The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-11-01
0oIITICS DOWN IN FLORIDA.
,TIONs RESPECTING GUBER-
NATORIAL CANDIDATES.

If the Men Who Would Like
occupy the Chair of the Chief
,,..cuttve-What They Are Saying
the PeopIe-An Favor Bryan
and the Chicago Platform.
r.p,bassee. Fla, Oct. S1.-The more
.ranr candidates for the Democratic
rssrratorial nomination are again
s--r,oirg tneir bits and paving the earth.
a.-+r, August and September the contest
nd to narrow itself down to three or
..- lii,elv 10 stay in the race, until the
...s, and then all hands turned in 10
.t. n rest and await Developments. But
-. nerjod of repose was short-lived. The
..sss started a demand for an announce
5,s-r of principles by each of the avowed
-,r5idates. and those of the people VINO
ova political excitement, at all times
s,irs5 in the chorus. No one suggested
on outline of the issues upon which it wa-
desired that candidates should declare
themselves. nor does it seem to have oc-
.,rred to the importunates that the can
ad7tes would be expected to STANG
souarelv on the platform of principles
mich The state convention will adopt.
rather than force into prominence any pc
rIliar views of their own. No, the people
and me papers wanted sonnet thing to talk
and write about, and what are candidates
for high political Office good for anyhow
if they can not keep the people supplied
with choice morsels for comment and ar
glment?
For the governorship there are candi-
dates galore. 1t can be said with album
5ant confidence that there are not less
than twenty men in Florida to-day who
arioasly consider themselves as promising
ubernatorial possibilities, and who have
friends encouraging the delusion. They are
giving the matter prayerful consideration,
and it is to be expected that some of them
will have their names shot athwart the
political horizon to test popular sentiment
as TO their standing and their chances. At
tails time. however, as for several months
past, the real race seems undoubtedly to
be between Senator Fred 7. Myers of Tai
ahassee States Attorney James D. Beggs
Of Orlando, and former Speaker Dannitte
Nays of Monticello, with Judge William
Sherman Jennings of Brooksville, and
Hon William H. Milton, Jr.. of Mariana,
as easily distinguishable dark horses.
Farmer Mays-"The Plowboy of Madi-
son and the Statesman of Jefferson"-has
accepted the challenge of those solicitous
members of our highly respectable press
VINO are demanding a show down from
those of our state who would be chosen
TO hl the chair of our chief executive al
our next state election" and has addressed
a pronunciameuto to my fellow citizens of
The state of Florida" He declares that
he is AN organized Democrat and an
original silver man. He favors "the re-
iteration of the Chicago platform-enlarged
by positive utterances against ali
tendencies to imperialism, and al
disposition to tolerate the growing evil OF
trusts and combinations, that so seriously
menace the rights and liberties of the
masses" and unqualifiedly demands the
denomination of Hon. w. j. Bryan for the
presidency.
Turning to state affairs, Mr.. Mays
pledges himself TO economy, and says: "A
happy mean between parsimOny and ex-
travagance should be earnestly sought"
He favors a liberal policy towards educa-
ton and our public institutions" and
liberal pensions for all deserving old SOL
ders." He would give corporations friend
ly and fair treatment, but would strictly
enforce all laws pertaining to their con-
duct
All of which is frst-class Democratic
doctrine but no more than any other good
Democrat would have written. No one
DOUBTS Mr.. Nays sincerity nor his abili-
IT, hut a good many politicians question
his soundness of judgment since this let
ter appeared. IL contains, they say, moth
ing original, no acknowledgements
which would not be cheerfully and honest
ly endorsed and subscribed to by every
other man who has ever dreamed of ask
inc for the Democratic gubernatorial nom
nation. All of FloIidas Democratic lead
ers who now aspire to be chief executive
are loyal to the party organization, all
wish the Chicago platform, with the addi-
tons sugges ted by Mr.. Mays, reiterated;
all favor the denomination of William Jen-
u1gs Bryan for the presidency; believe in
economical administration of the state
government, and advocate a liberal policy
towards Florida educational and elemos-
ynary institutions, and generous treatment
Of old Confederate soldiers; and in the
whole state there is not even candidate
Tor constable who does not swear corpora
tons ought to be held in check
It is being and Will be urged against Mr..
Mays that he has avoided declaring him
self upon the line of state issues in which
the people are vitality and Immediately in
terested. As a matter of fact, however,
Danniue Mays is too able and to brave
70 attempt 70 avoid anything if he thinks
s4al prove injurious to him because of
As silence upon any matter, it ought to
Dc charged to error of judgment, and not
Go any lack Of honesty or courage.
Indeed. there is really no large state is
s1e for either of the candida ties 10 declare
himself upon The Democrats have no OPP
position worth the mention in Florida, and
t.e considerations which usually prevail
a selecting their candidate for the chief
maslstracy of the state are the executive
ability and the familiarity with affairs of
state possessed by the aspirant A Gov
sraor who knows how to keep fully and
ln'ehgently posted upon what is going on
in tne various administrative departments,
and has knowledge, based upon expert
e1le, Of the numerous matters which
come before the several state boards-who
ofvotes most of his attention to seeing that
all he routine work over which ne has
supervision is faithfully performed-is the
most useful sort of man the people can
select
Whether the other two leading candi-
aales. Judge Jim Beggs and Senator Fred
Myers viii feel forced by the clamor of
o. of ha r1err nd .f he