The morning news., 1894-08-15
FLORIDA PoLITICs.
a Lively Convention 70 Nominate a
State Senator.

State Senator.
Ocala, Fla, Aug. I4.-Never since Flor
ida became a state and democratic con
veutions have assembled, has such inter
est been taken in state senatorial con-
test. Everybody is in it, and business is
really suspended. Sumter, headed by her
chairman, Capt. ID. II. Baker, came IN
20 strong with her outriders. Marlon's
full delegation, a, was early on
hand, and every portion of the
county sent in tankers. Every shade
OF democratic political faith was in the
fray. IL was caucus all night, and all
day, until the convention met, and TO
tickle the Irvine crowd and pour Oint-
meat on the bleeding wounds of Wilson,
he was made temporary chairman and
William Fox secretary, with Donald Nc
Iver assistant. The press was invited TO
seats on the stage.
Chairman w. ). Bullock called the
convention to order and explained that
the representation of delegates was made
on the vote of 1872. and not 1890, but de-
cltned TO be a candidate for chairman.
No secretary was permitted to be elected
outside Of the body. \ committee Of five
was appointed on credentials and then
the convention adjourned Tor dinner.
There was a majority report signed by
sumter to adopt the vote of 1892 as the
basis of representation, and a minority
report, signed by Messrs. ompkins and
Meggs, to accept the vote of 1890 as the
basis of representation After much dis
cussion the latter was accepted. Then
came up the question Of Sumter's repre-
-sentatien, whether it should be on the
basis of 1890 or 1892.
Long and Bullock made conciliatorv
not in al Or
work for Bullock aud his democracy, but
Turner called him-tO order. Sumter was
requested to.retire and adjust her repre-
sentation, and returned, reporting in IA
vOr of her &c delegates, which was ac-
cepted BY the convention. At this juno
ture, the opera house had TO be vacated
and every body bOlted for the court house
and tue, order of business was to make the
temporary organization permanent.
At this all eyes quickened, when up
jumped h. L. Carney and nominated Gen
Bullock in opposition 10 Mr.. Wilson. You
could hear a pin fall as the vote proceeded.
Marion stood Wilson %, Bullock 3d.
Sumter was called on. and recorded her
26 votes for Bullock, amid furious hur-
rahs and tempest of thunder. Messrs.
Long, Stroller and Lancaster
escorted him to the plat
form. Mr. Long said the general
needed no Introduction to Florida
audience, and could speak for himself,
The house was packed and it was
the opportunity of his life to
point democratic moral and
adorn Bullock tale, and impetuously
and etoquently did he portray how, only
a short month ago, he had been ignored,
sat on by the democracy of Marion, who
did not think as he did, and attempted TO
read him out of a party for whose can
didates he had voted since lS4S, without
crossing "a 81 or dOttiny an 81" and he
claimed that language failed him to suit
ably acknowledge a recognition so dear TO
his heart. Words as crisp as morning
icicles and as soothing TO a feyered
soul touched the audience, who jammed
themselves inside the walls of the court
house TO hear him. His democracy was
as bright and glowing as the day he cast
his first vote, fortY-siX years ago, and his
only ofense was that as a free citizen
and a good democrat he, with others, had
dared to point out the dangers threaten
ing the party in Florida. Referring tc
the address iss ued in Jacksonville last
February, and now known as the
reform movement, he had no time tC
read the address, but said he would
canvass Marion and Sumter, read and
comment on that address, and defy his
opponents to meet him on the rostrum OF
the stump, and dispute that it contained
the bedrock principles of democracy as
enunciated by the fathers.
He referred to the subsidized press and
commented humOrously on a short edito-
rial in the Jacksonville Metropolis, which
said, "Ihe state executive committee is
the only power TO instruct the democracy
of Florida By this Interpretation, Sum
ter could not to-day participate in this
convention. He said he proposed to re-
tire but not under ire.
The general was cheered to the echo.
MIR. Long moved to proceed TO nOmina-
tions, and a two-thirds rule obtained. At
this JuDcture r. r. Harris appeared on
the platform and was vociferously cheered
and asked to speak, but declined.
H. w. Long nominated DIR. o. w.
Bitch, which Prof Stroller seconded.
j. H. Curry spoke for G. M Brown and
Alf. Proctor seconded. Drs. Fink and
Bergin praised d. II. Irvine 1t was
then ordered that ten minutes be given
each candidate to define his position.
Bitch said his previous record in the
legislature was guarantee for the
future He was for a railroad commission.
When William Fox demanded how he
stood on the Call question, paudemonium
broke loose and for ten minutes you could
not hear yourself think When quiet was
restored, DR. Bitch said that if the con-
stituti0n so ordered, he would define his
preferences. Finally Curry got a resolu-
tion before the house to relegate the Call
question, which Long and Bullock vigor-
Ously advocated. IL was put TO a vote
and Chairman Bullock declared the reso-
luton carried, but as the Call men failed
to ask for division, it was difficult to
say what sentiment really was on top. 1t
was nip and tuck question.
When Brown was called on he made a
rattling speech, and all on the railroad
question. He said il was bread and meat
for every farmer in Florida, but TO be fair
for all parties interested.
Irvine was nquestionably opposed to
Call, and said he had prOstituted his high
Office, which was loudly cheered. He was
sound on all the other leading issues. All
the speakers made good speeches, and
made good-imp pressions The convention
adjourned at Z o'clock TO convene at 8
O'Clock.
The nominees seemed nearly equally
divided in strength. If Marion cannot
name her man then it is limited Sumter
will come in, aud if Bullock is named he
will be nominated.
The balloting resulted:
First ballot-Brown %, Bitch 20, Ir-
vine 20.
Second ballot-Brown IS, Bitch 20, r.
vine Is.
No change occurred in the four subse-
auent ballots, ana ten more ballots
showed no perceptible change.
The twenty-eighth ballot shows no
1T