The weekly true Democrat., 1908-06-05
THEY WANT FACTS.
JaekeonyiIIe. a.. jon 2. laOa.


This, like the open letter of the 9Th
Of May, is addressed 10 you, not as an
individual, but as q candidate before
the white people of Florida, who are
democrats, for the nomination as their
candidate for Governor
As usual, when you want an office,
/ you have been posing as THE Great
Democrat, the Fearless Defender of
the peoples rights, as standing for the
rights Of the people etc. Fortunately
those to whom you have been appeal
ing are the white democrats Of Flori-
da. They know what their rights are
and are not looking for any "Defend-
er" at all, but for q democrat, as their
nominee for Governor. In making
their selection, what they want are
facts, not advice. Given the facts thev
will surely reach the right conclusion.
The purpose of this letter is to place
before them the facts Of which, up to
date, it seems some of them have not
had knowledge. In your Platform"
as you call 1t, by adrOit use Of the word
approved, some have evidently been
misled. The fact is, that amending
the Constitution is a matter resting
solely with the people and the Leg
islature. If a majority Of three ffths
of all the members elected to each
House of the Legislature favor a reso-
luton proposing an amendment, no
recommendation" by the Governor is
necessary; and the proposed amend
ment is submitted to the people for
their action upon it. If the required
majority of the Legislature is not IN
favor Of a resolution proposing an
amendment, the recommendation of
the Governor amounts to nothing.
AS a further matter of fact, the
Legislature does not act in accordance
with a majority of recommendations of
the Executive; and although, you speak
of your intention to keep the Leg
islature up to its duty to the people"
etc., it is we'll that such is the case.
for the Governor is one man, and the
Legislature represents all the people.
Experience has shown too, the wisdom
of the Fathers in so widely separating
the legislative and executive DEPART
ments of government in our country
and III the States.
We all have to take the political
promises Of a candidate as to the fu-
-fBre, but are prone to judge him by his
performances in the past. What Of
your own? In 1884, when white su-
premacy was first established in ali
parts of this State, you did not support
all the nominees Of the democratic
party and thereby contribute to the re-
suit. In 1896, when you were elected
TO the Legislature from your county
lthe only time you were ever elected
y a state ofice) you was elected as an
independently or ''straightOut" by
the votes Of the negroes, In shoSt,
you ran against democrats nominated
by a democratic county convention, and
defeated them with the votes of the
negroes. Your majority too, was ex-
ceedingly small.
After all that, and now, you are ask
ing white democrats to give you the
highest Office within their gift. / do
not believe they will do 80. / do not
believe you would have the temerity
TO ask it, except that you venture TO
assume that they are not aware Of the
facts cited above. No question Of per
sonal character or Of any personal ma
ture whatsoever enters here and now.
The only question isis the above
made statement true7 If it is not the
truth, il is ibelOus and slanderous and
invite you to TO take me into court
where will be and should be punished
IS the law directs.
An effort has been made to make it
appear that your attitude upon the
liquor question was the cause Of
your overwhelming defeat in your own
county; but that Is not true. You never
have carried Duval county except when
you did so by the aid Of negro votes.
There was no "liquOr question" four
years ago when you were defeated as q
candidate for Senator. But there were
then, and there are now, very many
white democrats who know of and who
remember your performances with
the negro vote, not only to control city
affairs, but to elect yourself TO the
Legislature against the nominees Of a
convention Of democrats.
Since the first primary, you seem to
have abandoned all the teaching Of the
little "catechism" you call Platform. "
You now seem to cling to Prohibit
ion" pure and simple. If ] cold l
would prohibit the manufacture Of all
intoxicants in the United States and
their importation also. That kind Of
prohibition would be effective.
From 1866 to 1884 there was a strug-
gle against great ODDS, for white demo-
cratic supremacy in this State. BY
an election law, which is admittedly
fair, that supremacy Is now securely
established, and the negro is practically
eliminated from state politics. There
Is no more certain and no surer way 20
rehabilite him politically and to give
him the balance of power, than BY
doing what you are. seeking TO aeom:.
plish. Besides all that q fundamental