The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-06-17
TO GATHER IN JACKSONVILLE.
FLORIDA DEMOCRATS PREPARING
FOR THE CONVENTION.

First Ballot-Candidates for Other
state Omces-RemovaI of the Can't
tai Question.
Jacksonville, Fla, June 16.-Jacksonville
will give hearty welcome 10 the 200 odd
delegates TO the Democratic State Conven-
ton, which meets on Tuesday.
The leading gubernatorial candidates are
arriving. Hon. Fred T. Myers moved
into town yesterday and has his mead
quarters opened. Brer Jennings will be
here tonight or Sunday and Messrs.
Beggs, Milton, Mays. etc.. will all be in
evidence by Monday.
The convention this year promises TO be
an exciting one, albeit devoid of the Bit
Ter strife that has sometimes of old pre-
vailed. 1t is a family contest this year.
the Republican vote not being worthy OF
being counted as a factor in any sense,
Being family affair it promises 10 be
the more exciting and full of ginger in all
its stages. From the first announce mants
the political air throughout the state has
been tending upward and the atmos phe
has been quite warm in all sections. The
counties that have favorite sons have been
booming them with vigor; other zee
tons have laid low" like Bruder Jones
next" The unexpected always happens
and in this convention many wise prophets
are giving utterances to their wise and
otherwise oracles, and predicting what
that dark horse will do with the resi-
OF the field, when once it gets in the race.
The Greatest Prize.
The gubernatorial plum Is, of course,
the first prize to be fought for. There
is good field of candidates so far the
leading five comprising Messrss. Jennings
of fernando, Myers of Leon, Beggs of
Orange, Mays of jefferson and Milton
of Jackson. What their strength is, the
convention vote alone can tell. 1t is con-
ceded that Jennings and Myers will lead
in the first votes. both being about equal.
Beggs will be a close third, if not even,
while Mays and Milton will probably be
fourth and fifth, respectively.
While all these gentlemen have good
local followings, politicians have pointed
out that they haven't a state following
that is one that could be depended upon
IN close and continued balloting. The fact
that so many counties have sent unin-
structed delegates shows plainly that no
one of these gentlemen has great lead,
and indicates THAI many of the delegates
prefer to look over the ground first before
committing themselves. In fact, Frank
Harris of Ocala hit the matter pretty
squarely, according to many intelligent
thinkers, the other day, when he wrote
mat, dNCOIulHS 70 Ills COIlCGptlOHS Oh the
case, the people all over the state had
sent SO many uninstructed delegates be-
cause they hadn't fully decided that the
candidates up so prominently now were
really the men they wanted-in fact, that
dark horse" would about fill the bill.
Judging from the present aspect of the
political field, a strong man, backed by
several counties, and a strong following,
would give strong fight TO the present
corps of candidates. Many men have
been mentioned as such dark horses, but
the popular fancy hasn't been touched
yet. Hon. Robert McNamee, ex-Con-
gresham Bullock. State Senator Frank
Adams of Hamilton, Hon. Jefferson 3,
Browne of Key West and others are on
the public tongue, but it's too early yet
to make any states on them.
Hon ]. N. c. Stockton of Duval is an
other dark horse of pronounced ability
and strength. He is for Milton, it is
stated. and doubtless will stand by him;
seeing that Milton cannot be nominated,
Stockton's friends may attempt a STAN
pede 20 him. Anyway, the dark horse ques-
ton is worrying the leaders not a little.
The other Offices.
Judge f. B. Carter will probably be re-
nomina ted for the Supreme bench.
DR.. John L. Crawford, Secretary of
State, win also likely be renominated. as
likewise w. B. Lamar, Attorney General.
Controller Reynolds is likely TO have
STOUS IBnI Ou MS HdlOSs dS NLSIS are
several aspirants for his shoes.
Treasurer Whitfield is probably happy
In the thought that the indications point,
at present, 10 the fact that he will sue
coed himself.
Aside from the governorship contest,
the sharpest fight will be over the Su-
perintendent of Public instruction. Mr..
Sheats, the present incumbent, has been
sharply scored during the past year by
the press, or large portion Of 1t, many
teachers and many influential citizens. He
also has a large following of friends, and
they are lighting vigorously for his re-
nomination Mr. Tom McBeath, a prom
inent educator OF Duva1 county, is his
leading opponent, and the contest bids
fair to be hotly fought one, and one
that will have bearing upon the guber-
material contest.
1t would not be surprising if Senator
B. f. McLin of Lake county succeeded
Commissioner of Agriculture Wombwell.
Such is the talk among groups of lead
ing politicians.
]. L. Morgan. one of the present Rail
road Commissioners, whose term expires,
will most likely be renominated.
Very little has been said as yet re-
Rarding delegatese to Kansas City ana
presidential electors. The leaders prefer
to keep quiet as much possible, as it
makes a very desirable laid" in the other
serious work of the convention. later on
The State Democratic Committee will
meet here Monday and prepare for the
work OF the convention. Most of the mem
bers will be here Sunday night.
The choice for chairman is likely to he
Hon. Duncan U. Fletcher Of his city. He
is a fine parlamentarian, an able and
brilliant speaker
His selection would suit and please all
factions,
The Platform.
One feature of the platform, will be, It
is said, a resolution instructing the next
Legislature to have the question of the
removal OF the capital from Tallahassee
to some other point in the state, more ac-
cessible, voted upon by the people. This
is matter that promises 20 have some
Importance in the convention upon the
fortunes of the gubernatorial candidates,
and decidedly it will create warm discus
sions. West Florida is up in arms over
such a proposition, while East, South,
Middle and Southwest Florida sections are
all agreeable to this proposition. The
matter is to be submitted to a popular
vote. The candidates so far have kept
discreetly quiet on this subject. Duval
county's delegation goes instructed to
make a strong fight for this particular
resolution, and they intend doing 1t.
Outside of the real business Of the con-
vention, the delegates will have ample