The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-06-21
The FLORIDA DEMOCRATS.
SOME INTERESTING OBSERVATIONS
On THEIR CONVENTION.

Interest.
Ocala, Fla, June 3).-The convention
that brought its elaboration to close
here last "Wednesday night was IN many
respects the most remarkable that Flori-
da has known since the days Of recon
strucuon. Not since 1858 have any. OF
the dellberauve bodies called together
in the name Of the democracy Of the
state been called upon to deal with SUD-
jects raised by their own Importance
above the dead level of purely personal
politics; and the representative assembly
that has just died OF a surfeit Of ron
calling will long be remembered in the
political history Of the land Of flowers
and frosts.
This-we are told on good authority
is the peoples year, and, however it may
be in other states, those who in Florida
modestly describe themselves as the cham
pions Of the people, have proved the
prize winners in the recent go-as-you-
please and come-in-as-you-can contest.
Whether their victory Will prove most
beneficial TO themselves or to those they
claim TO represent is a point too painful
for continued consideration. To those
who know anything of the inside history
Of local politics the contest between
TRAY and Barco was by long odds the
most absorbing feature of the day. Seen
from atar, this was simply scramble
for The Ofice of controller, now held ~
Hon w. ID. BloXham, the nominee for
governor. As matter OF fact the point
was that chosen by the two factions
into which, in spite of all that has been
said to the contrary, the state democ-
racy is sun divided-fOr test Of their
strength.
TRAY was beaten. After balloting all
night and half the day. his friends witn>
drew his name. This was surprise 10
many. 1t need not be. The Duval poll
ucian had, ii is true, led from the De-
ginning the Levy county laborer IN the
vineyard, but when on the thirueth ball
lot the score stood III to l62, it was evil
dent that TRAY had reached the top Of
the hill. The Held had been gone over
with fine tOOthed comb. There was not
another vote in sight, and II was only a
question Of time when the process OF dis.
Indignation began The friends or the
eX-Ou inspector made no mistake IN
lowering their colors. Their want OF
judgment was shown in denying the Sill
yer men the empty honor OF Anticipating
the action of the national convention
by the Introduction into the platform
of a free silver plank. timely conces-
in all probability, have turned the scales.
1t would at least, have pulled
one of the nails from a political coffln OF
candidate, against whom it was urged
wOol-hat that he was ineligible because
he was a gold bug, a politician and res
ident of Jacksonville. These objections
are not on the whole such as to inspire
any great respect for the intellectual ca
pacitY of those who urge them. The hui
NOR of the situation will become apparent
when it is said that both, ex-senator Rey-
nOlds the dark horse of the occasion, and
Mr.. Barco, who is a federal ofiiceholder,
are both earnest politicians, VINO have not
yet, however, been guilty of the crime of
living in DuVal county.
Quays defeat was triumph for the
Stockton faction, and the nomination OF
c. b. Collins as state treasurer over j. z.
Baya Of Columbia county was another.
MIR. Collins. who rs better known to fame
as Tim Sawyer is a Marion county
man. who, some years since, cut so promi-
nent q figure in the farmers alliance that
at the Tampa convention four years ago
it was thought advisable to tender him
the olive branch in the shape of the state
treasury. On that occasion Mr.. TRAY who
to satisfy the alliance appetite. That adj
mirable organization is dead, but Mr.. Col
Inns is still alive.
ton of Prof. ". n. Sheats, the state su-
perintendent of public instruction, is one
that should be taken to heart by all as
piring politicians. Prof. Sheats is the
state superintendent of public instruction,
and it Is only fair to say that he has done
more since he went into Office to elevate
the standard of the country schools than
any of his predecessors. But, like many
aggressive men with a talent for reform
and dmlnistration, the professor has a
faculty of increasingly giving offense, and
the fight put up on him this year by West
Florida, with Senator Reeves of Melton
at the head of the column, found followers
from all over the state. Fifty per cent.
of the teachers are said to be out of touch
with Prof. Sheats, who will never, per-
haps see the advisability Of making the
necessary innovations in the Florida
school system with a little less harshness
and much more discretion.
SO far as the silver men are concerned
their part In the convention has proved
less unsa tisfactory than many casual OBJ
servers imagine. No faction has shaken
the dust of Ocala from It's feet except
with feelings of mingled JOY and NORTH
cation. Inc Stockton faction has knitted
TRAY and reelected Collins, but its sill
yer plank is splintered. on the other
hand the country democrats have gone
home in mourning for Barco and full of
explanations calculated to account for the
unexpected nomination of Reynolds for
controller. Mr.. Reynolds is by no means
IN sympathy with the Stockton faction,
but he is a man who has never forfeited
the respect and confidence of the county
democrats. and whose admirable tact and
| unfailing discretion made him the only
man for the emergency. He will make an
excellent controller and do much to bring
together the Waring factions that have
tired the state with their clamor.
The sound money men have less to be
! thankful for than first appeared. Their
victory cost them quite as much as 1t
was worth. They never could have car
ried the convention for gold, and it is
| probably true that the free silver men
entered the big wgwam with a small ma
jority, which they were unable to use to
advantage for want of competent lead
ers. Senator Pasco created a very I'M
| favorable impression among the better
class of democrats by the manner In
which he utilized his position as chair
man of the convention to favor the free
silver faction. 1t was amusing to see the
modesty with which Senator Call declined
e occupy a seat on the platform, and
the earnestness with which he worked
the wires on the floor, while his colleague
worked the gavel in the same direction
on the rostrum. 1t was queer combina-
ton, and the climax was reached when
Mr.. Pasco so far forgot himself and re-
membered his mission as to indulge in a
free silver harangue.
The chief point of interest just now is
to be found in the effect all this is to have
upon the coming campaign in this state,
with especial reference to the senatorial
election. 1 believe that the course pre-
sented by the convention may safely be
| accepted as an indication of the manner
in which the business men and capitalists
of state, peculiarly dependent upon them
for development will meet the issue pre-
.