The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-05-27
FLORTDA'S CONVENTION.
THE SESSION NEXT WEEK LIKELY
TO BE A LIVELY ONE.

TALLAHASSEE, fLA.I may SO.-I ne
Florida democratic state convention will
meet at Tampa next Wednesday. June /.
1t will consist OF 4l6 delegates. The pub.
lished call announces only 407 delegates,
but Madison county has put in a claim for
Is instead of z, Duval claims 20 instead Of
IS, and Columbia II instead of 10. AL
these claims, it is thought, will be allowed.
Duval will send a coutesting delegation,
headed by United States Senator Wilkin-
son Call, and the frat fight at the conven-
ton will be as TO which delegation shall be
seated. The Duval situation is a peculiar
one. The county executive COMMITTEES
issued its call for primaries to be held to Sc
lect delegates TO the county convention. At
these primaries what is known as the Stock
ton faction was defeated by the Taliaferro
faction. The county convention met and
was called to order by J. n. Bars, chair
man Of the executive committee. The
Taliaferro faction won in the contest for
temporary chairman, electing DR.. Dancy,
to whom Mr.. Bars gave the gavel, turn
ing the management Of the convention over
to him. Thirteen delegates then bolted.
The convention selected delegates to the
state and congressional conventions, a new
county executive committee, and nomi-
mated county officers.
Later, the old executive committee met,
decided that it was still alive and called new
primaries and a new convention. AT this
latter convention the delegation to Tampa
headed by Senator Call was chosen. To the
committee on credentials at Tampa will
this unpleasant question be referred, aud it
is feared that it may be rock upon which
there is danger of split in the party. The
committee on credentials will have no easy
task, and they will have TO listen patiently
to heated arguments pro and con.
THE Two-THIRDs RULE.
The next question to be tackled will be
whether the convention shall adhere to the
two-thirds rule in making nominations or
adopt the less cumbersome majority rule.
This question will consume considerable
time, and it is predicted that balloting for
candidates will not begin until late Thursday
afternoon, or Friday morning. 1t will very
likely be lengthy sitting. There is not at
present much prospects Of the work of the
convention being finished before Saturday
night, though it is possible that it will be
plain sailing after the first few ballots.
This convention will select delegates TO
the democratic national convention, select q
new state executive committee, nominate
presidential electors, a governor a treasurer
a controller, a secretary of state, q commits,
sioner OF agriculture, a superintendent of
public instruction, attorney general and one
Justice of the supreme court.
Before the holding of the midwinter con-
vention in New York there was q strong
sentiment in this state for David B. Hill for
President. but all that has now besn changed.
AS between the two. Grover Cleveland is the
favorite. 1t is thought that the Tampa con-
vention will send an uninstructed delegation
to Chicago. The delegation will very prob
ably favor 6 western man. unless they get
assurances at Chicago that Cleveland can
be q winner at the election, which is doubted
by majority OF the Florida democrats.
Those leaders who a few months ago were
ardent Hill men now admit that Hill is not
in it. They also say that it looks as if
Cleveland would get the nomination, but
they doubt the wisdom Of it.
THE GUBERNAToRIAL FIGHT.
Several names have from time to time
been mentioned in connection with the gu
bernatorial race. The candidates who are
at present in the hands Of their friends are
Judge Henry L. Mitchell of Tampa, Judge
of the circuit court In the Tampa district;
jefferson B. Browne of Kew West, presi-
dent Of the state Senate; John L. Crawford,
secretary of state; John l.. Gaskins of
Starke, speaker of the House of Representa-
tiveS; Judge E. J. Vann OF Madison, VINO
was member Of the now defunct Florida
railroad commission, and DR.. E. s. Grill of
Palatka, who was state treasurer under the
Perry administration.
All these will go into the race at the start
with Judge Mitchell we'll in the lead. Dr.
Grill and Judge Vann will not have much
more than the support of their respective
counties and will soon drop out. The fight
will then be between Mitchell, Crawford,
Gaskins and Browne. When the break
comes all will drop out except Mitchell and
Crawford, and it will be nip and tuck be-
tween them to the finish.
TRYING TO READ THE SIGNS.
All the counties have no W held their con-
ventions and chosen delegates, and all the
politicians are busy making figures. 1t is
claimed that Judge Mitchell will have q
larger support than the combined vote of
all the other candidates, and that on the
first ballot his vote will be double that of
any other one candidate. If these claims
be verified, he will be the winner easily.
His friends are SO confident of his strength
that it is said they will stand firm for a
continuance of the two-thirds rule
Ex-Gov. W. d. Bloxham, the present
controller, has no opposition, and will
| probably be nominated by reclamation.
There is no candidate for the Office of
secretary of state, and it is said that if DR..
| Crawford finds he cannot be nominated for
governor he will quit the race and drop
back for denomination as secretary of state.
Though some think that when he goes into
the race for governor combinations will be
| made that will give the secretaryship to
| some one else.
There are four candidates for the office
| of state treasurer. They are Eduardo J.
| TRAY, the present incumbent; c. B. Col
| Inns, prominent allianoeman and humor-
GUS writer; Joseph F. Baya, state senator,
and J. ID. Pirrong, a man very little known
outside Of his own county. The fight will
| be between TRAY and Collins, with TRAY
| in the lead. Mr.. TRAY was appointed by
the governor to fill the unexpired term OF
Treasurer Pons, deceased. He has been an
efficient officer and will have a strong sup
port.
THE ATTORNEY GENERALsHIP.
There are but two candidates for attorney
general, W. B. Lamar, the present in
| cumbent. and B. R. Milan Of Lake county.
Mr.. Lamar will be renominated.
For commissioner Of agriculture, L. B.
Wombwell, the present incumbent, Is well
in the lead. The other candidates are z. A.
Wilson Of Lake and j. T. Beeks of Alachua
w. N. Sheats Of Alachua is opposing
Maj. A. ]. Russell for the Office of supern-
tendent of public instruction, but Maj.
Russell is so popular and has made such an
excellent record in that Office that he will
be easily renominated.
There has been but little said about the
choice OF a justice OF the supreme court II
has apparently been lost sight of 10 the ex-
element of the gubernatorial race. Judge
r. Fenwick Taylor will be a candidate for
denomination. He has made an excellent
record as a hard worker aud clear thinker