigarettes, and again cautioned a- gainst smoking in bed. tion WKWF; Mr. and Mrs. H. E. Day; Miss Dorothy Raymer; Vice | Mayor and Mrs. Jack Delaney. Post Commander Stirrup today expressed the appreciation of Ar- thur Sawyer Post to the civic groups, private individuals and concerns; gesnd to the military components for the splendid in- terest anc cooperation in making the 1952 Armed Forces Day Pa- rade a great success, STRONG ARM BRAND COFFEB Triumph Coffee Mill at ALL GROCERS SRR 8 ORCS RNY BARES RS ae ae eee i j YA } Monday, May 19, 1952 THE KEY WEST CITIZEN The Odham Record BRAILEY ODHAM'S PLATFORM FOR ALL FLORIDA IS POSITIVE, CONSTRUCTIVE AND SPECIFIC To throw racketeers and hired politicians To equalize the tax burden and relieve out of your government—and keep them out: those paying more than thei shar 1. 1. Remove any Constitutional fails to enforce the law. 2. Provide home-rule machinery of re-call elections to give people the opportunity to vote out corrupt officials. 3. Mandatory jail sentences for second-offease gambling law violators. 4. Make application for Federal gambling li- cense or payment of tax on illegal gambl- ing income prima facie evidence of state law violation. To restore State control of racing—and end racing’s control of State: 1. Limit “Mr. Big” Bill Johnston and anyone official who Establish a non-political State tax commis- sion to provide a uniform yardstick of prop- erty valuation and to give taxpayers the right-of appeal without cost. Veto any effort to increase the sales tax on necessities of life. Protect homestead and income tax exemp- tions in the Constitution. Urge Amendment providing that no sales tax shall ever exceed present 3 per cent rate, and providing that food for home con- sumption, prescription medicines and cloth- ing under $10 shali forever be exempt from any sales tax. Brailey Odham further pledges to provide else to interest in one track, because these aubouare leadership for: are special permits granted by the people of Florida. 2. Increase counties’ and state’s share of enormous dog track profits, to provide an additional $3,000,000 to $4,000,000 for wel- fare, etc. 3. Prohibit rac» tracks and other state-regu- lated interests from hiring Legislators. To guarantee actual econom: id efficiency in government—instead of mere lip-service: 1. Consolidate State tax-collecting functions in Comptroller’s office. 2. Provide independent auditing system, under sole control of the Legislature, to maintain continuing check on Road Dept. and other executive and administrative agencies. Establish a genuine merit system for all State employees. Establish a central purchasing system un- der Cabinet control and subject to Legis- lative audit. To check on all public officials throughout their full terms of office: 1. Empower the Legislature, by petition of two-thirds of its members, to call itself into session for a specific purpose—thus giving the people a check on the Governor. Make sure that County Grand Juries exer- cise their full powers to investigate any and all public offices, report malpractices, and indict the guilty. To safeguard justice and increase respect for law and order: 1. Abolish the fee system of paying law en- forcement officers and substitute graduated salary scale to eliminate fee-grabbing. Revise and strengthen the Criminal Code, to curb sex crimes and crimes of violence. To eliminate chiselers from welfare rolls, thus increasing aid to needy: 1. Release welfare rolls to Circuit Judges with directions that County Grand Juries make annual examination of rolls, reporting and indicting fraudulent recipients. Financing the Minimum Foundation Pro- gram for Education in full, including in- creases in teachers’ salary scale! Survey of ALL state road needs. If current revenues are not adequate to four-lane our arterial highways then the people should be given the opportunity to vote directly on the issue of bonded debt for self-liquidating arterial highway projects. I pledge a sound road program to meet out present needs and future growth. Industrial and agricultural research and promotion program, headed by business, farm, labor and church representatives, NOT politicians, for development of ports, trade marts, new industries, new farm progress. Retain and strengthen maturity standards of the citrus code; aid merchandising pro- motion. Protect the rights of labor and manage- ment, impartially and in the public interest. Appoint true sportsmen to the State Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission, whose primary aim will be the protection and de- velopment of our invaluable wildlife assets for the greatest benefit to the greatest num- ber of citizens of Florida and visite Full hearings, fair treatment a ivstice under law to ALL citizens. Retain and strengthen the new campaign expenditures (clean politics) law, so that voters may know “who gave it and who got it,”’ regarding all funds. As the foundation for all of the above, T shall urge our public school system to teach, without any denominational connections, the vital need for a spiritual faith—belief in God. Separation of church and state must not mean leaving God out of the classroom entirely. God was the cornerstone on which our Nation was founded. A fundamental faith in God and earn- est, personal effort to do His will without com- promise, offer the best security against the dangers of these difficult days. KEEP THE RECORD AND COMPARE THEN PULL LEVER TO ELECT Elect Brailey Odham Governor Pair For By J. Brailey Odham Campaign Fund =. CHRYSLER SARATOGA 6-PASSENGER SEDAN sentation of facts. It read nett congr s P Monroe Cow ducted; Is satisfied parade was located at Southard to 70! win votes | and Duval Street. The guests at “The facts a “Durin absentee vot shown ev Mr. Sam Pind Pinder was ed the my di associates bi ditional prec istration as th At lun lunch “Because M fact, I have no knowledge itions prevail in concerr hi excepting the e ballots in the first ime would possible e that out of votes cast | the reviewing stand we Cap- tain and Mrs. C. C. Ad and Mrs. Harold Pa State Represe C. Papy; City M | Dave King; Mrs. A | son, president, A Unit 28, American iliary; Dr. an guests of Car ers and part will 5 ne same fF play you gave my alleged mer a “1 shall appreciate re | copy of your paper which this letter, ve | | ATTENTION PLEASE DON'T THROW AWAY { YOUR OLD JUNK RAGS, LEAD. BRASS. COPPER Old batteries and Scrap Meta! Call Mr. Feinstein Phone 160 Le CONCHA HOTEL = With {ts 180 HP V-8 engine, on 12513 inches of wheelbase, many people think the Saratoga is the best Chrysler car of all. We invite you to take the wheel and feel what happens! 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