The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1906-07-27
MISS BELLS POLITICAL HoRo-
SCOPE.
The GubernatoriaI Procession-The
Plum viii Fall to West Florida.
Secretary of State Crawford
Will Have Opposition.
The Dodge Will Case.

The Dodge Will Case.
Tallahassee, July 19.-Last week
several surprises were sprung on the
public in political matters. Two full
fledged gubernatorial booms were
launched, that of w. j. Bryan, of
Jacksonville, who is waging war on
the local trusts and of Judge Horace
c. Gordon, of Tampa. Mr.. Bryan's
name has frequently been mentioned
in connection with the Office of attor-
ney general, although | doubt if he
would be willing to abandon his fine
law practice for the less lucrative
office of attorney general, besides he
would hardly be candidate if Mr..
Ellis offers for reelection. Mr.. Bry-
ans success has been remarkable and
although still very young man, he
is one of the leading lawyers of Flor
ida. He and his brother, Nathan p.
Bryan, chairman of the board of con-
troll, have been at various times en-
ployed to represent the state in liti-
cation. Mr.. Bryan is a very gifted
young man and is also unusually good
to look upon. His management of Gov
ernor Broward's campaign gave him
unquestioned right to the title of the
most brilliant organizer in the state.
He is a young man and will be a
strong factor in Florida affairs for
many years, and perhaps will one day
sit in the governors chair at Talla-
hassee.
Unlike the announcement of Mr.
Bryan's possible candidacy, which
comes from various of the state pa
pers, Judge Gordon's candidacy is
given out authoritatively, he is really
the early bird of the gubernatorial
campaign. There is an old saying to
the effect that 'the early bird gets
the worm" Some new light has been
thrown on the early bird and the
worm by the following story:
An old farmer, trying to induce his
son to rise early, said, Get up, John,
don't you know it is the early bird
that catches the worm?"
"Oh, that s all right, father" an
swered John as he turned over for
another nap; 81 haven't found out yet
whether | am to figure as the bird or
the worm"
| am inclined to think that the can
didates who begin running now will
very seriously handicap themselves
for the final stretch, and | regret
Judge Gordon's precipitate movement
toward Tallahassee.
Like Mr.. Bryan, Mr. Gordon, whose
determined crusade against crime has
made his name a terror to all bad
citizens within his jurisdiction, is a
young man. His appearance is quite
as youthful as Mr.. Bryan's, although
Captain Mathes, of Hillsborough, who
is employed in the pension depart
ment at Tallahassee, says that he is
not as young as he looks. Ct would
not for anything give the figures Cap
tain Mathes named as Mr.. Gordon's
age.)
AS judge of the criminal court of
record of Hillsborough county, and
as a lawyer, Judge Gordon is known
as one of the safest and ablest men
in the state. This is essentially the
era of the young man, and the road
to Tallahassee may be travelled by
both of these; but frankly, it is my
opinion that the next governor will
come from west Florida.
From Blountstown comes the aston
ishing rumor that Senator S. w.
Clark will be a candidate for secreta-
ry of state against Hon. H. Clay
Crawford at the next election. Behold
again the young man! Mr.. Clark, bet
ter known as Shep Clark, on account
of his extremely boyish appearance,
was cOinC thC hiu, III the last
senate. He is a pronounced corpora
ton man, of local prominence, and
popular in his district, and would
doubtless make good race, but the
name of Crawford has so long been
attached to the Office of secretary of
state that it will take a crowbar to
discover the name and the Office, and
regardless of the fact that the pres
ent incumbent is one of the best of
state officials.
BY q decision fled Tuesday the