The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-05-16

Senator Milton has issued the follow
ing open letter to the voters of Jeffer-
son county:
Mariana, Fla, May II, 1908.
To the Voters of jefferson County:
The last issue of the Monticello
News, based on wrong information,
has published the false report that I
received the appointment to the
United States senate by reason of a
trade with Governor Broward. This
charge is absolutely untrue, as ] wa
at the time supporter of Governor
Broward's and had been for years.
The same paper urges you to vote for
w. B. Lamar, saying that it would be
unkind and ungrateful for Jefferson
county to vote against him. Many of
you are anti-corporation democrats,
and as i am one also, l write you in
reference to the candidacy of w B..
Lamar for the United States senate:
I first met Mr. Lamar at the st.
Augustine convention, He seemed a
gentleman and we became both per-
sonal and political friends. For more
than twenty years | supported him for
positions. When he was a candidate
for congress, 4 not only Loyalty sup
ported him, but worked both d"y and
night to nominate him. and used all
honorable means to that end, although
number OF my personal friends in
this county fought his candidacy be-
cause they did not think ne gave me,
in my race for governor in 1900. the
support they thought he should have
given. but gave it to w. S. Jennings.
| In my long. support OF Lamar, l was
actuated. to a great extent, by the
fact that he claimed to be anti-corpo-
ration. I have always heard that his
mental capacity was limited, and his
political ideas little, but usually he
was the only anti-corporation candi-
date for the position for which / sup
ported him. and too. liked him per-
sonally. We were good friends, as
thousl. az / also deemed h "a sin
cere n MS Claims that he fought for
the peoples rights.
When he. became candidate for
the United States senate ] thought his
capacity too small and as w. Bryan
was an anti-corporation Candidate of
distinguished ability, I, believing it
right TO support the best man, wrote
Bryan that ] would support him, but
told him that 4 could not do more, as
on account of the long personal friend
ship between Lamar and me, did not
think he could expect me to actively
oppose Lamar. l also wrote Mr.. Bry-
an at the same time that l would re-
serve the right, in case a certain very
strong CORPORATION candidate an
nounced, to urge Governor Broward
to enter the race. as thought him the
strongest candidate on the peoples
side in the state. Senator Bryan
wrote me that he fully appreciated
my ideas of friendship and what I
thought was for the best interest of
Florida. No nobler, man1ier man, of
| refined instincts, ever graced the SEN
atorial toga than w. J. Bryan.
| Shortly after this, Mr.. TRAY made a
trip in West Florida in the interest of
| Lamar. stating that he and Mr. JEFF
Lamar had traded, and that the friends
were to support Taliaferro two years
| from now Hearing of this, and thiuk-
/ ing there must be some mistake in
| the report, / did not mention it, but
/ wrote Lamar and told him what ]
| heard that TRAY had said, and that ]
thought from orr long friendship and
| fight against corporation influences
| that he was due me an explanation
He wrote me, and on the same mail
! that brought the letter, Mr.. jeff La
| mar, came to see me TO explain it. His
| explanation was a failure. as he ad
mitted talking to TRAY in Jackson
vile on the subject, and the 1anguag
| that he used was an offer for support
an offer which Mr.. TRAY accepted
and, acted on in good faith, for he al
once went to work for Lamar Other
| friendly letters passed between Lamar
and myself. He wrote me that Sena
tor Bryan was desperately i'll, that his