The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1907-04-07
BY jefferson Bell.


Tallahassee, Apr. 6.-Everythina
was harmonious, everybody was uuan.
imous, in the organization of the leg.
islature, or it appeared Outwardly so
at the caucus Monday night. Sena-
tor Harris was made president of the
senate and Mr.. Matthews speaker
without a dissenting vote. Mr.. Ap,
pleyard went like a lamb 10 the
slaughter, without a murmer, and Mr.
Kellum bore off the clerkship of the
house without a protest. Not until
nominate were made for dOOrkeep-
err in the house was there any excite
ment- For a while it looked like pop
ular old Dan Virgins would lose out,
as his opponent not only was Con-
federate veteran, but had killed In
dians," but his supporters stood firm
and he was nominated. A pictures
que incident developed when NJ. Du-
pOnt. of st. Johns, insisted that the
candidates for reading clerk should
give a demonstration of their ability
to read so that the house could de,
eide entirely upon the merits of thu
two candidates. Col. Nat r. Walker
of Wakulla. easily walked off with
the honors in the contest, falling into
his familiar swinging intonation as
naturally as If he was in the middle
OF the session. Either by accident OF
design the selection read was Cover
nor DrewS contract with sydney |,
WALES, out of which grew the famous
WALES claim, which, like BanquOs
ghost, stalks the legislative halls.
.@age's Contest.
The most interesting contest in
the house caucus was among the
the pages. There were sixteen candi-
dates Mr. Melton of Duval moved
that all the candidates stand out in
d row so that he could see them all.
Among the candidates was a boy
about twelve or fourteen years OF age
the oldest of a family of six father
less children. In nominating him his
friend said this boy has got to be
father TO those six fatherless' chill
dren. and the dear little man stuck
out his chest and looked determined
enough to father a whole colony. You
do not wonder that he was nominated
on the first ballot.
Investigation Rampant.
Tallahassee is a bad place for any
one or anything with shady past
Just now. The spirit of investigation
is rampant Governor BrOward IS
calling for Investigations. The whole
body is resolving itself into a huge
Interrogation point.
Notwithstanding the published re-
port of the state auditor upon the ace
counts of the Trustees of the Internal
Improvement Fund, the governor in
sists that every official act of the
boards from the beginning of the
trust shall be subjected to the closest
10
erly angry and is firing hot shot into
the ranks from which have come all
manner of insinuatiOns of wrong and
Acknowledgement.
r. Pope Reese.
Hon. r. Pope Reese. of EscamDia
county, succeeded in passing a bill re-
lating to local affairs in Pensacola
the first day of the session Mr..
Reese has created a favorable impress
sion at the capital. He is a young
man. full of energy, and vigOr, with
an appearance and manner that beget
confidence. Another young man
whose influence in the house viii be-
felt IS Hon. Ion l.. Farris of DUval
county. / feel a special pride in Mr..
Farris's career-he is a Marion county
boy who has, by sheer force of char
acter and his own ability, made a
most enviable record as a lawyer and
man. Marion county has good
working team in Hon. z. l. Wartman
and Hon. George G. Matthews. Mr..
Wartman is serving his second term
and has a strong following. Mr.
Wartman applies the honesty and in'
tegrity that mark him in private life
to his official conduct Mr. Matthews
enjoys the distinction OF having held
| an American cOnsulship under Pres,
! ident Cleveland at Para, Brazil He
| is a good speaker and will be interest
ed in good measures
John 5. Beard.
In the senate John Beard is prob
ably the most striking personality.
Distinguished in face and manner and
mental attachments and thoroughly IN
| earnest, he holds the attention Gf his
! hearers. What he will accomplish
| is yet 10 be proved
| DR.. Theop. W est Of Jackson county
| and Senator James l. Broome oil
| Gadsden are two men who add dis
! tinction to the senatorial body Both
are gentlemen Of the old school. with
charming manners and delightful old
time courtliness. DIR. West is serving
his urst time in the senate Mr..
| Broome has served three terms in
| the senate. and is known as one OK
| the orators o. that -OdE.