The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1900-10-29
FLORIDA STATE CAPITAL.
FOUR CITIES ARE ACTIVELY IN
THE FIGHT NOW.
Question of Removal Will BE Decided
ct the Polls-Contest Is
Growing Hot.

TalIahas see. Fla. October 22.-(Spccial)
The last fortnight of the political cam
paign i'm Florida finds unprecedented
apathy existing in regard to every issue
except the contest as to the future loca-
ton of the state capital. The democratic
national and state tickets viii be elected
by the usual or perhaps slightly increased
majoritics. for they have not opposition
enough TO attract an unusual crowd OF
voters q the polls. The state capital To-
cation election will BE- merely primary.
to lac participated I'm by only white demo-
Gratis. who shall have at the general cleo
ton that day voted for the regular demo-
cratic ticket from top to bottom.
Gntil within the last few weeks IL seem
ed that the real fight was between Jack
sonyillc and Tallahassee; that while st.
AuLustine and Ocala were making strong
races and would receive attractive votes.
neither would reach either Tallahassee or
jacksonville. At present, however. II IS
hard 10 say which is Tailahassec's strong
est competitor in this race. Jacksonville
seems To have certainly lost much ground.
partly because Of fractional splits in the
Jacksonville democracy. partly because
of hard work done by Tallahassee, Ocala
and St Augustine. and partly because of
growing resentment toward the methods
employed by Jaeksonyillc's advocates.
Nearly an OF the editors ana politicians
seem 10 view the contest as one between
Frank Clark. Of jacksonville. the new
chairman OF the democratic state eNecu-
tive committee. and the opponents OF
Clark That Clark is the author and
chief promoter OF the present capital re-
moyal agitation is well known. Having
b.,u United states district attorney Tor
fine Southern District oil FLORIDA during
President Cleyeland's second term, ne es-
tablished his residence in JacksonV-le
about five years ago, and was elected 70
tn, legislature of 1889 as champion OF
Hon. James i. TaliafcrrO. who was me
successful candidate Tor United states
senator. Clark made a -'igOrOuS but uu-
successful effort 10 get the capital loca-
tion issue submitted 10 the people in the
regular constitutional way by that lcgis-
ature Although he has since had what
is said 10 bc an irrcconciablc split Win
Senator TauaferrU, clark took advantage
Of the peculiar political conditions exist
ing al the democratic state convention
last June and was elected chairman oi tilt
new state executive committee, named py
that convention. and is now the recoshll-
sd head oil the state organization, win an
ihs prestige and advantages that posi-
zion carries II was through Clark ) ener-
petic efforts that the capital location IS
sue was ordered by the convention TO DC
submitted 10 primary oil tne Wit
democratic voters on tine general elecltol
day, November bth.
ou th,. east coast where the FlaBlcr inter-
ests are very extensive. Ocdla, "ii'n -
nearer 10 the state center Oh popoid
lion than any of the other clhdluttt-
cities bases large hopes on TINS iact 10
get "A hlg vote-or rather. as her adYo-
Gates insist. Il big victory. Octla ana d.
Augustine do NOT insist mat II IS heCes-
sary To move the capital. but cach ciallils
that Ii IL is to be removed, she Is the
proper place TO receive IL.
The jacksonville Capital Association,
under the leadership OF FRANK Clarh, mas
from the first demanded that the capital
H. removed and removed 10 Jackson
Vile. because that place IS the tallrodl
and commercial center OF the stare lat n
owes whatever prominence ana poltlestl
influence he has in JacksonNlllc ana IN
the state 10 his prosecution OF the cdplldl
removal fight. He relies upon II for polt-
zeal standing and he Is pCsh.h$ II with
an his influence. rclentlcssly and without
reference TO consequences as To party
harmony. Indeed. many old and expert
enc.d party leaders express the opinion
thar the course of Clark. while ne IS
rhairp,an of the state executive commit
tee I'm travelling over the state canNasSing
and speaking Tor one of the candidate
s-Jacksonviile-and W3glng bitter
war on every place ana person opposed TO
the cause Of jacksonville, tends strongly
to The destruction OF that party harmony
At Tallahassee. the present capital
,onplete confidence Is felt that the pres
ent removal agitation will result as all
similar movements for fifty years past
have reSultcd-in the retention of Flor
ida's capital at its present site This
confidence is based largely on the facts
that there has been no popular demand
for the change. that removal would entail
uDon the taXnavers an additional burden
~ handed Indebtedness TO the extent of
al least Se.000oo. which the people are
I'M able 10 stand AZ this time: and that
ambitions Of individual cities. rather than
any state necessity. have been advanced
AS grounds for the change.