The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1905-12-17

names I cannot recall although I was
elected president OF the board.
That election was carried by the
mechanics, steredores and white la
b0rers of Pensacola. with very little
assistance from the weather. better
class l2) In fact tie only possible
way the election could have been won
was by a body of stTcng, vigorous,
fearless young men-nltn capable and
willing 10 force their away through
mobs of negroes who were strong,
vicious beasts All the good of thai
election was lost by the better class"
trying 10 run things and ignore the
strong men who had won ID By force
The ola aristocratic Office holder at
once came 20 the front and took charge
OF the white mans party ignoring the
absolute necessary element the work.
Ing man II was extremely poor poll
tics to ignore such men as John Webb,
Ned Dunn. Den Burns. Harry Dunford
and other lenders of the working men.
Elections In those times were large
ly farce. rCcollect seeing an over
coat being passed into an election
booth about closing time. In which was
not less than go tickets of the right
kind. AT another place an oyster LOAF
had a good bunch of tickets in its in-
side. Such things seuled results.
while out To the streets hundreds Of
mer heavily armed were ready to
Kin
Vice and Crime Flourished.
For several years the carpet Dagger
ana the negro had fun swing In Pen
sacOla. No one to this day knows
where any of the tens of thousands
dollars. collected for taxes by the city
officials, went to-except Il be the
thieves who stole an that went into
the city treasury. And that was not
the worst Vice Haunted Itself On pub
dc day and night To- those DAYS
respectable female could not safely
venture below Government street
even in day time. A few white lead
ers controlled the city. These were
the vslest OF men with a few excep-
tons d was difficult 10 prevent our
Young men. and many old ones. from
hanging a bunch Of those who were
running thinEs Nothing but the
dread tof another southern outrage"
saved from death the gang of vile
men who were using the iglorant ne
gro.
We could not get relief even If we
had moro votes than those In Office, as
they had the election machinery
-the count"-and used &c without
scruple We appealed 10 the state leg
islamre and a law was passed taking
the city charter away and substituting
a commission appointed by the gov
emCr Az that time the mayor was a
man that formerly owned and run a
bawdv house HIS wife mad been
girl inmate al the h0use ne hal run
The marshai-chief OF police-was a
mulato who. while in once. was run
ming one of the Yilest dens that ever
disgraced q water front The presi-
dent OF the city council was q man of
lower order than any common thief.
He was sarewd, keen and thoroughly
vile.
Foreibie Possession.
The commission appointed by the
governor was +. c. Brent Ed Sexaur,
W III Hutchinson. So. ID. Chipley.
John Burns. etc. including myself
was elected president of that board
and we took possession OF the city
by force. The cid crowd declining 10
surrender the city Go MS. They had
sworn in considerable number of
-neEro and white dPspCrados as extra
policemen. There was no blood shed.
bus al one moment. as we forced pos
session. there were hundred guns
cockea ready for action
The situation was dramatic for q
few moments. had the honor of
leading the procession as president
OF the mission-ex-omcio mayor.
no man had a better little army than
followed me that morning. Joe VIII
kins. sheriff. and under the law ex-
amcio MARSHAL #. C.. Brent. w ID
Chiniev John Burns and the rest OF
The board with citizens headed by such
men as Senator Mallcry-and there
Is no cooler Drawer man than Nal
Iorr. on & was au any man could
want TO battle for in q Just cause