The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-06-21
The Primary Election, the
Victors and the Vanquished.

One OF the striking features OF
American politics is the unqualified
acceptance by the people of the esult
of every election and the Immediate
| adaptAbility by the public to whatever
changed conditions arise as the result
! OF the maiOrity's action.
Another striking feature of Ameri-
can political lie is the fact, strange
! as il may seem, that elections do not
change conditions so materially after
all. We make great ado about it
during the campaign. The prosperity
and happiness of the people and the
perpetuity of the government all hinge
on the result of this particular cam
paign. But somehow, after the battle
is Fought and won-or lost, as the
case may be-the people, for some I'M
accountable reason, still continue to
be reasonably prosperous and happy
and the government moves on with
as much regularity as though nothing
had happened.
And so it is in Florida. the cam
paign is now over Some have won
and some have lost. But the people
will continue ito be contented and
happy and by the time the winners
are inaugurated into Office we shall
all, for the most part at least, have
forgotten what our differences were
or why we differed.
In the campaign which was conclud-
ed last week several of the candidates
that some of US suppSsted were de-
Eeated. They were all good men and
the principles they stood for were,
in The Journals opinion, sound, but
the majority of tAe people were not
of the same opinSOn and the oppo-
nents of these candidates were nomi-
mated. They will make, we believe,
ereditable public servants and the
state will continue under their adj
ministrations to develop and progress
in all of its varied lines o. industry.
We regret very much the defeat of
Governor Broward, because we be-
lieves that he would accomplish more
for the state in the federal senate
tnau his opponent could do. We have
no hesitancy, however, in according
TO Duncan u. Fletcher a sincere con-
tidence in his democracy, his ability,
and his patriotic purpose to serve the
people of Florida. What he will ac-
complish for the state remains of !
course to be seen, but he will without
question make a representative o.
whom Florida never need DE ashamed !
and who. We believe, will reflect |
credit upon the state in all of mis- !
work and effort
The defeat of John n. C. Stockton /
for governor and the nomination o. /
ALBERT W. Gilchrist by a majority so /
decisive was one of those singular /
expressions of public sentiment which |
st is not always easy to understand. !
Ostensibly the issue was state option !
VS.. county option in the prohibition
of the liquor business. and the coun-
~ option issue won. Yet the support
ers o. the successful candidate main
tainei that the governor OF the state
had absolutely nothing TO do with the
question either of state prohibition or
county prohibition, and many proh-
bitioniSts supported him on tnat
gaound. This is evident from the
fact that some of the largest coun.
ties in the state which gave maiorI-
ties to Gilchrist at the same time
elected dry members TO the legisla-
ture.
However, speculation as 90 how ~
happened Is not calculated 10 accom-
plish anything. We regret John
Stockton's defeat because we believed
in the things that he stood for. Bat
in the election CT Albert w. Gilch:iSt.
the state will have an honest exccu-
tive and one who We DO not believe
can be improperly Influenced either !
by his friends or his opponents. He I
is big, honest, good hearted. and pa,
triotic and We trust and believe he
will make a good governor.
The race for congress between j. j
Walter Kehoe and Dannitte H. Mays
Is so close On the face OF, the returns !
that il will require the official count (
to determine the result. Kehoe, be-
cause of his youth, ais energy, AMI
bis ambition, was The Journals choice