The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-07-12
NOMINATIONS IN FLORIDA.
THE MEN Presented ny A LEVEL
HEADED CONTENTION
Tbe Reformers United on n Good Ticket. and
the Omceboiders Fighting Among Them"
seiveelrhe Record OF George n. Drew.

Tho Reformers United n Good Ticket. and
the OniceboIders Fighting Among Them
seives-'rhe Record OF George n. Drew.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla, July 8.-The carpet
baggers have seen Of to enter the state canvass
with two tickets-one headed by United states
Senator Simon II. Conover and the other by
Gov. Marcellus Stearns. 1t IL the outRrowth, I
suspect, Of tho notorious W. j. Purman's per-
sonsi hatred OF Stearns, brought about BY the
determined opposition of the latter to Purmsn's
Congressional aspirations.
| A few years ago, while Conover was Treasurer
OF the State. $4,000 Of State scrip intrustsd to
his care disappeared, and has never been ac-
counted for. A few months ago Senator Simon
was Indicted for the embezzlement OF this scrip
but when the case was called for trial, X. II.
Gamble, Democrat, who was Comptroller at
the time OF the disappearance Of the 81, 600
voluntarily stepped forward and exonerated the
benator | say exOne~ated, Tor the indictment
was thereupon quashed, but the scrip Ii still
unaccounted for.
IL Conover's present candidacy Is not hum
bug II Ia as great mystery as the whereabouts
OF the embezzed scrip, for his present position
as United states Senator Is much more desira-
Bile In every way than the comparatively small
once Of Governor OF Florida, particularly since
Reed Hart, and Stearns have taken to them
selves all the desirable picklngs that pertain to
the executive ofice. II IL is a hum our, as
believe II Is, the whole matter Ia plain. COnover
the syen me Of pm .hat n,s oanad,Gy even In
section OF the Convention would compel the
latter TO retire. In this event, he could, with
eome reason, expect to be elected Governor
even by ever so small a majority. Once Cover
nor. he would compromise with the Conserva-
tives, aud be returned to the Senate, leaving the
Democrats In control OF the State administra.
zion. He would thus practically retain his
present position and at the same time be instru-
mental In bringing about the political ruin Of
StsArns.
The brief account OF the proceedings of the
duAl convention that nominated Steirns and
Conover forwarded to the Associated Press
from savannah, gave YOU no adequate concep-
ton OF the riot, and disorder. and drunkenness,
and blackguardism that reigued supreme In the
little town Of Madison during the session OF
that body. The Chairman OF the Republican
State Executive Committee one Gleason. form
cd himself Into Com Dittee on Credentials,
and weeded out the Conover delegations until
stearns was sure OF majority. Ihen the Como
verites withdrew from the Convention IN a
BODY, ana nominated their man. The so-callod
regular Convention then nominated Steafns,
and since that time two carpet. bag tickets have
been IN the field.
tage over Stearns. Both Conventions elected
delegations to Cincinnati but by superior tao
uch tine 'onover delegates gained admission TO
tho national Convention, ana the Stsarns dele
cation were left out in the cold. ana In a circu-
lar Just published, IN which he says he will not
Withdraw from the held,.ConOver saws he is re-
Cognized rs the regular Republican candidate
by the National Executive Committee, the Con-
gressionli Committee. ana the Administration,
aud Will receive their cordial COOPERATION. In
the mean time Stearns commands large and
enthusiastic army of offceholders and enilys
almost monopoly Of newspaper organs. Not
withstandiDg all this, my impression Is that
htedrns will withdraw from the contest and
that theteupon the ofiiceholders and stool
pigeons Will hutter over to Conover.
The Democratic state Convention was COM
posed OF some of the best men of the State. ON
the first ballot George +. Drew OF Madison coun-
~ was nominated for the Goyernorship. and for
the Leutenant-G overnorship. NOBLE A. Hull Of
Orange county was nominated by reclamation.
There ~ scarcely doubt that this ticket Will be
successful. Mr. Drew IS Northern man by
birth ana education. He came South before
the war, and lived In Georgia during the entire
struggle. He was from the first an outspoken
Union man. He was foremost In charities and
many starving Confederate family and many
poor Federal soldier. languishing In prison. will
gratefully remember his bounty. Mr.. Drew will
concentrate olmoJ the entire vote OF the
Northern settlers in Florida, VINO are anxious
tPr reform IN the state administration. He Will
also attract very large percentum of the col
ored vote. As itbe Northern settlers hold the
balance Of power, and as the Democrats aud
CONSERVATIVES will give Mr.. Drew their solid sup
port his election may be looked upon as GER
tain.