The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1902-1905, 1903-12-11
Candidates Sneak,

Candidates Speak.
The Senatorial campaign In Putnam
county was opened at the court house
on Wednesday evening
Governor Jennings arrived In the city
at noon. A meeting had been adver-
tised for him under the auspices Of the
county committee. Some one wrote
Mr.. Stockton of the meeting, advising
him to come. All Of which was perfectly
proper-thOugh it was unquestionably
something of surprise to Gov. Jen-
niugs and his able local campaign mana
ger. Mr.. Stockton arrived but an hour
before the meeting.
There was good crowd in the court
room when the candidates arrived.
County clerk Price called the MEETING
to order and asked AttorI ey E. Noble
Calhoun to introduce the speakers. He
could not have made better selection
In a neat speech Capt. Calhoun intro
duced Hon. Jno. N. G. Stockton of jack
sOnville.
Mr.. Stockton arose and Immediately
proceeded to the business in hand. His
address of some 25 minutes was confined
to discussion of his own qualifications
|
He made some allusiOn to the Times
Uuion and the evils of subsidized press
and congratulated his hearers on the
fact that such influence was on the
wane. Mr.. Stockton left the impression
that he regarded all newspapers as sub
sidized which opposed him. In the
main his speech was dignified and
wholly becoming to candidate for the
high ace which he seeks. He made no
use of his well advertised pepper box,
and made no reference to the candidacy
of Gov. Jennings. He simply outlined
what he hoped to accomplish in the in
terest of thu people in case of his elec-
ton, and stated that 1t was not the
cmoluments of office which he was seek
ing, but an opportunity to serve the
people in a capacity where he felt he
could do them real service. Mir. Stock
ton received hearty applause WHEN he
set down.
Capt. Calhoun in neat, euloglstic
speech next introduced Gov. W. s. Jen-
nings.
AS the governor slowly made his way
to the front all the roses in Palatka
were placed on the table in front of him
They were the last roses of summer,
and well did they "rellect back the
bushes" of his eXcellency as he slowly
uttered his apprecia ion of the gift.
Governor jennings starts off slowly.
His style is pOnderOus. His compii-
ments appear to be the result of labored
effort In the command OF language. He
wanted to say something pretty but he
stumbled in the saying and the intended
effect was lost.
In the main Gov. Jennings made a
good speech. He has greatly improved
since his appearance In Paiatka three
years ago. 1t was only toward the last
that he showed any tendency to warmth
or eloquenee. The bulk of his effort
was confined to notes and dry statistics
showing his achievements as governor.
He had reduced the bonded debt interest
and did some other things, and had
tried to execute the law according to the
constitution. Because he had been
| faithful at Tallahassee according to his
own modest estimate, he could be faith
sul in Washington. He gave "Boh"
Davis credit for collecting the Indian
War claim fund. Much Of his tax was
devoted to the matchless record of Sena-
tor Taliaferro. In this he confined him
self solely to what he considered the
Junior seniors sins of omission. He
appeared not to be able to find a y sins
of commission. Every little while some
lone enthusiast in the audience would
get behind somebody and applaud some
of the governors sentences. But as
whole the audience had "cold feet" The
governor consumed an hour and half,
got patient, respectful hearing and
made some friends.
Plof. w. M. Holloway of Gainesville,
candidate for State Superintendent of
Public Instruction was next introduced.
But the hour was late and many of the
audience had the put me in my little
bed" fever. Many encouraged the feel
ing and went home They missed some
thing. Prof. Holloway is man who
knows how to get his audience good
natured and keep them so. He told of
the hot times he had been having in his
home county with his opponent, Supt
Sheets, and it was funny. Then he re-
cited in brief his autobiography in
modest manner, and showed something
of his accomplishments. He also showed
why he thought Mr.. Sheets had outlived
his Official useful ness. Mr.. Holloway
was brief. He had respect for his audi
ences tired feeling and his own throat
which had got raspy from overtalking in
Alachua. But he caught the people,
and they saw he was constructed of the
right material for good state superin-
tendent He has hundreds Of warm
supporters here and will gain more.