The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-05-10
RANEY RULES THE BOOST.
HOLDS THE BALANCE OF POWER
IN THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE.


Tallahassee, Fla, May 9.-The political
mercury climbed so high here yesterday
that at one time 1t was likely to burst the
bulb. 1t has been hot day in every
sense of the word. and at one time, when
j. n. c. Stockton stood in his place and
resented with flashing eyes and ringing
voice, the Implications cast upon his char
acter, it was about that time, 1 say. when
the sun of Florida politics reached its
highest altitude and the legislative atmos-
phere grew sultry.
The scene-and it was a dramatic one
as was ever witnessed on these historic
boards-has already been sufficiently de-
scribed. 1t is unnecessary to delve furtn-
er into details 1t viii be more to the
point to catch the spirit of the situation.
In the first place Mr.. Stockton Is a born
politician, and, to say the least, his great
natural talents have not been allowed to
go to seed. lie has been in politics so long
that everything he looks upon. no matter
how pastoral 1t may be, is bathed in the
glow of the political fires in the little
senatorial crater here.
Mr.. Stockton is i'm other words. proba-
bly, convinced, as. indeed, he said, that
this report on the state treasurers office
would not have been made when it was.
had he not entered the senatorial race the
day before. But this is carrying a good
thing too far. The experts, who have been
roofing into the indescribable tangle into
which Mr.. Collins office has unhappily
fallen, have been toiling night and day;
and, could the committee they served have
pushed them harder, the report would
have been rendered Thursday, the day be-
fore Mr. Stockton put on Calls senatorial
crown.
But what difference does 1t make, any
how? The truth must have been told
sooner or later and ii the Jacksonville
bankers enemies do not use it against him,
why, then they are too sanity for the
business they are in. When all is said
no charges have been made against Mr.
stockton. He holds no position of trust
under the state government. What II he
does owe the sovereign state of Florida
$l5OOY 1t Is no crime; and nobody who
knows the man-nobody who saw him. as
ne stood on the floor of the House to-day
detylng those whom he looks on as his
enemies-will ever believe that he has done
anything to sully his reputation.
What effect will all this have on Mr..
Stockton's senatorial aspirations? Very
httle' and that little, perhaps In his ia
Vor' The man Is too good a politician TO
throw away chance, ami the slightest
suggestion OF persecution will win him
friends and sympathy.
FOR that matter. his chances of success
are PROBABLY slender. II is difficult to see
now anybody can be elected while Judge
Raney stands with that severe Roman
race OF his between the opposing canns
holdlnS aloft what people call "the balance
OF power" If Raney does not give wav
ehere VIII be no election, and the United
states senate will be Shy" a senator ~
tnls very time when good democrats are
most needed on guard. 1t is. however
proDapie that Judge Raney will eventually
step down and out. In that event the
hohols VIII go to the candidate, who can
Carol the majority Of his vote. Political
experts are of the opinion that the bulk
or 1t VIII fall TO Col. Chlpley's share and
that grave error has been made by the
opposition in taking Can down.
Speaking of ex-senator CAL, his has
certainly been wonderful career; and
not the least wonderful point I'm his life
was the manner In which nearly his entire
vote was transferred to his old Lieutenant
and friend. There were but four votes
lost In the transfer. which was accom-
plished with very little friction. so far as
could be seen by those on the inside
There was, however, probably some heart
burning and unavoidable regret. though
not on the part of Call, who is out today
in new spring suit, looking younger and
brighter than ever, in spite of his 7Q-odd
years in spite of his defeat. neither of
which seem to weigh heavily on his shout
ders.
The legislation Of the week has not. on
the whole, been Of the first Importance.
AT all events, IL has not been such as to
make the world a gayer place in which
to live. The Senate is, of course. a sedata
body. 1t would not be "A Senate were il
not. The House. too, habitually wears an
air OF gravity that IS depressing There
are fewer lawyers on the floor than usual.
their places have been taken by farmers
men who take life seriously, who are
''agn the corporations" and who stand
aghast when they learn what il costs To
run Legislature But they like that SO
per diem and mileage, all the same. Even
a farmer may have his moments OF weak
ness
The faint aroma of bribery and scandal
raised by Mr. Crumpton OF Levy county
has almost passed away. There never was
anything In 1t, and Gen. T. b. Bailey-the
Senator accused-is one Of the purest and
truest Of all the men who have made Flor
ida a better place TO live in.
Such an assembly as that just described
may naturally be expected 20 prove abnor-
maly sensitive TO newspaper criticism.
Some OF them want TO stop ito conhne
correspondents TO the bare narration OF
such chunks OF fact as are thrown up In
these legislative commissions. But they
don't object to what is vulgarly known as
"taffy." Far from e.; and the funny part
OF Il Is, that they can't seem TO see that
the right to praise carries with It the
right TO censure.
An admirable bill now before the legls-
lature Is one providing a more adequate
appropriation for the South Florida MIL
itary and Educational Institute, situated
at Barlow. away down in Polk county.
This institution has a curious history. IL
was established a few years since through
the exertions OF Gen. T.. VI. Law. "a dis
tingulshed confederate veteran; and whs
two years ago, duly incorporated by the
legislature The act Of Incorporation pro-
vlded that one student from each state
senatorial district should be entitled TO
receive a full course Of instruction at said
institute. without any charge for board,
lodging. tuition, use Of text books, wash
ing. fuel, lights and use Of arms and
equipments.
IL will be seen that this remarkable Of