Gainesville daily sun. (Gainesville, Fla.) 190?-1938, 1908-01-13

Wall OF HIllsborOugh, Hon. Ed. 81.
Hammond Of Orange, Hon. Joseph F.
Baya Of Columbia, Hon. Robert F.
Rogers Of Suwannee, Hon. Fred T.
Myers Of Leon. and Others-outgener-
aled the Call people in the caucus by
passing a resolution in the caucus
adopting the twothirds rule, and
providing that in the joint session
each day the votes should be so scat.
tered as not to make an election Of a
Senator until the caucus had, by a
two-thlrds vote, nominated a candi-
date for the party. With these two
points gained, the and-Call people
went into the fight determined to win.
Mr.. Call had slXty-three votes in
the caucus when the contest began.
but he lacked three votes Of the re-
quisite tWo-thirds. Clark was a Call
man. and from the very beginning he
was the recognized leader Of the Call
people on the floor Of the House; and
in the caucus itself he and Senator
Dalton H. Yancey Of Lake divided the
hOnors as the undisputed Call leaders
on the floor OF the caucus. Many were
the hot oratorical duels that took
place on the floor when Hammond and
Dougherty measured swords with Yam.
cey and Clark. For more than six
weeks--night after nlght-the weary
struggle went on. growing more bitter
as the session Of the Legislature. by
constitutional Limitation. drew TO a
close. Mr. Call had steadily lost. one
by one. until what was known as The
Tall Call Column has gone down to
hfty-two.
THE object Of the anti-Call forces
was to go OIL and on until the Legis.
lature should die, leaving the appoint.
ment OF a Senator 10 Governor Elem.
ing, who was stalwart anti-Call man
Clark, Yancey. Browne and others
saw this. and determined that there
was only one way 10 win, and that
was 10 adjourn the caucus sine die
then go into the Joint session aud
elect their candidate. The caucus had
been held each night with open doors.
and as the citizenship OF Tallahassee
was overwhelmingly antlCall and the
lobby was packed by these outsiders
every night, who cheered the anti.
Call forces and jeered at the Sen |
ator's supporters II was determined |
10 clear the lobby and debate the ques-
ion OF Adjournment sine die behind |
,losed doors. But some reason must !
be- found for this procedure. and Clark |
'oon furnlshedl (unintentionally. per.
laps) ample reason. He got into a
very heated debate with Senator B.
,. Kirk Of fernando, which finally be-
,ame so hot that II ended In a physl-
al encounter between the two gentle
men upon the floor OF the caucus.
rs soon as the fight started. It ap-
feared TO us as.if all OF the men pres
mt were engaged In II. We have Of
en- since wondered at the fact that
10 one vas seriously injured.
The next night after long hours
Il heated debate. the resolution ex.
'ludipg all persons from the caucus
Except members, attaches and news
'aper correspondents, was passed. and
he next night the caucus, by vote.
vas adjourned sine die. Then came
he skipping out OF flttecn Senators
the babes In the wood and finally
he election OF Senator Call by count.
ng quorum. President Browne say.
ng; Record Mr.. Nelson OF Sumter as
resent and not voting
The antiCall forces. during all OF
his long. weary. bitter fight. had no
nc candid te. They were willing. at
ny stage Of the contest, To take any
lIrminded competent man This
ritter knows that the entire anti.Cail
ote was offered TO Frank Clark, He
noNs that seven or eight OF the sup
orters OF Can assured Clark that
be would accept the otIer OF the
opponents, they would IKE.
Use give him their support. thus In.
aring his election as a senator for
be full term Of six years Mr. Goode.
representative from ~. Johns coun.
r. and an ardent supporter 81 Cali.
egged Clark TO allow the use Of his
anne, Others ala the same thing
nj The Young legislator took the 10
,ion that hls constituents we're Tor