The Savannah morning news., 1903-04-06
SOLONS ARE GATHERING
AT TALLAHASSEE
What Wise Ones Say of the Chances
of Candidates.

OF the Legislature witnesses the arrlV-
al in the city of a number of SEN
ators, representatives, politicians and
others. There are quite a number of
important positions to fill, but as is
usually the case, the candidates out
number the places by about ten 10
one All the old timers are here.
Some of them have been coming to
the state capital for the past forty
years, and yet they hang on as greed
lily as II hungry wolf. OF course there
are many new faces, from the young
ster of six or seven summers, to the
grizzly, lettering veteran, who has
long since passed his three score ana
ten mark. These people are early on
the ground in order that they may
lay their claims for preferment before
the members as they arrive.
From the way things look now,
Frank Adams of Hamilton county will
be elected President of the Senate. A
few weeks ago it looked as if there
might be strong opposition to Adams,
but o. lat. the forces seem to have
settled Oh him as the most pow erful
candidate, and the one most likely to
be elected.
Mr. Adams was born in Hamilton
county in 1862 His father, Robert w.
Adams, was captain in the Confed-
crate army, and when Frank was
born was on duty with his company
in the Army of Virginia, before
Richmond. In early life Franks edu-
cational advantages were not of the
best, and when manhoods estate was
reached he was more familiar with
the art of agriculture than anything
else. He was a typical Cracker far
mer, with a very limited knowledge
of books. Since that time Mr.. Adams
has, by extensive travel, hard study,
and close application to the task Of
lettering his education, become one
of the most convincing speakers and
best informed men in the state.
Franks success in life is another eX-
emplification of the old saying that
tall oaks from little acorns grow"
He is still a young man, but pos
sesses a reputation for integrity and
ability that may eventually land him
in the gubernatorial chair of Florida.
He is also one of the most successful
merchants and planters in the state.
His Mildred farm of $4,000 acres, in
Hamilton, is beyond doubt, one of the
most highly cultivated in the entire
South. Twenty years ago Mr.. Adams
was worth less than 800. To-day his
waltz is estimated at $3.50 900, nearly
all made out of the soil.
For years Mr.. Adams has taken an
active interest in politics, and has
been a delegate to every convention
held in the state since he became old
enough to vote. He has been sent to
tn state convention since 1888, was a
delegate to the National Democratic
Convention in Chicago in 1892, and al
though Grover Cleveland was nomi-
mated for the presidency, Mr.. Adams
70 In hA Il
ject of this sketch was elected to the
Senate. and has been returned ever
since. He was elected President of the
Senate at the session of 1899. His
friends have mentioned his name in
connection with the congressional
race, and had he not emphatically
stated that he would not be a candi-
date for Governor in 1904, would have
been entered by his admirers with a
strong chance of success.
A number of names are prominent
ly before the public as candidates for
speaker of the House, the most prom
inent being Gen. Gilchrist of Punta
Gorda and Hon. Cromwell Gibbons of
Jacksonville. The indications are
that Judge Cromwell will be nomi-
mated on the first ballot, although
Gen. Gilchrist is confident of success,
and will stick. He has a strong fol-
lowing. Gibbons and his friends claim
to have forty votes pledged. AS
there are ony sixty-seven votes in the
House, this would give Gibbons a
majority.
During the past two weeks Hon.
John w. Watson of Osceola county
has developed a wonderful strength,
and there are men apparently we'll
posted who claim his election. An eff
fort is being made to concentrate the
nnnnGitinn n VndOa CihhnnG tho
support of Watson, whose followers
are making loud claims. This is done
in order to brighten Gen. Gilchrist off,
but that gentleman does not scare
worth a cent. He has been in too
many hard-fought battles to become
frightened at this late day.
Cromwell Gibbons, whom a great
majority of the people look upon as
the next speaker of the House, is one
of the successful members of the
Florida bar. He was born in 1869, in
Middletown, Conn. His father was
Henry Gibbons of New York, and his
mother Josephine Cromwell of South
Carolina. whose family came to that
state from England, and are descend
ants of the great Cromwell family of
that country. The ancestors of
Judge Gibbons, on both sides, have
been loyal citizens and stanch Demo-
Gratis.
There are any number of candidates
here for the minor positions, and all
seem confident of winning out 1t is
pretty well conceded that Editor
Thomas ]. Appleyard of the Lake City
Index will be secretary, and Col. Fred
L. Robertson bill clerk of the Senate.
and DR.. William Forsyth Bynum chief
clerk and George Dickerson bill clerk
of the House. Bynum has been chief
clerk since 1860 The doctor was born
in Virginia in 1922, and came to Florida
in 1857. In 1859 he was engrossng
clerk of the House, and in 1860 was
chief clerk. and has held the position
at every session of the Legislature
since.
There is little or no interest mani
Tested in regard to the election of a
United States senator to succeed Hon.
Stephen r. Mallory, whose term has
just expired. The primaries last year
settled this question and Mr.. Mallory
will succeed himself without opposition
The race for senator to succeed Sena-
tor Taliaferro is too far in the future
to talk about, although the forces of the
different aspirants will be lined I'D
during the session. There will be some
shrewd wire pulling between the
Stockton, Taliaferro and Jennings
forces. It is thought by many that
Gov. Jennings will not enter the con-
test. but those close to the Governor
assert that he will make his announce
ment at the proper time, and will go
IN TO win. He is undoubtedly a shrewd