The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1897-05-21
THAT ANTI-CHIpLtY COUP.
INSIDE HISTORY OF THE MEMORABLE
CAUCUS MAY NEVER BE KNOWN.
But It Marked 4 Revolutionary Epach in
Florida Politics The Impeachment Ct
Treasurer Collins State Senators
On Mr.. MaIory's Election.

TALLAHASSEE May 1.-THE weel
just passed has witnessed politica
revolution such as has never before
been seen in Florida. Last Thursday
IN the joint assembly, Colonel Chipley
came within three votes of an election.
lie had forty-seven votes, while fifty
would have been the majority re.
quired by law "of those present and
voting" This fact put the opposition
on their metal. 1t showed them with
what they had to contend, and the
session had hardly aiourned before the
leaders were at work in earnest.
in consequence of their activity. a
general caucus of all the elements Oh.
posed to Colonel Chipley was convened
In the senate chamber, and when.
long after midnight, it arose, the name
OF the Hon. S. r. Mallory had been
decided on as the anti-Chipley candi-
date. The inside history of that eau
Gus Will never be told. 1t is enough to
say that the names of Raney, Burford.
Mabry and Hooker went before il
and that when three ballots had been
taken all four had been dropped and
the entire vote concentrated on Mr..
Mallory.
| 1t Is unnecessary to repeat here the
story of Chipley's defeat on the day
following. 1t was a painful ana dra-
matte scene; the wife and children of
the unfortunate candidate were pres
ent, and that fact must have rendered
his humiliation doubly painful. / use
the word humiliation advisedlv, since
at one time Colonel Chipley thought
himself elected and, in any event,
lacked but one vote to elect. But even
this was denied him, and when the
blow came, 1t. fell from the hand of
man who has long been known as his
bitterest and most inveterate political
| foe.
But Chipley and Call both now be-
long to political past.
OF Mr.. Mallory nothing but good
can be SAID; he is a man upon whose
public life no stain rests and in whose
political career no shady places are to
| found.
During the joint assembly of last
Thursday introduced the following
resolution, which, after prolonged
debate, was adopted:
Believing that the popular nomination of
United States senators will reflect the wishes of
the people and meet with the approval of our
legislative assemblies and believing it to be the
only really satisfactory method where two or
more are contesting for the same place, there
fore be it
Res0l1ed, That it isthe sense of this Joint as
sembly that the democratic executive commit
tees of this state shall at the general election
which members of the house Of representatives
are to be elected, who shall have vote in the
election Of United States senator provide
separate box in which, by ballot. the members
of the democratic party voting at such election
may directly express their choice for United
States senator, and the member of the legsla
ture elected at such e'ectiou shall be morally
bound to vote in the legislature for the candidate
for United States senator receiving in such box
the highest vote.
The sad story of State Treasurer
Collins alleged downfall has already
been made public, and it need only be
said here that this morning the
house adopted MIR. Harris resolution,
declaring him impeached of high
crimes and misdemeanors," and APP
pointing committee of seven to con-
duct the impeachment proceedings in
the senate and report to the house
The chair appointed the following
gentleman as the committee in ques-
ton: Sloan, Harris, Zewadsli, Wall |
of Putnam, Fulton, Young and Rice.
These impeachment proceedings
will probably be long and tedious.
The accused will have an opportunity
to defend himself at the bar of the seu-
ate, and will doubtless be represented
by counsel.
One of the most important bills
new before the senate is Mr.. Adams
bill for the consolidation of all the
state educational institutions, which
are to be placed under the control of
state board of regents. AS is well
known, see little to admire in the
present management of these institu-
tions. / have long looked upon them
as ingenious devices by which the
children of the rich and well-to-do are
educated at the expense of the masses
z hG n VI
will never see the inside of anything
hetter than a crossroads school of the
dry-goods box style of architecture.
But if our taxpayers must be burden
ed with such educational excresences'
I am in favor of any plan that would
increase their efficiency and enlarge
thesr usefulness. This Senator Adams
bill seems likely to do, and its passage
NAV therefore be anticipated with
hope. At least $25,0 900 year is drawn
from the state treasury for these ''in-
stitutes," which is practically using
the peoples moneyfor purposes pure
ly local in their nature, as it is we'll
known fact.that these schools are, as
rule, "patronfzedn only by those
living in their immediate vicinity.
One of these institutions that has
this year applied for ''Iittie" addi-
tional aid from the state is the South
Florida military institute at Barlow,
in Polk county. Already in receipt of
ST, 400 year, this institution now
calmly asks for an appropriation Of
50 900, which in ten years would
amount to the neat little sum of $780,
600. This large amaunt of money
would be wrung, in the shape of taxes,
from the people of Florida, but how
| would it be expended, and who would