The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-02-13
THE STATE
EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEE
Details of the Meeting at
Jacksonville = Fixing of
Primary Dates and Other
Details of the Proceed
ings.

|
committee meeting, which fixed May
10 and June Is as the dates for thu
first and second primaries, the Jack
/ sonville Times-Union of yesterday
says in part:
The chairman was authorized tt
appoint five members of the commit
| tee to act with himself and the sec
rotary as a campaign committee, and
all details as to the primaries were
left to the campaign committee.
Old Timers Out in Force.
ne committee had been called tc
meet at 10 a. m, and long before that
hour there were numerous committee
men in the lobby of the Aragon dis
cussing various matters that it was
believed might come before the meet
ing for consideration.
Through the courtesy Of Mr.. H n.
O'Neal, proprietor of the Aragon
chairs were placed in the parlor to
the east of the lobby and there the
meeting was held.
1t looked like old times to see such
a gathering of men who have for
years Ieen recognized as leaders in
the Democratic party of Florida, for
besides the members of the commit
tee there were many in attendance
merely as oR=lookers and others hold
i ing proxies of absent members.
Failed to Work.
AS soon as the roll call was COM
pleted Max Ref of Polk county raised
the point that chapter 5613, laws of
Florida, acts Of 1907, makes no pro-
vision for members of the state execu-
tive committee at large. and he moved
that the names Of the members at
large be stricken from the roll call
10 brr
1t failed to go through, for it was
sprung at the wrong time. for Frank
Walpole, a proxy, moved that the mo-
ticn Of Mr.. Ref be laid on the table
The motion to table was put and car
ried, and the business of the commit
tee proceeded.
designations Accepted.
Chairman Fletcher stated that it
was well known that George L. BAIL.
formerly of Jacksonville, a member of
the committee at Large, had removed
from the state and that a vacancy ex-
listed on that ground, but as Mr..
BAIL had rendered letter of resigna-
ton he would have the same read.
The letter was read by the secretary
and the resignation was accepted
The secretary then read letter
from Hon W. j. Bryan of Jackson
vile, member of the committee at
large, in which Senator Bryan tender
ed his resignation as a member of the
committee. The resignation was duly
accepted.
Williams Succeeds Fletcher.
Chairman Fletcher then called Mr..
Arthur T. Williams to the chair and
stepping forward thanked the mem
bers CT the committee for their aid
and assistance during the past four
h1 oh
He then rendered his resignation as
chairman of the committee and also
as a member of the committee. The
resignation was accepted.
Max Ref at once placed in nomi-
nation for the Office of chairman of
the committee to succeed Mr.. Fetch
er Hon. Arthur T. Williams, who for
four years filed the Office prior to Mr.
Fletcher's election.
The secretary was instructed to put
the question, but before he did SO Mr.
Williams stated that as the question
had been raised as to the right of the
members at large of the committee to
serve. he did not feel that ne ought
to accept the ONCE if the members
thought that he was net eligible under
the Statute.
There were assurances from all |
parts of the house that no one BE- |
lieved the statute in question applied |
to present members of the committee. !
Thereupon the secretary called for a |
vote on the nomination of Mr.. Arthur |
T. Williams as chairman of the COM |
mittee. |
ADD THE STATE 49,. 80. ......
BY unanimous vote Mr.. Williams |
was elected as chairman to succeed |
Hon. D. U. Fletcher, resigned.
Not Retroactive.
Hon. A '. Long then moved that |
the committee proceed to Ill vacan-
cies caused by the resignation of |
members.
-efore this was put Senator Frank
Sans of Volusia asked that the sec
rotary read the law passed by the
last legislature relative to member
ship of executive committees of po-
litica1 parties in the state. 4 copy
Of the statutes was found and the Sec
rotary read the law providing that
such committees shall consist of only
one member from each county in the
state
After some little discussion it was
agreed lAat this could not apply to a
committee that was in existence prior
% the passage OF the law, and the mo-
ion to proceed with the filling of va
cancies was put and carried.
Nominations Made.
The resignation of r. A. Buford, of
Ccala, member at large, was at this
Joint read and accepted, and then
nominations for the filing of vacan-
lies were proceeded with.
A. V. Long nominated S. J. Hill
Iurn, of Palatka
Frank Walpole nominated r. D.
Knight of Jacksonville.
4
= Carter. but at the request of Mr..
carter withdrew the name and nomi-
lated H. H. McCreary of Gainesville ]
A. w. Cockrell nominated s. j. :
Bitch of Marion
Nominated c. o. Codrington Of vo- .
usia Il
j. d. Boggs nominated Charles
,ougherty of Volusia
L'Engle Stays In.
Then came up little argument