The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1884-06-17
Capt. Dyke Interviewed as to
.sGOv. Dreyy's EXPLANATION"


Having read the Drew interview and
noted the reference made to Captain
Dyke the FLoRIp1AN waited on that gen
tleman to ascertain what he might desire
to state in the premises:
Have you seen the "interview with
Governor Drew, published in the Times
Union of Wednesday last, in which he
speaks of Captain Dyke and others Of
his (Bloxham's friends at Tallahassee
writing letters to citizens of Madison that
Bloxh hams name "would he presented to
the Convention
Yes: | have read the interview
with care, and must express, my regret
and surprise that Governor Drew should
have placed himself in a position To re-
quire >uch an explanation and my
surprise is intensified when I remember
that less than month ago, in an inter
view with the jacksonville correspond
ent of the Savannah Nftrs, which was
copied from that paper by the Times
Union as we'll as 10y the FLoRIpIA>, Gov
ernor Drew declared that he was not only
a strict party man but that he would sup
port the nominee of the party to be made
by the Pensacola Convention. Here are
his words: s I nm not oniy u Democrat,
bit am also Il Stri'f l"rty man.. Who
ecer is nonti"ated By orr party shall hare
my hearty ~~p2,ort.' 1t is evident that
when he made this fiat footed declaration
he could have had no intention of boiling
the nomination, should it happen to be
BloXham or anybody else, anil am forced
to the conclusion that his recent threat
is altogether an attcr-thought. With
respect to myself. it is true, wrote quite a
number of letters before the Convention
met, most of which, however, were in re-
ply to letters received by me. may
have written to some one in Madison :;
but if Governor Drew SuppoSes, or in
tends to create the impression (aS think
he does) that while Bloxham WAS giving
him assurances that he would not be a
candidate, | was engaged in writing let
tiers to Madison or anywhere else with
Bloxham7s knowledge or consent that he
would be candidate, he is most pro-
foundry mistaken. Bovham and | diff
fered on the question OF presenting his
name to the Convention. He refused to
be considered a. "A candidate, aud in
sisted on the right Of the people to nomi-
nate whoms"ever they pleased, without
regard to the desire of Governor Drew to
be his own successor: and | felt at that
time and was i'll the habit Of so saying in
letters that if the Gainesville Convention
made BloXham their candidate for Gov-
ernor, he woull not in my belief refuse
the nomination; aud | seq that Governor
Drew says that he himself told Blnxham
that if the people wanted him. it would
be his duty to accept. That was he
way felt about il ; and therefore, disrc-
garding his relnrne'rtn,t.~. lid what |
could in letters and by private speech to
W iIfti W ~ iFAi ~ M ~ ~ tllt'
popular desire in he premises.
81 think Governor Drew does Rlovham
great injustice in this Interview He
talks with the ;eica thar vhil. III" >ham
was giving him pr"ni-" after promise
that he would not be a candidate. he was
at the same time intriguing through me
and others for ~" nomination | know
this TO be absolutely untrue y have
already said, 80 far as was concerned |
acted without his knowledge and against
his desire ottcntinrs repeated. | did not
believe that Drew would be nominated
at Gainesville. for there was a great deal
Of dissatisfaction and more or less DE-
mand for change, As was abun-
dainty demonstrated on the first bal
lot. 1t was Presidential year and
people felt that we could not afford to
take risks We wanted strong man,
one who could unite the masses and en-
make vigorous campaign. The saga
cious men of the party all over the State
felt that Blo\ ham would fill the bill
He was no stranger to the people, for
there was not a stump in Florida,
beginning in 1865 and on through every
election, from which his ringing voice
had not been heard rallying and exciting
them to rise and overthrow radicalism in
Florida With him as our candidate
The fight was already won,
And only needed telling
cry few comparatively felt this conf
dence in Governor Drcw's candidacy. for
he was no speaker and in no sense the
man for the emergency.
"Thc most surprising feature in the stu
alton was that Governor Drew did not
himself see the Importance of the ocea-
sion and get ont Of the way but some
men are 50 blind that they are sometimes
incapable of realizing things that are
plain tO others. He ought to have heard
the mutterings of discomfort and the de-
mand for now man, but unfortunately
he could not he convinced of his weak
ness. The first vote at Gainesville, where
there was mighty little electioneering