The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-06-23
NAMED WIS. JENNINGS
FLORIDA DEMOCRATS NOMINATE
HIM FOR GOVERNOR.
TOOK FORTY-F0UR BALLOTS.
ERS or TALLAHASSEE FIRST
OUT OF THE RACE.

tiOn TO Mays FniIed-Mays Finally
Withdrew and Then Beggs, But
They Could Not Down the Brooks
VILE Man-IIis Career.
Jacksonville. Fla, June 22.-After for
ty-three ballots and day and half spent
in ballotng, caucusing and hard work.
William $. Jennings OF Brooksville was
nominated for Governor tonight, by the
state Democratic Convention, securing
1893 votes out of 2S2, and then on motion
the nomination was made unanimous
amidst the greatest enthusiasm ever dis
played In a Florida convention.
The convention assembled this morning
at O'Clock, and at once began balloting
with five candidates in the field.
The average during the forenoon, was:
Jennings ia, Mays A. Myers 81, Beggs
A. Milton 49, Al one time HiLsborough
and Duval threw their entire strength to
Jennings, and he received 12i votes This
created great enthusiasm, and a stampede
occurred but not enough votes were Sc
cured to elect.
Up to noon twenty-three ballots had
been taken, with no choice and the con-
venton adjourned to 3 o'clock. Up to the
thrtieth ballot in the afternoon, nothing
had occurred. Suddenly Ia the thirty
first ballot, a well arranged plan to stam-
pede the delegates 90 Mays, was sprung.
Clay Alachua Gadsden, Liberty and 9TH
ers changed their votes suddenly to Mays.
A scene of the widest confusion resulted.
Delegates shouted, cheered and ran from
delegation to delegation seeking the cause
and strength of the move. All delegates
stood, waved their hats and shouted.
Chairman Palmer hammered his table, but
to no purpose
Even the big bass drum could not re-
Deadlock Began TO Break.
For twenty minutes the confusion lasted.
Then Judge Raney rose up and in excited
tones withdrew Myers and threw his vote
TO Mays. Again was the scene of enthusi-
asm and cheering renewed. 1t was fully
half an honr before quiet was restored.
The ballot showed however, that Jen-
nings and Beggs forces were not disturb
ed, il standing, Jennings. 1l6; Beggs, Is;
Mays, l22; Milton, 16 After this Mays
went down and Jennings crept up again.
No particular change took place up to
s O'Clock when 81 ballots had been taken.
At o'clock the convention reassembled
and ii was seen that delegates were In
earnest ana would break the deadlock IL
possible. On the 41st ballot Capt Parkhill
of Escamba withdrew Mays and threw
his strength TO Milton, but 1t was seen
that this would not down jennings on
the 42nd ballot Palmer of Orange with
drew Beggs and the opposition concentrat-
ed all their forces on Milton. 1t grew ex-
citing.
on the next ballot Jennings was 1863 and
Milton 109 This was greeted with loud
shouts and cheers, and delegates ran
around wildly and pandemonium reigned.
On the forty fourth ballot it was soon seen
that Jennings had won as several coun-
ties changed, and before the ballot ended
he had 1856 or more than sufficient to
nominate.
Judge Raney of Leon then cast the four
teen votes Of Leon fer Jennings, and the
delegates went wild. They threw up their
hats danced jgs jumped up and down.
while others seizing those next to them
danced up and down the aisle.
They Made II Unanimous.
Jackson county moved that the nomi-
nation be made unanimous, and it was
so ordered. For twenty minutes the
delegates enjoyed a love feast the band
Played Dixie and the auditorium was
scene of great enthusiasm. When order
was restored the chair appointed Mr..
Clark of Duval, Parkhil of Escafnbia.
and Palmer of Columbia, to escort the
nominee into the hall. Mr.. Jennings re-
ceived an ovation when he was inrroduc-
ed as the nominee. and the next Cover
nor. As he was introduced a little piping
voice from the gallery shouted "Duval
did 1t, which provoked a thunder of ap-
ulause
Mr.. Jennings warmly thanked the con-
vention for the honor and said he would
bring the governorship down to the people
and for the people His words were few.
but were tactful and full of suppressed
feeling. This ended one of the greatest
convention contests ever held in Florida
alaa. afFtfr y
Sunday predicted the nomination of Jen-
nngs and that prediction Is now fulfilled.
other Officers Named.
The work Of the convention was then
proceeded with. Judge f. b. Carter Of
the Supreme Court was renominated.
Hon. John l.. Crawford was unanimous
ly nominated for secretary of state, by ac-
clamatiOn.
w. b. Lamar Of jefferson. and j. T.
Wits Of Bradford, We're placed in nomina-
ton for attorney general. Willis grace
fully withdrew, and Lamar was nominat-
ed by acclamation.
W. H. Reynolds of Polk was unani-
mously nominated as controller.
For superintendent of public instruction.
w. n. Sheats of Alachua Prof. H. z.
Graham OF Wakulla, and Thomas f. Me-
Beath of Duval, were placed in nominal
lion. The first ballot stood, Sheats 154
Graham 66, AIcBeath 62.
votes, and was nominated unanimously.
The convention was sull in session at
! 80 "a. m, but the business was slow.
MIR. Jennings Career.
Hon. William s. Jennings of Brooks
vile, Fla, nominee for Governor, who IL
a native Of Illinois, was born March "a.
1863, and moved to Florida i'm 1856. His
education was acquired in the local
schools OF Marion country. in the state OF
his birth, the Southern Illinois University.
and the Union Law College in Chicago.
lie was admitted to the Florida bar IN
Brooksvlle in May, 1886 and has since
continued the practice of his profession
with marked success
Few men in the state have been mora
conspicuosy honored by the community
than Judge jennings who has been Cir
cult Court commissioner, county Judge.
alderman, president of the Brooksville
Town Council and chairman of the local ,
board of school trustees.
In 1893 he was elected a member OF the
Legislature, and was also sent 40 Talla-
hassee two years later, he was
elected speaker of the House of Repre-
sentatives. In 1896 he Nfss made a presi-
Dental elector and two Sears later was
chairman Of the Democratic State Con-
vention. Judge Jennings IS cousin OF
1 IWNVa