The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-06-19
GATHERED IN JACKSONVILLE
FLORIDA DEMOCRATS WILL HOLD
CONVENTION TODAY.

Convention Ushers and DOorkeepers
Nnmed-LittIe Doubt Now That
Jennings VIII Have Good Lead
on the First BaIIot-An Attack
Made on Him-FIetcher for Chair
man-HOt Contest for Superintend-
ent of Public Education.
Jacksonville, Fla, June 1s.-Everythiag
is ready now for the opening of the State
Convention tomorrow in a blaze of glory.
1t will be the largest convention ever held
In the state.
This morning Cromwell Gibbons, ofthe
Duval County Democratic Committee.
made the following appointments for the
convention hall:
Ushers-George W. Frazier, chief j.
f. Marine Chas. Swift, ]. d. Tylee, John
A. Phillips, ara John Mccain
Doorkeepers-O. w Chestnut, Ed. II.
Gopkins, j. B. Casey, F. NJ. Hendricks
Gatekeepers-E. c. Beach, b. T. Stubbs.
Pages-Claud Nolan, e. H. Sollee, f. r.
Simpson. Telfatr Knight, Edward Clark,
| Alva Herzog
All these met al the convention han this
| afternoon end were given full Instructions
| They Will be on duty tomorrow an hour
| before the convention hall doors open. The
committee in charge has determined that
| the arrangements for seating the dele
gates and visitors shall be of the best,
and that every requisite for keeping good
| order and providing for the demands and
! convenience of the delegates shall be had
| Delegates tickets will be given out to-
| morrow, also visitors tickets
| AT the excursion tomorrow large COM
mitttee from the Jacksonville Special Com
| mittee will be on hand to see that the
delegates well attended to and get
| every comfort
| This afternoon the Hillsborough and
| other Southern and Western delegations
arrived. so that this evening all the dele
cations are here, and as a general thing.
| most of the delegations are accompanied
| by generous number of friends and poll
ticians, all shouting and working for their
| faVorites.
How Jennings Stands.
1t Is stated tonight that Jennings seems
| TO have the best of the fight 80 far, and
VIII lead in the opening ballot tomorrow
His friends claim over 100 votes as sure,
with others to come in later
His position is shown by the anxiety
of the other candidates friends TO win
| votes from him. showing that they recog-
| nize his position as one of great strength
and him as candidate to be feared Many
| little attacks have been made on him. SO
his friends claim, and some of them rather
VI q Sihi idiuIt- One remark mas ram
| kled in his friends mind and that that
Jennings is a Northern man and not
| Florfdian." This has been stated to de-
tract from his worth. Mr.. Jennings, while
born in Illinois. has been resident Of
Florida for many years, and has been a
| staunch Democrat all the while fighting
! for his party a all times His friends
say that this attack Is unworthy and will
| not be tolerated. He has a good following
| from the southern part of the state and
| his friends claim that he will show a
strength that Will astonish his Compel
| itors
From current talk to-day and tonight
at the hotels, it is rather conceded that
Hon. ID. U. Fletcher OF Duval will be
elected permanent chairman without much
! opposition. He is a great favorite through
out Florida and is noted for his impartial
rulings while acting as presiding officer OF
any meeting or convention.
AS predicted. the question of the re-
moval Of the Capitol or the intention to
submit such a question 10 the people
for a popular vote has excited wide
spread interest All the delegates are
discussing II, and II has led to several
diverse deals, 1t is stated Doubtless its
influence will be felt in many ways be-
| fore the convention ends. The friends
| of the measure say that they are conf
dent that such a resolution will be en-
bodied in the platform. though they an
|
western portion Of the state.
Warm Contest.
The contest between Supt. Sheats and
Prof McBeath for superintendent of pub
lie education promises to be as exciting
as the gubernatoria judging from the
remarks heard in the hotel corridors and
at fhe headquarters OF the various dele
cations. Mr.. Sheats' friends recognize
the opportunity for making deals. over
the various candidates, and the Capitol
removal question, and, II is stated chat
they are terrifying their position all
along the line. They express confidence
in being able to renominate him. Prof
McBeath's friends In the same breath
say he is in the race. has a good pros
poet and will be non mated. They adj
nit that the fight win be stubborn and
that Mr. sheats Will make a contest Till
the last moment
The total vote Of the convention will b.
2s2 and It requires twc-thirds or about
1874 10 elect.
Senator Calrs friends are active, and IL
Is rumored that his friends will spring his
ed say, however, that the veteran has
but slight chance OF getting anything at
the hands OF this convention
II is very likely that the Duva county
delegation will name Hen Frank Clark
a an ir member of the State Democratic
Executive COMMITTEE. Mr.. Clark made a
record in the last campaign here, and his
fetnds think that he deserves the. honor.
II is stated that Hon. Robert McNamee
OF Lake, will receive the support OF the
Duval county delegation for national COM
mitteeman. ale is an able man, a strong
speaker, very popular in his section OF