The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1901-06-07
a SENATORIAL POSSIBILITY.

The activity of MI. II. VI. Flagler, together
with the fact that he not long since became a
citizen Of this state, IS significantly significant
TO merit comment and to warrant a repetition
/ OF the oft-repeated query: "What was his object
| in bringing himself and his great fortune tc
Florida,
1t is only within the last year or so that the
! great Standard Oil millionaire has been credited
with political aspirations, and they have thus
far been alluded to only sub rosa and with bated
breath by those who are on the inside in poll
| tics-or who think they are.
| In these inner circles the possibility of Mr.
Flagler some day becoming candidate for the
| United States Senate from Florida has often
been mooted; and it must be admitted that his
recent change Of residence gives color to the ru-
| NOR.
| II is not at all difhcult to see why man in
Mr. Flagiers position should seek political hon.
ors and prefermert. All that money can buy is
his He long since exhausted the possibilities OF
existence in that direction. The senate--select
and exclusive "convocation of millionaires' that
it is-alone remains aud what could be more
natural than that great millionaire who has
scattered his wealth with prodigal hand in
Florida should look to the state of his adoption
for the senatorial toga?
But could Mr. Flagler-who is generally sup
posed to be republican-ever be elected by a
Florida legislature; and, If he were elected.
in what light would the people of the state view
his elevation to the highest Office within their
gift:-Pensacola Journal.
Under the very flexible definition
given to democracy it is very easy
matter for MIR. Flagler to be styled a
democrat, though. really, if at heart he
be not one.
Senator McLauren, of South Caro-
lima, who supports every policy and
every phase of every policy Of Presi-
dent MeKinley's administration, even
to the ship subsidy bill, says that he
is a democrat, and is vigorously at
lacking the democracy of Senator
Tillman and other leading democrats,
including Mr.. Bryan.
Surely along the gamut of democra-
cy, extending from Bryan to McLau-
ren-a longer stretch than from Dan
to Beersheba-Mr. Flagler, if he
wants to, may find place.
But is this necessary? Are not Mr..
Flagler's credentials sufficient to give
him a place in its ranks without Sc
rious question.
With the almost irresistible propen-
sity of the republican party to "tap"
every man with a "barrel," if Mr..
Flagler were q republican and living
ia Ohio would we not have heard
something about it long ago?
The fact that we have not is almost
conclusive proof to the contrary.
Since Mr.. Flsgler's coming to Flor
ida his political associates in Dade
county are all democrats, and are in
control of the politics of that section,
and have been active in the eounsels
of the democratic party of the state
for many years.
1t is no secret that Mr.. Flagler owns
the Times Union and Citizen, the
leading newspaper of this state.
1t is a democratic newspaper and
supported Mr.. Bryan and the Chicago
and Kansas City platforms i'm the last
two campaigns.
1t is true its support of Mr.. Bryan
and those platforms was not as ardent
and enthusiastic as the Ocala Banner
could have wished, but it stuck 10y
ally by the party and refused to give
any comfort or support to the Indian
apOlis movement.
In the editorial and business man.
agement of the Times-Union and Citi-
zen Mr.. tlagier put none but demo.
Gratis, and southern democrats at that,
in control.
If he had been so disposed, how cas-
lily it would have been for him to have
turned this property over to an "Ohio
statesman out Of a job"
In filing a "bill of particulars" it
would seem an easy matter to fix Mr..
Flagler's political status as democrat
and one who has been extremely
modest in his participation in its af-
fairs in Florida, Notwithstanding the
great interests he has at stake.
Knowing nothing 10 the contrary,
and aside from any aspirations he