The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1902-1905, 1903-02-20
THE SNARL OF A FICE.

AS illustrating the depths to which cheap imitation
'yaller' journalism descend under pressure of
torpid liver, the recent attack Congressman Robert
w. Davis, by the Tampa Herald, furnishes by far the
drtiest specimen yet pitched to the political dung heap
in this state.
Mr. Daviss sole offense, for which this Tampa paper
proceeds lambast him. consists in the fact that the
Times-Union has not opposed the suggestion of his
name as possible candidate for governor but instead
has fit to republsh portion of the many compl
mentary things which have been said by the press
in behalf of his candidacy.
The following are specimen sentences from the Her
AIDS attack:
His mr. Davis) training has been for so long with
interests antagOnlstc to those of the people that his
ideas and principles have become warped to such
that in the opinion of the Herald he would not be
safe man to place in position where the interests of
the corporations and people conflict.
The people have placed the seal of disapproval upon
this character of man occupying the gubernatOria chair
They want more of him. His day has passed. and it
may just well be understood right that the peo
pie to the curves of Bob and the Times Union
and that they will place man in the for governor
who will putour Bob (Flager, Taaferro Cos Bob
out of business and bury him so deep in political obiv
ion that he will be known no more forever"
How do you like that ye plain men of the woods We
cattle herders We toies in shop factory and field who
have been wont to look upon Robert w. Davis as at
least one man in public life in Florida whom you
could go in time of trouble assured of receiving sympa
thy and honest, helpful advice Doesn't that kind of
talk sort o jar you?
What the facts? In the first place Mr.. Davis has
announced his candidacy for governor but he has
announced his determination to quit congress and has
said emphatcally that "he is not has been
and never will be candidate for United States Sena-
tor If he intends to become candidate for governor
he has never said as much to his "home folk"
Upon his announced determination to quit congress
the expiration of the term for which he elected in
November the state papers, with such unanmity of
sentiment has rarely been in any state began
urging him to the 1904 primaries for the office of
governor 1t popular and spontaneous tribute to the
man by the country editors of Florida and nearly
unanimous that the TimesU Union compelled to take
notice of 1t in the interests of progressive journalism
1t repubshed these expressions Whether it favors his
candidacy not is not known We hope it does.
AS for Mr. Daviss special friendship for corporate in
opposed to the interests of the people,
who knows any thing at all of state politics. knows that
if there whom the corporate influence of
the state, supplemented by the politicians, sought to
down, that Bob" Davis. They fought his
as the champion of the people. The only time he has
disappointed these lrends-the peOple-was when he
nounced that he had had enough-that he too poor
to them longer.
Mr. Davis was of the first to advocate the adop
primary election law in this state. Surely he
did advocate that law at the behes of corporations
The News is not in position to know what is going on
in Mr. Davis's mind-he is too far away and mental tee
pathy is not yet exact sciencebut it has been keep
ing its to the ground and knows the purpOr of
tain rumbngs, and those rumbngs do not augur ill to
Mr. Davis in case he should decide go before his
riends-the peOpefor the office of governor of Florida
1t knows also that if this Tampa freebooter will come
up into these woods and give expression to the sent
mens he has tit to publish, the boys will take care
that when he does finally from the shuttle it will
take time to locate himself and for his friends to
recognize him.