The weekly true Democrat., 1908-06-05
Gilchrist for Governor.

next Governor Of Florida. These rea
sons we're pointed out by the news
papers supporting Gilchrist in the FRS
primary campaign and we're uttered
from the platform wherever a Gilchrist
meeting was held.
The people who came IN contact with
the man, who had the opportunity 20
study him at close range, TO hear him
speak, and particularly those people
who had the further opportunity OF
comparing him with his chief opponent
did not fail to gain a correct under
standing Of the situation; and the re-
suit was that, although comparatively
new TO politics and without an organi-
CATION to speak OF Gen Gilchrist ran
far ahead Of John Stockton in the first
primary. He carried tWenty-four
counties In the first race, the counties
where he was best known or where
he had spent most OF his time being the
ones which gave him the largest major
tiles. In his home county he received
an overwhelming majority, in strik-
Ing contrast to Stockton, who lost his
own county and his own precinct.
Now that Gen. Gilchrist Is before the
people for a confirmation OF the pre-
-
opposed by John Stockton alone, Il be-
comes the duty Of the good Democrats
of Florida to give that confirmation I'm
no uncertain figures.
The issue is clearly drawn between
the machine type Of politics. with all
its attendant isms, as represented by
Stockton, and the sober, sensible, hon
est and independent Democracy typifed
in Albert Gilchrist.
1t is significant that, in no instance
since he began his campaign for Gov
ernor, has Gen. Gilchrist committed a
political blunder; his utterances have
all been thoroughly consistent.
This is because the man himself is
consistent and, in his candidacy, ap-
pears in his own personality and char
acter, without that sham, deceit and
hypocrisy which so often make seek
ers for public Office seem other than
they really are.
Gilchrist is Gilchrist throughout-he
wears no mask-he cOnceals no collar
or political subserviency beneath the
outward garb of his claims TO prefer
ment
If he is elected Governor, Florida
will have a MAN in the Governors
chair-a can capable Of doing the State
credit and Of rendering good and hon
est service, with equal opportunities
to all and special privileges to none.
On the other hand, the people Of Flor
Ida have but to scan the political career
OF John Stockton to find the conspicu-
Gus flaws which exist in its despatched
fabric
he has always been q politician, q
politician Of narrow and biased views,
. man OF bitter antipathies and dis
ordered vision, one who can see nothing
good In anything that does not contrib
ute to his personal advancement, one |
who is for Stockton frst and the other |
people afterwards, whose idea of seTv- |
ing the people is what he can get out |
OF Il and not what they deserve or de-
Sire
John Stockton % the GOUeTnor's |
chair would be worse than BrOward, be-
cause Broward has, In some cases, con-
aidered the welfare OF the State, while
Stockton would make the once q mere
convenience, a medium through which
TO benefit the personal ambition and
fortunes OF John Stockton and John
StocktOns particular friends.
In this connection, II is interesting
70 note, In the newspaper accounts OF
such public meetings as have been
held since the frst primary, that Mr..
Stockton has been conspicuously abb
sent, represented by some proxy; and
this gives color to the story that, prof
iting by the experience OF the campaign
preceding the first primary, in which
Mr.. Stockton lost nearly every where
that he personally appeared, his man
ayers will, this time keep him away
from the people as much as possible.
This is a very peculiar, not to say
cowardly, form Of political expediency
and prompts the thought than a man
who cannot be trusted to appear be-
fore the people for fear that he will In
jure his own cause, would be indeed an
unfit and dangerous man to place In
the office of Chief Executive OF b
State.
On the other hand, Gen. Gilchrist
will appear before the people just as
often as the time intervening before the
second primary will permit
His friends and supporters have
nothing to fear from closer personal
inspection Of their candidate.
The people Of Florida will know Al
bert W. Gilchrist better on June 16
than they knew him on May 19-and,
knowing him better, will give him a
much larger vote.
While every indication points unmis-
takably to his nomination, there should
be 10 waning Of enthusiasm in his
cause, no cessation Of that hard and
earnest work which counts for so
much in politics.