The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1905-01-21
POLITICAL GOSSIP
AT THE STATE CAPITAL.

POLITICAL GOSSIP
AT THE STATE CAPITAL.
The following bunch of interesting
political gossip from the state capital
recently appeared in the columns of
the Madison Recorder, having been
sent in by q Tallahassee correspon-
dent of that paper:
The legislature meets In April, and
as the time approaches, interest gath
ers Ia the contests for president of the
senate and speaker of the house Al
ready there are two candidates entered
for the presidency of the senate. They
are Hon. Park Trammell. of Lakeland,
senator from Polk county, and Hon
Thomas F. West, of Milton, senator
from Santa Rosa county. One from
the southern and one from the west
ern part of the state. They are both
young men, each being % years OF
age, and are both lawyers by profess
sion They have each served a term
in the lower house of the legislature,
having been members OF the session Of
1903, acquitting themselves quite
credBably. Neither TrammeU nor
West has ever strongly aligned him
self with either of the political fac
tons of the state but it is pretty well
understood that both are rather In
clined TO the conservatives. From
that fact ii is difficult at this time
TO say what strength each will draw
10 himself should both remain in The
race In the meanwhile, there are
dark horses spoken of, that may YET
enter the race and change the appear
ance Of things, in which case it is a
good guess 10 say that one of the
above named gentlemen will disappear
as a candidate and the other will re-
ceive JheSunited support of his faction.
Louis e. Massey. of Orlando, senator
from Orange county, one of the most
learned lawyers of the state. is being
urged by friends to enter the race,
and if he does. he will more than
probably have the backing of the new
administration This will insure him
the solid support of the straight
outs" or progressive democrats and
with this strength. together with the
strength that would naturally go to a
man Of such known ability. Mr. Mas
sey would prove a formidable candi-
cate. il is acknowledged that the di-
vision between the state senators who
are known 10 favor the new admins
trati0n and those who will oppose il.
is very close.
There are three announced candi-
dates in the race for speaker of the
lower house. They are J. w. Watson.
of Osceola; J. ID. Pirrong, of Calhoun.
and A. w. Gilchrist, of DeSoto county.
j. W. Watson has represented Osceola
county in the lower house for a num-
Der OF years, and he was speaker of
the house in the legislature of 1901.
He is a man of some ability. General
Gilchrist gets his military title from
the fact that he was at one time a
brigadier general of the state militia.
He has represented DeSoto county in
the legislature at a number of ses-
sions, and strange to say, for a man
that does a great deal of talking on
the floor. he has considerable influence
among his colleagues of the house.
He is very witty and frequently brings
down the house with some character
istic remark ]. D. Pirrong appeared
In the legislature last as a state SEN
ator from his district. In that capacity
he served four years. Mr.. Pirrong
was a member of the legislature of
1891, and took a prominent part in
the contest that resulted 10 the re-
election Of Senator Wilkinson Gail.
The friends of Mr. Pirrong are using
as strong argument the fact that
no West Florida citizen has been
honored with the speakership in over
twenty years. They contend that they
have an excellent candidate this time.
and they think in justice that West
Florida should have the honor this
coming season. Watson and Gilchrist
opposed Governor-elect Broward for
the nomination last summer and it is
expected that this will initiate against
them. For while they will look for
their support among the "cOnserva-
tive" element and thus divide their
forces, Pirrong viii have the backing
of ''straight-outs." If the administra-
ton throws IFS strength to Pirrong.
and il is difficult 10 see how this is 10
be prevented, considering the politics
of all three of the men. P;rrong will
be a hard man to defeat for the covet-
ed place ----- $500 q.