The Pensacola journal., 1908-10-30
(PoIITIcAL ADVERTISEMENT
BINGHAM s
'SNAP-bACK'
F. F. Bingharn's Reply to the
Democratic Rally Speak
ers as to the Legislative
Race.
10 P. NJ. THURSDAY


day for a column of the Journals"
advertising space, in which to make
answer to any arguments that might
be presented at tonight's rally against
the election of Pollock and Bingham
to tle legislature, / had supposed that
would have to condenSe my answer
into the fewest possible words in Or
der not to exceed a column.
Now, however. the speaking is over.
and the arguments presented, pre-
sumably all of the arguments that
could be presented, are SO few in num-
ber and are of such a fimsy charac-
ter, that / am satisfied full and COM
plete answer could be made in a
space one column wide and one inch
long, so I find I have space to burn.
TIE line of argument adopted by
the local speakers was directed toward
the legislative end of our ticket ex-
cluSively, indicating one of two
things, viz. ID Either that they had
given up the contest that Messrs
Kehoe and Mays and the supreme
court have been waging 70 save the
Third congressional district, or Cd
that they thought the Hon. d. H.
Mays could handle the situation.
The local speakers. all personal
friends of mine, and all personal
L DClCNC, VI ludlOs
DIR. Andrew Jackson Pollock, after
unanimously agreeing. that we were
both fine, progressive fellows, confined
themselves to an endeavor to convince
the audience that we ought to be de-
feated for the following. two. and only
two, reasons:
1. That if elected two democrats
would be defeated.
o. That if elected Escambia county
would in effect be without representa-
tion.
The showing made by the distin-
guished speakers convinced every
man in the audience that the speakers
were eminently correct as to No. 1.
| went to the meeting with a heart
full of StubborneSS, but so convincing
were the arguments presented as to
Contention No. l, that / too, had to ac-
the corn and swallow the
cob.
AS to Assertion No. ., say no, NO.
/ could fill my column of space with
nos.
Great stress was laid on the state
ment that the late Captain Ware. a
representing Franklin
was not able to pass n bill.
But after the meeting one of the
speakers, former representative OF
EScambia county, told me Captain
Ware was one of the best. most level
headed men in the legislature. Per.
haps his influence was there just the
same. and was effective in the states
and his county'S interest. There are
people who say We have too many
laws, and that the legislature should
meet only once in twenty years.
But here is the main fact in the
case of Captain Ware The good peo-
pie of Franklin county waited too long.
When he finally secured his election
to the legislature he was m old man
and in the poorest of health (there is
a hidden warning there for Escambia).
He was physically unable to cope with
the finished statesmen from the lower
regions and neither regions of Florida.
l make no reference to our West Flor
ida representatives. because 50 far as
I can Judge. they have cut no figure
at Tallahassee in many years.
But we would be effective There
are always two elements in the state
progressive element
and a non-progressive element. We
would join hands with the progress
sive element. Escambia's interests
are much the same as Duvars, Hills
borough's and Monroe's, and the
cities of Pensacola, Jacksonville,
Tampa and Key West would pull to-
gether, and pretty nearly If not en-
tirely handle the situation.
Our opponents, If elected, represent
ing as they do the sentiments. say. of
Santa Rosa County, would De abso-
iutely out of line with the sentiments
of the populous and progressive coun-
ties of the State. While working
with the progressive counties OF the
ssvI,+ h.a
working for Escambia. all the time.
laws. permitting the greatest possible
prosperity and development.
So Assertion No. 2 must, and will,
fall to the ground as an absolute and
positive absurdity.
Ffeel indignant that the good peo-
pie of Pensacola were asked to come
out on such a disagreeable night and
listen to such nonsense
What the people did turn out for
was to hear what Mr.. Virgins
thought about the City Charter prop
osition, about the City paving bill.
about immigration, about the Con
vict Lease System and whether in
his judgment, a citizen, Or only a
lawyer. should I'LL the Office of City
Recorder.
AheS Hde curiosity 10 see MI.
Virgins for themselves. for news
paper pictures are notoriously natter
ing.
But Mr.. Virgins staid on the
ground. and way back.
Further they, the good people OF
Pensacola, wanted to hear from Mr..
Stckes's own lips and before a big
wet and dry crowd. whether he was
really Wet or really Dry. But Law
yef Stokes did not appear and some
people will so TO their graves believ-
ing he was wet while others Will be
equally as positive that he was dry.
4 frosti
The People were foiied. but for the
time only.
F. F. BINGHAM. for Pollock and