The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1907-08-09
HON. ia. JENNINGS
Will Not Ran for GOVsFnOr. HIS Ad-
dress 60 FlOFidians.

Siderable DISCUSSION N W NY bCSOulhAe
q candidate for the Democratic nomina-
ton for Governor IN the primaries next
spring. At first / discouraged the idea,
public sentiment they urged me TO Sc
riously TO consider Il. On April 4th,
having up TO that time repeatedly re-
fused to make a declaration on this
question, / gave out a statement to the
effect that / was considering entering
the race, and ] briefly stated the plan
of campaign / would wage should do
so. During the recent session OF the
Legislature several conferences with
friends and the unsolicited support ten
dered me in all sections OF Florida in
duced me to make the statement IN Tai
lahassee at the close Of the session that
l saw nothing TO prevent me from be-
coming a candidate in fact, 1t was
my intention at that time, and has been
up to within the past few days, to enter
the primaries as q candidate for Cover
nor. An appeal not to do so has, how
ever, been made to me by associates in
business, and do not feel that l can
consistently refuse it.
ETHICS AND LOYALTY.
Fourteen years ago the people with
gave me the opportunity to make new
start in life. ] had suffered severe f.
nancial reverses, having previously lost
all the property had in the world, and
when the opportunity was presented
had nothing to offer in return but my
health and a willing heart to work.
These men have appealed to me within
the past few weeks not to desert them
nova time when they cannot we'll at
ford to spare my services. There was
a time when needed their aid much
more than they did mine, and now that
the situation is, partially at least, re-
versed ! would be untrue both TO my
self and to them were l to disregard the
appeal which they make. This is my
only reason for not becoming candi-
date. 1t may not be deemed sufficient
by some, but thus far in life no one has
ever been able to accuse me of ingrati-
tude. and my associates in business
shall not do do now. even though it costs
me the GOvernorship to remain loyal TO
them.
LIFE LONG AMBITION.
From assurances given me / am salts
fed that ! could be elected governor,
and those of my friends who have been
made fully acquainted with the situa-
ton are of the same opinion. This does
not, however, alter or lessen in any de-
gree my obligation to the men with
whom / have been so long associated in
business. My friends may understand
the sacrifice | am making when | say
that it has been my ambition from my
boyhoOd's earliest days to become gov
ernor of my native state, and that in
declining to become q candidate at this
time fully realize that so favorable
an opportunity may never come TO me
again.
GRATEFUL TO HIS FRIENDS.
shall never forget the interest and
enthusiasm which my friends in all Sec
tons of the state have manifested in
my behalf. The press generally has
been very kind to me, and / feel es-
pecially grateful to the papers of Ham,
ilton county, my old home, and to the
Pensacola Journal, for their generous
and unsolicited support shall always
be grateful to my good friends, the
drummers of Florida, who have been
practically unanimous in their support
ever since my name was fist mentioned
as a possible candidnte thank all of
these friends for the generous and loyal
support which they have rendered me.
In conclusion let me say that m de-
clning to become a candidate myself
have no desire TO influence myfriends
in their choice of a candidate for gov
orner. AS one who has the best inter-
ests of his state at heart, |, of course,
reserve the privilege which every good
citizen should exercise, Of making my
own choice Of a candidate when the
proper time arrives | desire, howev-
er, that il be distinctly and definitely
understood that in declining TO enter
the race do 80 in the interest of no
candidate, either announced or yet to
announce, and would not, on the other
hand, presume on the friendship of
those who have so Loyalty urged my
candidacy by attempting to dictate
whom they snail now support. Florida
is full of good men-able, unselfish and
patriotic-amOng them all have no
doubt that some one can be easily selec-
ted who will make the state a good
governor, under. whose administration
the cause Of good government will be
supreme and the best interest Of the
state will be secure.
T. A. JENNINGS.