The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1907-02-03
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E Old Campaigner ON 5
Politics and Politicians 5
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e Gubernatorial Race 3
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(By Wireicss.)
PolitopOlis, Fla, Feb. 2, 1907.

(sy Wireiess.)
Politopolis, Fla, Feb. 2, 1907.
To The Journal:
/ see that Claude L'Engle says,
in the last issue of his ITALIA
hassee Sun, that three of the
possible" candidates for COVER
nor are sure to be in the race, and
names as these three. Cromwell Glib
bons of Jacksonville, Albert Gilchrist,
of Punta Gorda, and Albert Jennings
of Pensacola.
So far as Gibbons Is concerned,
this will come as somewhat of a sur
prise, and there are many who think
that Claude has made a mistake when
he names Cromwell as being in this
class There is no doubt but that the
genial captain of the Metropolitan
Grays, of Jacksonville, would like to
be promoted from a captaincy to be
commander-in-chief of the state mill
tia, but he will realize before the time
comes to enter the fight, that it is
going to prove a little too stiff for
him. Cromwell never was a man to
enter a losing fight, and before the
times comes to register with Duncan
Fletcher he will see the handwriting
on the wall.
Albert Gilchrist.
There has never been the slightest
doubt, since the adjournment of the
last legislature, that Albert Giichrist
would be in the race for governor
General Gilchrist would rather run
and be defeated than to stay out Of
the race. He is one of those big
hearted, genial fellows who believes
that 1t is better to love and lose,
than never to have loved at ALL" and
he is going to carry this motto from
the regions of love into the realm
of politics. He will enjoy the amuse-
ment and excitement of the game,
and will get almost as much fun out
of the campaign as the fellow who
wins.
Albert Jennings.
When it comes to Albert Jennings
II begin to get puzzled / don't see
why he wants to keep so quiet about
his intentions He has been spoken of
in connection with this race for sew
eral months and yet he will not give
his friends any satisfaction All he
says is, that the time is too far off
to make any figures, or tell what he
is going to do. 1t seems to me that
if he would come out and let the
people know that he intended to make
the race it would clarity the atmos-
phere.
This fellow Jennings is a curious
fellow. He is one of the busiest men
in Florida When l was in your
city few weeks ago, caller on him,
and found him busily engaged over a
| pile of papers on his desk. / had
! forgotten about the rules in such
! places, and instead of going into his
main Office and asking permission to
see Mr.. Jennings, I just butted right
! into his private Office. / tried to mend
| the blunder by excusing myself, and
was on the point of leaving when he
| dismissed his stenographer, and had
me sit down and tell him all about
the people around my neighborhood.
| 1t was surprising how many people he
| knew over in this end of the state
| He talked politics freely, was very
| decided and outspoken in his opinions
concerning certain measures, and GER
| tain politicians, but when / mentioned
the gubernatorial race he CLOSED up
| like a clam" All | got from him
was what 1 have seen so many times
| in print Its too far ahead to figure
on"
There are many people who believe
J that at the proper time he will make
an announcement of his intentions in
this matter, and there are some of
| his friends who believe he is pursuing
the right course in keeping quiet at
this time.
Jenninss's Strength.
| Mr.. Jennings was born and reared
| in Hamilton county, and of course
would get big vote in that section
| of the state. He has lived on the
east coast, and on the west coast, and
| is popular in both of these sections.
His present home is in Pensacola,
and the people of the western portions
| of the state are devoted to him, and
will roll up an unprecedented ma
jority for him If he should enter the
contest Those fellows over in West
Florida will do more than vote for
him-they will work for him, and that
counts a great deal when it comes
to politics.
Perhaps the strongest point in Jen-
nings's favor is that, while he has al
ways been, and is to-day. clearly out
spoken in his position that corpora
tons should not interfere with po-
litics, yet he is himself interested IL
several corporations, and has the con-
fidence of this branch of the party
in the state. Very few men have
been able to fight the corporations in
Florida politics and at the same time
hold their confidence. The venerable
secretary Of state who died a few
years ago was one Of these men, AMI
Albert Jennings is another. and il this
counts for as much to-day as il did
some years ago, this will give him
long lead over any other man that
could come into the race.
Ellis and Broome.
Another gentleman who has aspira-
tons to serve Florida as her chief
executive is william H. Ellis. of GadS-
den. Mr. Ellis Is a remarkably bright
man. and is making an enViable
record as attorney general, but | do
not believe he would make a strong
race for governor In the campaign
OF 1904 he defeated Alfred St Clair
Abrams for the position or attorney
general. but ne had Abrams handi-
canned in several instances: and then