The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1908-01-17

twO-thlrdB vote. nominated q candi
date for the party. With these two
points gained. the anti-Call people
vent into the fight determined % win
Mr. Call had slXty.three votes In me
caucus when the contest began, but he
lacked three votes OF the requisite two.
thirds Clark was a Call man, and
from the very beginning he was the
recognized leader Of the Cal people on
/ the floor Of the House; and in the
caucus Itself be and Senator BaltOn II.
| Yancey OF Lake divided the hOnOrs as
the undisputed Call leaders on the
floor OF the caucus. Many we're the
hot Oratorlcal duels that took place on
the floor when Hammond and Dough
erty measured with Yancey and Clark.
For more than six weeks-nlght after
night--the weary struggle went on.
growing more bitter as the session OF
the Legislature, by constitutional HIM
itatiOn, drew 20 a close. Mr.. Call had
steadily lost, one by one until what
vas known as The Tall Call Column
had gone down 10 fifty.twO.
The object Of the anti-Call forces
was 10 go on and on until the LegiB-
laure should die. leaving the appoint
ment Of a Senator 10 Governor Elem
ing. who was a stalwart anti-Call man.
Clark. Yancey. Browne and others
saw this. and determined that there
was only one way TO win, and that
was to adjourn the caucus sine die;
then 90 into the Joint session and elect
their candidate. The caucus had been
held each night with open doors, and
as the citizenship OF Tallahassee was
antiCall, and the lob
by was packed by these outsiders every
night, no cheered the ann-Call
forces and jeered az the Senator's sup.
pOrtoTs. Il was determined 10 clear the
lobby and debate the question Of ad
iOurnment sine de behind closed doors.
But some reason must be found for
this procedure. and Clark soon furnish.
ed (unintentionally, perhapsD ample
reason. lie got into a very heated de.
bate with Senator b. r. Kirk, Of Her.
nandO, which finally became 80 hot that
II ended In a physical encounter be-
tween the two gentlemen upon the
floor ar the caucus. As soon az the fght
started. II appeared 10 us as N all OF
The Non present we're engaged In H.
We b We often since wondered at the
fact tllt no one was seriously injured.
THE next night, after long hours
" heated debate. the resolution eX
'ludlng all persons from the caucus eX-
'ept members, attaches and newspaper !
correspondents, was passed, and the |
leHt night the caucus. by vote, was
adjourned sine die. Then came the |
skipping out Of fifteen Senators-the
babes In the Woodland nnapy the
election OF Senator Call by counting a /
Quorum, President Browne saying
Record Mr.. Nelson OF Sumter as pres.
mt and not voting
The anti-Call forces. during all OF /
his long, weary. bitter hght. had no
me candidate. They were willing, at |
my stage Of the contest. TO take any /
competent man. This
writer knows that the entire anti.Call |
'oto was offered 10 Frank Clark. He
,nowB that seven or eight OF the SUP
,orters OF Call assured Clara that |
I he would accept the offer Of the 4
senator's opponents. they would like. /
Wise give him their support, thus in
urlng his election as a Senator for |
he full term Of six years Mr.. GoOde. /
representative from 81. Johns coun-
y, and an ardent supporter of Cali.
,egged CLARK TO allow the use OF his
lame. Others ala the same thing. But
he young legislator took the position
hat his constituents we're for the
I'D Senator'-that they had not con.
idered him IN that connection at all
md put n aside lie said that while,
II course. ne would like 10 be Senator.
'et he felt that he was there 10 repre-.
ent the wishes Of HIS people, and not
q crafty his own political aspirations.
md with that view Of the case, he felt
hat he could not with honor accept
he SenatOrship. The writer was there,
le WAS an antl.Call man no was Close
O and In the confidence Of the leaders.
md knows that the facts herein stated
ne true What n temptation! II Clark
lad accepted, no would have been Sen.
tor AZ ne early axe Of thlrty-one
tears and two months. and his would
AVE been an election by q LeKisla.
ARE for a FUN slS.year term. aud not
y the appointment OF partisan Gov.
.rn0r In payment or a political debt
here can he found IN the career Of no
nan a stronger proof OF perfee: SINGER.
~ and unfalterlng loyalty 20 duty
han h furnished by this occurrence
IA the political career Of Hon Frank
lark, the representative In Congress
r.t, tkN.