The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1903-07-27
MANY HUSTL|NC FOR
STATE JOBS.
Governor Jennings and Attorney
General Whitfield Only Capitol
Officials Who Will Not ASK
Reelection-StrongC Con-
tests Are On.

Tallahassee, Fla, July 2o-tSpecidi''
wiz, tho executions of Governor W. D
Jennings and Attorney General James
r Whitfield every one of the state mouse
officers here Is a candidate to succeeo
b,mse,f In the position he now holds
Thu state constitution prohibits the
,o,,arnor from beine his own immediate
successor and. besides, the indlcations
are Enthusiastically strong that Governor
Jennings ambition Is fixed upon liii"s
United states Senator James T. 1aha-
terros seat in Washington. Attorney
General Whitfield, however, Is renr'hs
finn, no,,t,cs as a matter Of choice he
&c atu, q Young man, just over 49, but MS
ambition is along the line OF advance
ment In his profession. He was e'hu
uatea from the law department OF the
University OF Virginia in June. 1884, anu
since the beginning of 1889 has contlh-
,ouslv held public office here. with the
excentio, of three months in 1897
Mr. Whitfield was elected county judge
Of this county in 1883, but resigned III
March. 1889, to become clerk OF the fiot-
ida supreme court, the most lucrative o.
fee in the state house. rms ne helu
for eight years, when he resigned 10
practice law Three months later Gov
ernor Bloxham rendered Judge w MT
feld the appointment of state treas
,1rer. which position he continued 10 hoid
hv popular election until March l. l'o''
r,ben Governor Jennings appointed him
attorney general, where he is making
snIendid record Judge Whitfield and
Governor Jennings are the most promi-
mont voung men in Florida and are very
close friends
Office Won't Go Begging.
There is no danger that the once OF
attorney general will have to go begging.
Although the nominating primary IS sun
nearly a wear off there are already five
candidates aspiring to the place. three
from west Florlda-Hon. Charles B. Park
hill the Pensacola orator; Judge Daniel
Campbell. Of DeFuniak Springs, ana
Hon. William II. Ellis, Of Quincy, now
state senator-and two from south Flor
ida. Hon. Alfred St. Clair-Abrams. OF
Tavares, and Hon. John c. Breckinridso
Koonce. of Sumterville. Messrs. Camp
bell. ST. Clair-Abrams and koonce were
members of the lower house of the iegis-
lature of 1903, the last named being cnalr-
man of the Judiciary committee. None OF
the candidates seem to have any clear
lead at this stage. and others are expect
ed to enter the race.
Secretary of State II. Clay era wford.
who is a candidate for reelection, has
as opponents State Senator b. F. Kirk,
of Brooksville, and former State Senator
E. Broome Of Quincy. Mr.. Crawford
seems to be very confident Of his reelec-
ton.
The state superintendent of public in
str,ctton. Hon William N. Sheats. will
run again, and, as usual, will have strong
opposition. The names Of County Su-
perintendents W. NJ. Holloway, OF Gaines
VILE. and w s. Pnkham, of St Angus
tine are being canvassed for this office.
Mr. Sheats was first elected in 1892 and Is
now serving his third term. He is
man Of very positive convictions and ag-
gressive principles, with many strong
friends and many bitter opponents. 1t
IS not yet known how sharply the lines
Will De drawn against him, and until this
develops Mr.. Sheats can be considered
as stronger than the opposition to him.
The other three cabinet officers-Comp-
troller 4. c. Kroom, Treasurer William V.
Knott and Commissioner of Agriculture
3. E McIdn-are serving their first
terms, and the satisfaction which their
services have given In ell portions of
The state is so complete and general
hat no opposition whatever is in sight
for any of them. Messrs McLin. Knott
and Groom are three of the most con-
scientious and capable officials who have
been sent TO the capital in recent years
They are all plain. practical. common
sense business men, of abundant expe-
rience and excellent Judgment and 1t
Will be surprising if all Of them are not
reelected
Four justices or the state supreme
court will have to be elected at the next
election, as the terms OF Chief Justice
Taylor and Justices Shackleford, Maxwell
and Coclrel will expire. 1t Is under
stood that all OF these gentlemen will
stand for reelection, and there seems to
ne quiet understanding that there shall
he no opposition TO any OF them. The
distinguished chief Justice, Hon r. Fen
wick Taylor, one of the most learned
and clearest headed lawyers who ever
adorned the Florida bench, is sure of an
overwhelming reelection. The present
supreme court Justices are In high favor
with the people. and opposition to them
would have small chance Of success.