The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-05-24
THE FLORIDA GoVERNORsHlP.
NEARLY ALL THE COUNTIES HAVE
CHOSEN DELEGATES.

The -Four Leading Candidates Have
Nearly Equal Advantages in the
Instructed DeIegations-Of the Del
egates So Far Chosen 154 Are I'm
Observation-Disclosures, Myers and Jen-
nings Are All Ginning the Big
Counties.
Tallahassee, Fla, May 23.-with the
date for the meeting of the Florida State
Democratic Convention just four weeks
off, thirtynine of the forty-five counties
OF the state have selected their delegates
to the convention, and from their, respec-
tive actions in instrucung or sending I'M
instructed delegates, some extremely
interesting statistics bearing upon the
very complicated contest for the guber-
material nomination may be collated.
There are five candidates for the gov
ernship. Strictly speaking, they are now
only after the Democratic nomination. but
as there will be no opposition whatever
TO the Democratic state ticket in Florida
this year, the nomination is equivalent to
an election. The espirants are: State
Senator Fred 7. Myers of Tallahassee;
-
lando; former speakers William S. Jen-
nings Of Blackville, and Dannitte H. Mays
of Monticello; and Former United States
Surveyor General William H. Mil
ton, Jr., of Mariana. 1t is
believed that one of these gem
tlemen will be nominated, and there is no
longer heard much serious talk of a dark
horse. The state constitution prohibits
the present Governor from succeeding
himself
Counties That Have Acted.
The counties OF Brevard, Dade, Orange
and Osceola, with a total of twenty-five
votes, have instructed their de egates TO
support Judge Beggs; Franklin, Leon arr
Nassau counties, together having twenty
votes, have instructed for Senator Mye s;
Escambia. Jefferson and TaS Tor counties
have instructed their twenty-seven votes
for Mr.. Mays; Citrus, fernando, Manatee
St. Johns and Suwannee counties give,
Judge Jennings twenty-five instructed
votes; and Maj. Milton has eleven votes
from Jackson and Calhoun counties.
Uninstructed delegations have. been se-
lected by the following counties, the num-
Der of votes of each being given:
Alachua, IA; Baker, 2; Bradford, 6; Clav,
4; Columbia 6; Duval, %; Gadsden, z;
Hamilton. A; Hillsboro, 20; Holmes. 8;
4 "
rion, 8; Pasco, A; Putnam, 8; Polk, S; Sam
ia Rosa, 5; Sumter, 4, and Volusia, g. This
makes total of 154 unnstructed votes thus
far selected.
Six counties have yet to select their dele
cations. They are De Soto, Lafayette,
Liberty, Monroe. Walton and Washington
These are small counties politically and
combined they have twenty-one votes in
the convention. Wakulla, a county with
five votes, sends contesting delegations.
Thus, of the total $50 votes of the conven.
ton, twenty-five have been instructed
Senator Myers, q for Mr. Mays. % for
Judge Jennings, II for Maj. Milton, 154
go uninstructed, and &c have not yet been
selected or are contested. The two-thirds
rule will prevail in making nominations,
hence the successful candidate win need
1888 votes.
The Uninstructed Votes.
OF the 154 uninstructed votes already
selected, it is quite generally understood
that Judge Beggs is sure of the from
Lee, from Madison and from Putnam;
that Mr. Myers will get from Gadsden,
from Polk. and from Volusia; and that
Judge Jennings can count on from Levy,
from Marion and from Sumter. Pres
ent predictions as to how the remaining
101 uninstructed delegates stand would
be purest guess work.
II would appear then that at this stage
Beggs is practically certain of 80 votes;
Myers of 40; Jennings of 80; Mays OF u,
and Milton of (which leaves 123 votes
to secure which the most vigorous and
untiring missionary work known In
Florida State campaign in recent years
is now being prosecuted by and for each
of the candidates.
AS to the outcome Of this remarkable
contest, much depends on the atti-
tude Of the three large and
Influential counties OF Duvai. Hnlsboro
and Alachua. which have, respectively, %,
20 and IA votes Ia the convention-and
each has sent an unrestricted delega ton.
Each of these delegations. furthermore,
has been placed under the unit rule. and It
is believed that as they, or the majority
of them, go, so will go the bulk of the
other smaller counties still in the doubtful
column.
Removal of the Capitol.
Duvals county site is Jacksonville, and
that hustllng city has created a very live
and very important new issue, which
seems destined to play a very prominent
part IN the gubernatorlal contest from
now on. 1t Is the question Of removing