The Savannah morning news., 1902-03-23
FL0RIDA'S POLITICIANS.
THE OFFICES THEY ARE PLANNING
TO CAPTURE.

The Opposition to Congressman
Sparkman-It Seems to BE in the
Vicinity of Tampa-BlOunt of Pen
sacola for the State Senate-MaI=
IOry a Candidate for Recollection
Gen. Lamar to Join Forces with
Him-Other Political Points of
General Interest.
Tallahassee, Fla, March 22.-Always
cich in politics, Florida just now Of
fers a peculiarly inviting field to those
interested in the phenomena of con-
temporaneous place-hunting and for
that is about what it practically
amounts to in these degenerate days.
This observation is not offered in any
unworthy spirit of satire; but, rather,
from a profound and melancholy con-
viction of its truth. The political
storm center of the state at the pres
ent moment seems to be Tampa, rather
than Pensacola. or Jacksonville, both
of which towns have in years past I'M
fortunately had much for which to
answer in the way of political sins,
mot fragrant), sort
Opposition to the Hon. S. NJ. Spark
man, congressman from the first dis
trict, 1 regret to say, seems rapidly de-
veloping in the immediate vicinity of
the great Cigar City of the Land of
Flowers. The regrets, however, are
not for Mr. Sparkman. They are for
those who are amusing themselves by
putting up the pins against him. They
will, when too late, find that they have
run up against the hardest
proposition of their lives. This state
has never seen a more adroit and re-
sourceful politician than Steve Spark
man. To many of the traits that go
to form that most evanescent and iri-
descent of dreams known as "popu-
larity," he unites the solidity of the
statesman, the trained faculty of the
well equipped lawyer and the mental
equipoise of the man of the world, who
is seldom al a loss and who, therefore,
seldom loses. 1t is to the ranks of the
disaffected and disgruntled-the lame,
the halt and the blind of the political
arena-that the opposition to Mr..
Sparkman must look for recruits. There
is hardly an able bodied candidate
among them. They are, however, said
to have paper of their own in Tam
d
doubtful boon. Mr.. Sparkman will go
back to Congress, if he runs, instead
of running after the senatorial bee
that he has been charged with har-
boring in his bonnet.
In Escambia county-which is prac-
tically Pensacola-it now seems def
nitely decided that the Hon. w. A
Blount is to have no oppo-
sition in his candidacy for the
State Senate. This fact, in itself, JUS
titles the assumption that Attorney
General Lamar is to have as little OBJ
position in his race for Congress in
this, the Third, district.
This, perhaps, sounds enigmatical.
But the solution lies upon the surface.
1t is an open secret that United States
Senator Mallory of Pensacola, is to be
a candidate for reelection in the com
ing primary. That he and General
Lamar have united their forces for this
fight is equally well-known. The in
ference is obvious. Were General
Lamar Gas was at one time threatened).
TO meet with opposition in his own dis
trict, and. in fact in his own town,
Senator Mallory would clearly be iusti-
fed in regarding any such movement
as a virtual attack upon one wing of
his forces. Had such contingency
arisen, some Escambia county man
closely identified with Senator NAL
lory would, in all probability. have
been fitted against Mr.. Blount, and this
would inevitably have precipitated one
of those gladftorial combats for which
the county of Escambia has In years
past been famous.
All this means that the Hon. Fred r.
Myers viii not this year enter the con-
gressional race. It also means that
Mr.. Blount-the leader of the Florida
bar, and man of lofty integrity and
character-will go into the state SEN
ate and add to that body a force that
has hitherto been practically unknown
In Florida politics, but which must
in the very nature of things eventually
exert a profound and far-reaching in
iluence upon the public policies of the
state. AS for Senator Myers, it is now
rumored that he is to have opposi-
ton, should he run for the state SEN
ate from Leon county; and that his
adversary will be one of the most
prominent lawyers in the state. Sena-
tor Myers defeat, however is by no
means assured. He is a strong man.
and one, moreover. who has strong
friends; and if he succeeds in escaping
the pitfalls that fill the path of the
political aspirant, his future career
will more than Justify the expectations
of his followers and admirers. And
he has many.