The Savannah morning news., 1902-06-20
BROTHERS IN POLITICS.
T. t. AND TELFAIR STOCKTON or
POSE EACH OTHER.

jacksonville Has a Lively and In
teresting Fight for state senator.
A Case of Newspaper Manager Yer
sus Real Estate Dealer-Banker
John y. c. stockton Backs the Lat
ter Brother.
Jacksonville, Fla. June 1s.-Some-
thing unique in the political history Of
Florida is the contest now on between
the Stockton brothers of Jacksonville
for the position of state senator from
Duval county. While this contest has
not the features of the famous cam
paign in Tennessee between the Taylor
brothers. il yet has an interest which
will give it leading importance in the
political battles for which the hosts are
now lining up throughout Florida
Both brothers are well known through
out the state, the Stocktons having
long been one of the leading families
IN Florida. Thomas T. Stockton, who
holds the position of business manager
of the Times Union and Citizen, the
second highest Office of that paper, was
the first to announce himself. In the
old DAYS of the bitter fractional strife
between the "antis" and the straight
outs" Mr. Stockton was regarded as
one of the strongest figures in politics,
but not until recently has he interested
himself again in the political arena.
The opposing candidate, Telfair
Stockton, is a prominent real estate
man, and is said to have a very large
following, who are confident of his vic
tory This is his first venture into pol
itics, but he has shown himself to be
an active campaigner. Features of his
platform are municipal ownership and
a change in the city charter. He is
receiving the support of the third
brother, John n. c. Stockton, the presi-
dent of a bank, and one of the old-line
political organizers. Thomas T. Stock
ton has the following of the Senator
Taliaferro interests, which have natur-
ally been greatly strengthened by the
recent work accomplished in Congress
by Florida's business senator
Against the brothers running as an
independent for the same office is an
other candidate, ex-Mayor j. E. T.
Bowden. Ex-Mayor Bowden was con-
sidered until a short time ago as a
leading factor in the race for state
senator. but the fact that the State
Democratic Executive Committee made
a ruling against all those who did not
vote the straight Democratic ticket in
the last election places him somewhat
in the position of rank outsider, and
though Bowden still affirms that he
will trust his fortunes to the independ-
ent voters, it is not believed by many
that he has a chance for winning. He
will not figure in the primaries as the
County Democratic Committee will
hardly allow his name to appear on
the ballot.
The fact that the holding of the
Democratic primaries is less than four
weeks of. July Is. is causing a marked
degree of political activity throughout
the state and Jacksonville, may be re-
Garded as the center of the political
arena since the meetings of the various
state committees are held here. The
registration of voters has already
taken place. The campaign is fairly
we'll under way. Forces are being or
gained throughout the state and the
crack of the party leaders whip is
heard. Among other contests exciting
a great degree of interest in Duval
county is the race for the county So
lcitorship between two of the most
brilliant young lawyers of the state,
W. ]. Bryan and Charles Summers,
both of whom have equal chances. For
the two vacancies in the lower house
there are seven candidates as follows:
Cromwell Gibbons. P. A. Holt. ]. W.
White. Harry Mason. DR.. W. Mel. Dan
cy, Tom Boyd, DR.. A. T. Gunner all of
whom are representative citizens. Sew
eral other minor contests for offices
will give to the campaign in Duval
county an interest which will serve to
hven UP the dull dog days"