The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-05-31
NO CHOICE In FLORIDA.
FIFTEEN FRUITLESS BALLOTS
TAKEN FOR GOVERNOR.

None Of the Candidates Get Anywhere
Near Enough Votes to Nominate
The State Platform Not Yet Drawn
An Adjutant to Take Part in the
Memorial Exercises.
ST.. AUGUSTINE, FLA, May 30.-The
State Democratic Convention to-day ap-
pointed as delegates TO the st. Louis Con-
vention J. W. Shackelfor, Of fernando
county; W. L. Whitledge, of Polk; John
F. Dunn. of Marion; Thomas A. Jennings,
of Hamilton; Z. J. Vann, of Madison; JEFF
B. Brown, of Monroe; S. r. Mallory, of
Escambia, and Andrew johnson, of Orange.
Balloting for the nominee for Governor
was then begun, the candidates being Frank
P Fleming, of ia "ksonville; Gen. Robert
Bullock, of Oca!a; Robert W.
Davis, of Palatka, and J. G.
Speer' of Oakland. The convention
spent the day in ballOting, but at 10 O'Clock
tonight is no nearer reaching nominal on
than on the first ballot, the fifteenth blllot
showing less than ten votes change from
the first ballot. The highest number Of
votes for one candidate was 100 for Bullock
on the fourteenth ballot. The number re-
auired for election Is 249, and unless a COM
promise can be made between some Of the
leading candidates, fears are entertained Of
& deadlock The different delegations are
badly split up, very few voting as a unit.
The business of the convention was sus-
pended this afternoon in observance of
Memorial day. The Confederate mouu-
ment in the plaza, and the monument Of
Mai Dade and his company, who were
massacred by the Indians, we're decorated
with flowers. The Grand Army Of the Re-
public Post and Confederate Veterans
Joined in the services, st. Augustine Guards
and fire companies taking part in the pa
rade.
The Committee on Platform has not yet
reported, but it will indorse the administra-
ton and urge the tariff reform strongly.
SKETCHES OF THE CANDIDATES.
Robert w. Davis. of Putnam county,
was born in Southwestern Georgia in IS49.
He entered the Confederate army at the
age of Il in the Fifth Georgia regiment
He was admitted TO the bar in Georgia be-
fore he reached the age of 81 He came to
Florida in 1873 and was elected TO the State
Legislature from Clay county in 1885 and
served as speaker Of the House. He is one
of the leading lawyers of the State and has
great many warm personal admirers. He
is attorney for the Florida Southern rail
road.
GEN. BULLOCK.
Gen. Robert Bullock, of Marion county,
at the present writing one Of the leading
candidates for Governor before the conven-
ton, is an old resident of this State. having
come to Florida in 1S43 from North Caro-
lima when a boy of IL. He raised regi-
ment, the Seventh florida. during
the late war, entering it as a lieutenant
colonel and retiring as brigedier general
Since the war he has lived in Marion
county, and has been one of the most pOpu-
lar and influential citizens of the State
He is serving now his second term as Clerk
of the Circuit Court Of Marion county.
CAPT. FLEMING.
Capt. F. p Fleming, of Jacksonville, one
of the most prominent candidates for Gov
ernor was born in Florida in 1S41. He en-
tered the Confederate army as private in
the Second Florida Infantry and was pro-
NOTED to lieuUenancy in the Third Florida
Cavalry. He served in the army of the
Tennessee. After the war he re-
turned to Jacksonville, studied law,
and was admitted to the bar in
1868. He has since resided in Jacksonville,
where he has practiced his profession. He
has served on the State Executive Com
mittee eight years. He is Captain of the
Metropolitan Light Infantry of jackson
vile.
JUDGE sPEER
Judge J. G.. Speer, of Orange county, is
looming into prominence as a candidate for
Governor. He came into the convention
with a delegation of 16 votes and on the
tenth ballot was the leading candidate. He
came to Florida from South Carolina in
1853. He has served as Representative from
Orange county four years and in the State
Senate eight years. He also served in the
State constitutional convention in 1896, and
is known as the father of the eleventh
article, the local option section of the con-
stitution He is known as a strong adyo-
cate Of temperance. He is one OF the largest
real estate owners and agriculturalists in
South Florida.