The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-04-09
VIR. JENNINGS CAUSES TALK Prospective Candidacy of
 Pensacola Man. BRINGS POLITICAL GOSSIP Governor Broward Will Make Fight
 of His Life. X kGegislators At Tallahassee Are Moving Cautiously But Administration Seems to Have Majority Some Proposed Laws.
BY J. H. REESE.

Tallahassee, Fla, April S.-(SpeciaD What is taken to be as a significant Announcement to have hearing upon the next race for Governor in Florida was that made by a Pensacola paper a few days ago that T. A. Jennings of that I city would probably be in the con- tsst.
 Such has been political gossip for many months. but the prospective can oidate has never given assent to the correctness of it. nor have the Pensa- Co say about 1t. The interview pub E 1ished was not in the Norm of an an nouncement, but indicated that the Pensacola man would make the race if he felt of the same humor when the X time came as he does now. There Is U feeling that MT. Jennings would make strong candidate and would in |n sense, be eligible to a compromise between the two factions that now di- wide the State.
 E% Mr. Jennings holds the reputation of being conservative. which is generally faccepted to mean that he is neither for nor against the chief questions of public interest in Florida politics. He 1s a level headed business man, has Accumulated a comfortable fortune and his holdings in various corporations would enable him to see the corpora 1 ton side of questions as we'll as the |contrary view. It is not thought that his holdings are so large that he is 80 much absorbed with the corporation spirit as to be blinded to the public rights by them
 May Solve Problem.
 If Mir. Jennings is accepted as the popular candidate this may offer the Evolution of a problem that has un- Edoubtedly caused the faction headed Eby the present governor some concern. l |The cost of running for the office of |Eovefnor is easily computed at snug |fortune and the peoples side of the political arena might be at loss to find a candidate with the necessary [Qualities who has enough money to in l {vest in political ambitions
 It Is not difficult to understand that l the next fight for governor in Florida will be the most frenzied contest that ! the State has ever witnessed. There 1 are real issues to run on, and it will not be necessary for the candidates to make a platform--lt has been made all ready; the question Is to find candi- dates. The great political interest is centered about the selection of the ad- ministration candidate; the railroad in x9r9SIS 1.-the selection will hardly be made un- 8fi1 after 1t is known who the opposi- tion has settled on.
 If Jennings Is chosen the railroads may be willing to take chances and put Xup no fight but this is not probable. Mr Jennings can afford to make the race, and If he has the opposition of the railroads the battle will be suffi- Iciently interesting to keep politics %r.,. srfa n a Ito come.
 Mir. Jennings is large stockholder I'm a naval stores concern in Savannah land much of his attention Is required m Georgia. In connection with the an |nouncement that he is to be in the next gubernatorial contest, is the re- port that business changes now immi- nent may place such business respon- |sibility upon his shoulders that this would preclude the possibility of his being led into the race.
 The Fractional Lines.
 The fractional lines are being stretch ed taut already, being helped along towardl that consumation during the last week by the governors message and his subsequent filing of a suit for libel against the Jacksonville Times Uuion for S50,00O. The message of the xovernor dealt with the anti-adminls- tration organs in plain straightway fashion. He gave the names of seven papers which had opposed his drain age plans and operations and con demned them in decided terms for the Duplication of editorials which he charges to be utterly false in criticism pf the Internal Board, which is com nosed of the Governor and his cabinet with the exception of the Superinten- dent of Public Instruction The de- nunciations have been most severe ana the reply of the governor through his fnessage and libel suit has been equal ly unmistakable.
 With the feeling engendered through these measures 1t may be concluded that the opposition of these papers which t-omprfse a large portion of the in- fiuential press of the State, will be more pertinacious than ever before to fhe administration and to the candi- hate for Governor recognized as the Administration candidate.
 To Reclaim Everglades.
 For the success of the work whiC h the present Governor has undertaken. Ef is absolutely necessary that the next t3oyernor shall be in harmony with it; Snot only must he believe in it, but he 5nust have decisions and practical
 knowledge to pursue it. this is the
 work of retaining the Everglades. At inc very lowest estimate 1t will require hour yearse more to drain the territory, even with six large dredges a work, land there are now but two. These
 dredges were constructed under the di- rection of the Governor whost knowl- Edge has been largely acquired in
 study of sucA matters He was brought
 ap on a tug boat and his knowledge &a practical from observation and eX- oarience. Those who are near to the
 Sovernor say that 1t is more than q bolitical triumph that will lead him to
 make the fight of his life in the next campaign. It will involve the vindica- lion of his ideas and purpose and this earries with it the saving Of an area
 0 the State which will be valued in
 millions
 With only one week of legislative hction to review 1t is rather difficult
 Q ascertain the complexion of the leg