The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1885-05-05
MEETING AT FRANCIS.


didates---The Speeches and the
Answering ResoIution--Francis
for Cook, ellis and Harri-
soma Pleasant
Reception.
FRANCIS, FLA, May :, 1885.
Editor PALATKA NEWS:
This place is in Precinct No. s for the
present, but we insisted on hearing our
candidates at home and therefore we in
vited them to meet us to-day by resolu-
ton OF the club In answer to this
resolution Messrs. Harrison and ellis
spoke this afternoon, the Hon. William
Fl. Cook being detained by campaign
engagements on the peninsula. Judge
Vertrees and Prof. Wood came out from
Palatka with the speakers and the whole
| formed party we were especially glad
| to welcome.
At the hour appointed, our school
house was filled by the members of our
active club, who all seemed anxious to
| hear the latest news of the canvass from
our speakers themselves. The chairman,
I. A. Webb, called the club to order, and
in fitting terms introduced Judge Har-
rison as one of the gentlemen who would
represent Putnam county in the con-
stitutional convention soon to assemble
in Tallahassee. The speaker first thank
ed the club for the honor implied in the
invitation extended to himself and his
colleagues, and expressed his pleasure at
thus meeting his friends and neighbors
of Francis. He then showed how the
present constitution was as untitled to our
needs and changed condition as would
be the one under which Florida was
governed before the war; he quoted the
republicans themselves to show that it
contained radical errors uniting it for
the continued use of free people, and
appealed to his audience for their knOWl-
edge Of its defects in many relations Of
daily life and business. He then gave
his own views as to what was necessary
to improve and systematic our common
school management-how our taxes
could more equitably and justly be
assessed and collected-how the officer
might be brought into more direct res
| possibility to the people, and provision
might be made to enable the people of
7 Florida to govern themselves. He
showed how the power lodged in the
: governor of Florida made him in truth
and in fact king, and expressed his
} pride in the democratic party because
many evils had not become intolerable
5 during its administration of power under
! such an instrument The speaker was
: heard with deep attention throughout
and applause attested the satisfaction Of
the audience.
: Mr.. Irving ellis was then introduced
and spoke for nearly an hour to a care
: fully attentive audience. He defined
l his position carefully and fully; he util
lied his experience as lawyer to demon
strate our urgent need Of a better organic
r law, and he appealed to his hearers t.
e vote on Tuesday as the performance of {
: duty they owed alike to themselves thei
t children and their, country.
: After the candidates had spoken thu
e chairman Mr.. Webb, in a few fitting re
e marks, emphasized the duty of attend
ance at the polls, and on motion it wa
o unanimously resolved that this club vii
attend in a body at the polls on Tuesday
: and each member thereof is pledged t.
use his individual efforts to ensure tn
success of the democratic ticket" o.
o motion an adjournment was then taken
! when some half hour was consumed il
q pleasant interchange of ideas, etc, afte
which each wendell his way homewart
full of confidence in the result of Tues
d days battle. By order Of the chairman
e J. P. BOYD, /. A WEBR.