The weekly true Democrat., 1908-04-03


District of Florida. AS the leading
candidate it is but natural that the bat
teries Of all the other candidates should
be turned upon him, and that was eX-
pected of those in the field, but why
did it become necessary for Jefferson's
chronic office-saeer TO get % at the
last mo- nt end open on Griggs trail
like 30 pack closely pressing the sly
old fellow of many a bam-yard raid in
the early dawn?
1t is perhaps more to the point to en-
phasize the reason for his candidacy at
this particular time for as stated it
might well be taken for granted that
all candidates IN Jdct-or straight-Out,
dyed-in-the-wool candidates, would fight
Griggs. But does it not seem that his
candidacy at this particular time, as it
has been on so many other occasions, is
not so much for the purpose of getting
the Office himself, but for the sole and
only purpose Of defeating Griggs.
Inasmuch as four other candidates
were already in the field when he en-
tered, and the woods had been shelled
with grape and canistry as well as
raked with fine tooth comb, igura-
lively speaking, for pledges, it would
be unreasonable to suppose that any
man, regardless of his popularity, could
expect to win, or even corral enough
support to get him into the second pri-
mary. We must look further therefore
for reasons prompting his candidacy.
In 1901, before the Florida legisla-
ture, Of which he was a member, he
made a record for himself of allowing
himself used as a candidate to defeat
another man, by pulling away certain
votes, to-wit: his two colleagues, in the
hope they would stay, "broke away"
when the real candidates name was
presented to the legislature. 1t has
been alleged, and seemingly not with
out good reason, that he has maintained
it well ever since
We do not mean to imply that he
does not want the office-far from it.
His whole life has been one too selfshly
grasping for anyone who knows him
not to suppose that Mr.. Mays wants the
Office, not only that, he wants every
thing else under the sun that is worth
having, but it is simply out of the
question for him to get it, Then why
did he become a candidate at the time
he did?
Simply for the purpose of taking
from the Griggs column the almost solid
vote Of Jefferson and Madison counties,
thinking perhaps that he would take
from him also a majority of Icons vote.
This, it was figured, would cripple
GriRgs in his stronghold.
But the scleme will not work, it is
too transparent. The people will see
through it as they have already seen
through the reasons that prompted him
to advise them four years ago that in
the event he was not in the second pri-
mary for governor, to vote for whoever
was against Bob Davis, and then just
as soon as it was known that he would
not be in it, turn about-face and advise
them to vote for Davis. The people
are not foolish enough not to know
what caused that sudden change Of
heart.
Then why not suppose the same un-
derlying principles govern him in this
instance?
Now, a word about Griggs. He has
no such record. He is not trying to
tool the farmers right from the jump
into believing he is one of them, but he
is friend to every man that is trying
to make something When at home
Griggs' whole time is put in trying to
make something grow; trying to make
something exist that has never existed
befOre-in other words, he is develop
eT-a successful one. The State needs
such men in all the Offices.
And Griggs never went back on a
principle. Never went back on friend.
What he believes he processes, and
hammers everlastingly at 1t until he
succeeds. He is going to Congress.
| ~-~-~~~~~~~~~~~-~-
Hon. Duncan u. Fletcher spent yes
terday and part Of to-day among his
Tallahassee friends. Sorry we were
out when he visited our Office.
|
| We will 90 the limit 10 helm Editor