The weekly true Democrat., 1908-06-05
SHAMEFUL WARFARE.


Christians are permitting themselves
to be used as political cat's-paws for
Mr.. Stockton and his cO-adjutors in the
shameful warfare now beng waged
against General Gilchrist, whose neigh
bOrs know him to be one Of the most
high-toned, honorable, conscientious
gentlemen of Florida.
The press of the state is now filled
with editorials and paid advertisements,
in which the unblushing and outrageous
charge is made that, if Gilchrist ia cho-
sen governor, he will be controlled by
the whiskey element and the corpora
tiOns, and we notice that a number of
preachers and some Christian bodies
have been betrayed into believing this
calumny and are exerting their influ-
ence against Gilchrist and in favor Of
Mr.. Stockton.
Realizing the desperate nature Of Mr..
Stockton's chances of winning in the
coming primary and being utterly
unable to find anything else tangible
to allege against Gilchrist, ths ad-
vOcates Of the former have seized upon
this slander as a drowning man clutch
es to a straw and have induced many
good people to believe that Gilchrist is
in league with the saloons and corpO-
ratiOns and, if elected, will be a plant
tool in their hands.
If the editor of the Herald believed
this charge, he, as a church member
and a consistent prohibitionist, would
not support General Gilchrist, but he
knows it to be false, as he is well &C
quainted with General Gilchrist and
knows that no man or set of men can
control or even influence him to act con-
trary to his convictions and his ehsrac-
ter as one of the high-toned and honor
able gentlemen of Florida.
If the really patriotic and Christian
people will only for a moment consider
this charge. they will understand its
arrant injustice and properly reset the
insiduOuS attempt TO make political cats
paws of them in the interest Of Mr..
Stockton.
The cslumny Is based upon the al
legged fact that the liquor and corpora
tion people are supporting General Gil
christ. We do not know whether this
is true or not, but, granting that it is,
Mr.. StOckton's adherents dare not as
sert that these interests have received
any promise from Mr.. Gilchrist. The
reason for their course is found IN their
having the assurance that Gilchrist is q
fair man and will treat all Interests
with impartiality, expressing none, dis
eliminating against none, but giving
every one a square deal;" whereas,
Mr.. Stockton is a peace disturber, q
bitter and relentless partisan who, with
his chief abettOrs, has kept Jackson
vile and Duval county in political tur-
mOil and dissensiOn for many years.
AS to General Gilchrist being con-
trolled by saloon and corporation ele-
ments because they favor his candidacy,
we who know him best know that Il is
not 80. Even Mr.. Claude L'Engle, who
IS now doing ell he can to circulate this
slander and nislead good people that he
may keep Ghe State printing, said IN
his paper few months back that "the
corporations do not want Gilchrist, be-
cause they know they cannot control
him." and he might truthfully have
said the same thing about the saloon
people. Mr.. L'Engle also says in his
first paid advertisement on this subject,
Stockton as governor cannot put on
State Prohibition; that power lies solely
with the people, who vote
yes or no by direct ballot "
True nor can Gilchrist give US State
Prohibition. The governor has abso-
lutely nothing to do with the question.
Even the legislature cannot give US
State Prohibition, for Article XIX of
the Constitution guarantees 70 the peo-
pie of the various counties the RIGHT to
say by their votes whether Whiskey
may be sold in their counties OE not,
and the legislature cannot take away
this right This being so, and the gov
ernor having absolutely nothing to do
with the question, it win appear TO
every man of common ne who is not
''daft" on Stockton tlat the whiskey
men have nothing save fair treatment