The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1909-11-05

and involve many more people
There would have been a. longer
period between the preliminary pri-
mary and the first regular primary for
the healing of wounds than there will
be between the two regular primaries.
AS TO SAFEGUARDS.
The fourth and last reason is that
there would be no safeguards SUI
rounding Official elections or even the
primary elections" and that those con-
Quoting the election would not be
bound by the obligation of an oath.
Here again there is an insinuation
which ] do not endorse. My assocta-
ton and contact with the masses Of
the people OF West Florida have given
me confidence in them which Mr.
Blount does not seem to share. |
firmly believe that the inspectors,
clerks and canvassing board would
honestly perform their duties as they
saw them. But, for the sake of argu-
ment, let us assume that Mr. Blounts
insinuation is justifiable. One half
the inspectors and officials would
have been chosen by him and his
friends. In any event it is apparent
that this chance would have been as
good as mine and /, for my part, was
willing to abide the consequences.
Every one who is at all familiar
with the sentiment in West Florida
and who has read Mr.. Blount's claim
of strength in West Florida may judge
Of the value of his ideas as to his
strength in ohter parts Of the state
Any one who knows anything OF Do
litical conditions in West Florida
strength in other parts of the state.
Mr.. Blount is today the least foFmida-
BILE candidate in the field. II is my
candid opinion that he has at present
no greater strength in any other Sec
ton.
In announcing my candidacy / stat
ed a literal truth when I said that I
was induced to announce by the per
sistent requests of friends. l believe
that Mr.. Blount also stated the literal
truth when he said in his announce
ment that he was entering the race
unsolicited in order to crafty a per
sonal ombition.
WAS SUSPECTED"
Mr.. Blount was also nearly correct
in assuming that l expected" him to
refuse my proposition but he would
have been more nearly accurate had
he said that suspected that he would
decline my proposition. Still it was
sincerely made with the earnest de-
sire that he would accept. l believed
that / could be elected. / then be-
lieved and still believe that he cannot
be. Naturally l did not wish to be
handicapped. / feared that he would
decline. not for the reasons that he
gives, though they were anticipated,
but for more palpable ones. l thought
he might be inclined to reject my
proposition because / gave him credit
for sufficient political sagacity to ap-
preciate our comparative strength in
West Florida. / also believed that he
would over-eStimate the effect of the
forces relied upon to operate in his
favor and their supposed ultimate ex-
hausting effect upon his opponent L
also believed he would over-estimate
his ability to force his way. 1T will
require a verdict of the people to de
eide which of our judgments is cor
rect. Ii Mr.. Blount expected the pub
lie to accept the reasons given as the
principal one, which he did not men
ton, he will yet have to find that the
public understands him better than he
understands the public.
Yours respectfully,
L. J. REEVES.