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

Editor Pensacola Journal:
Upon my return to the city on last
Sunday evening, after a weeks Sb-
sence from the state. Mr.. ". A.
BlountS reply to my proposition was
brought to my attention. l observe
that he undertakes to make public
only a few" of the numerous" rea-
sons which led him TO decline this
proposition. Since the chief reason
does not appear among the few which
he mentions, it must be included in
the numerous reasons which he did
not make public. Briefly stated the
reasons are as follows:
Mr.. BIount's Reasons.
First. Such a primary would be
construed IN other portions OF the
state as an attempt upon the part of
West Florida to dictate to the re-
mainder of the state who the Candi-
date from West Florida shall be and
that this would be resented by other
sections Of the state.
Second. That it would be the
plainest and simplest politics for the
friends of all the other candidates to
vote against the stronger man and
for che weaker, in order that the
weaker candidate might be selected
to oppose their real choice from some
other section.
Third. That the contest in such a
primary being a personal one between
the two West Florida candidates
would engender resentments which
would mitigate against the successful
candidate in the regular primary
Fourth. That there would be no
sufficient safeguard thrown around
the election.
WEST FLORIDA SENTIMENT.
No one at all familiar with the sen
timent in West Florida need be told
that Mr.. Blounts principal reason for
declining the proposition is the GER
tainty that he would be repudiated by
the people of West Florida by an
overwhelming majority. He seems 10
admit his weakness when in one
breath he expresses the belief that
the friends of all the other candidates
would vote for the weaker man and IN
the next breath says Il believe such
primary would result in my being
shown to be the choice of West Flor
ida" Do not these statements involve
the admission that as the weaker man
he would receive the support Of the
friends of all the other candidates, for
IL he believed the result would show
him to be the choice Of West Florida
in spite of the votes of the friends OF
all the other candidates, he could not
urge the question as to how they
would vote as a reason for declining
my proposition. If Mr.. BIOunt is can
did In his statement, his reason is far
fetched and futile and not worth tha
unjust imputatiOn against the pOlfti-
cal sincerity of those whose support
he seeks. The charge. of course, was
essential TO the reason, but such a
charges deserved a weightier reason.
In view OF his statement. it was no
reason and should have been discard
ed for one Of those numerous reasons
which he I'D not make public.
OTHER SUPPORTERS.
It Is said mat any attempt to hold
such 2 primary would be resented in
other parts of the state-in other
words Mr.. BlouHt's victory in West
Florida would SO insult his numerous
friends in other parts Of the state as
really to drive them from him What
peculiar supportersi What peculiar
political friends Mr.. Blounts support
erS must be! What a peculiar DO
litical position he must occupy. / too
have supporters IN middle, east and
South Florida, equally as numerous I
believe as are the supporters of Mr..
BlOunt, probably more so. and / have
no fear that my victory in West Flor
ida would ALLEVIATE one OF them and 3
am not afraid that It would effect NV
chances Of winning others. / do not
DeiIeNe NHsL my IFlenoS II CLaeF Sec
tons of the state would object TO see3
ing Mr.. BlOunt eliminated, and it IS
hard to believe that MP BIouHts
friends would object to seeing me
eliminated. II they did. they would
be peculiar friends indeed. Is it not
more reasonable to believe that both
Mr.. Blount and his friends fear his
elimination in such a primary?
THE cQ&5TEs
The third reason IS 1Aat a contest
between the two would aHgender a biti