The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1905-10-13
DUvAL COUNTTS NEW SHERIFF.
what the Jacksonville Newspapers
Have % Say AbOat Il.

M. A. Brown TO be 6herln OF DuVal
county, to I'LL the vacancy caused by
the lamented death of Hon. w. Blox-
ham Pickett, has occasioned some re-
markable expressions OF opinion on the
part of the Jacksonville newspapers,
few extracts from which we reproduce
below, with the remark that Mr..
Browns record as q public official in
Duval county is well known TO many
citizens thereof, and that it is entirely
accessible, if any one there desires 10
investigate it.
The Times-Union has printed much
on the subject, from the several issues
of which journal we extract the follow
ing:
Sept. 80. 49, From Tallahassee word
was received that M. A. Brown, private
secretary to the Governor, was not an
applicant for the position. He has here
tofore been mentioned as a candidate,
and was considered one of the strongest
men for the place.
Oct. l.-Another incident which may
be connected with the appointment OF a
sheriff and strengthens the belief that
if Mr.. Brown has not the appointment
il will fall to him, was the departure for
Tallahassee yesterday Of a young man
from Jacksonville who was stenographer
for Governor Jennings at the capital,
and who has been with the ex- Governor
since he has been in Jacksonville.
Those who are expressing the opinion
that Mr.. Brown has the appointment
claim that this party was called to Tai
lahassee to relieve Mr.. Brown for the
present at least.
Oct. 2.-Mr. Brown arrived here late
Saturday night, and avoided seeing any
of those who were deeply interested in
the appointment that the Governor is
expected to make today. But
there is a significance to his presence
here, and it was given greater force
when Mr.. Brown was seen with eX-
Governor Jennings for a good part of
the day. That these two gentlemen
were in conference was known, and
there was another subject for guessing
when they again appeared on the
streets. Some thought it pertained to
a bond for Mr.. Brown. 1t is known
that Ex-Governor Jennings and Gov
ernor Broward are very close friends,
and that Governor Broward consults his
predecessor frequently upon matters of
an official character. This being known
and understood here, the fact that the
Ex-Governor was in consultation with
the private secretary of Governor Brow
ard strengthens the belief that Mr..
Brown came here to confer with Mr..
Jennings in reference to the. appoint
ment of a sheriff Of Duval county.
Those who are doing the talking in this
case state that if Mr.. Brown was here
to study the situation and give the Gov
ernor some information upon which he
was expected TO act, that Mr.. Brown
would have seen Mr.. Knight in prefer
ence to Governor Jennings. But, on
the other hand, it is said by some who
seem to be in a position to know that
Governor Jennings has greater influence
with the Governor than has Mr.. Knight
The fact that x-Governor en-
nings is at the head Of the bonding de-
parfment of the Florida Bank and Trust
Company, and that Mr.. Brown was with
him Yesterday, gives the impression in
some circles that Mr.. Brown has the
commission of sheriff in his pocket, and
that he has been comforting with Mr..
Jennings in reference to giving bond.
Oct. 3.-While the matter is stillin doubt,
and the opposition to Mr., M. A. Brown,
increasing, the father of the private sec
rotary to the Governor explained the
visit of his son, Mr.. M. A. Brown, to
Jacksonville, by stating that the private
secretary of the Governor came here to
ascertain il J1eTe were any VI IilC lillu-
entail friends of Mr. M. A. Brown, and
the Governor, who were opposed TO the
appointment. The father stated that
his son would be appointed, and this is
believed TO be the solution of the prob
lem. which has been vexing the minds
of the people of Duval County for sew
eral days. If what the father of the
private secretary says is true, then there
Is no doubt that NJ A. Brown is the
most unpopular man for the place that
could be named He is not popular with
the friends of Governor Broward. and is
considered the weakest man with the
people seeking the appointment.
Oct. A telegram received from
Tallahassee yesterday afternoon bore
the information that Mr. M. A. Brown,
nriyate secretary TO the Governor, had
been named for Sheriff of Duval County,
to succeed the late W. Bloxham Pickett.
The information was no surprise, COM
ing. as il did, after the article in the
Times-Union Of yesterday morning,
which stated tat Mr.. Brown had been
promised the place. Nevertheless, It
came as a great disappointment to the
friends Of the Governor in Duval Coun-
tv. who thought the appointment would
GO to one who had earned It through
political loyalty to the Governor more
Than Mr.. Brown. There was one ele-
rnent in politics IN Duval, however, who
,.nontad the aDDOintRent with a great