The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1909-10-26

The following letter by Hon. ". 4.
6Iouht IS IN reply TO a letter by judge
L. ). Reeves issued two weeks AGO
and suggesting a West Florida prim-
airy Tor the purpose Of determiuins
Wnich OF the Two should remain as a
candidate for the United States sen
ate:
THE PROPOSED PRIMARY.
PENSACOLA, Fla, Oct 25, 1909.
Editor Pensacola Journal:
Two weeks ago. a letter bv Judge
l.. j. Reeves. published in the PeDsa-
cola papers, suggesting Z preliminary
primary IN all OF the counties west
OF the Chocta whatChie river. to de-
termlne whether he OF I should be
the candidate OF West Florida for the
United States senate, in the general
primaries to be held next year. was
brought to my notice. I was absent
at the time, and only returned a week
ago, and since then have been So
ousy With the press of professional
business accumulated during nv alb
Sence, that I Just now find time 10
give 1t attention.
Though the letter is not addressed
TO me, j presume that il is expected
that / should adopt or reject the suc-
geSt1on therein contained. Thus as
Stunning, / answer the suggestion. and.
or course. as Judge Reeves expected,
decline to adopt It. I decline in spite
or the fact that I believe that such
primary would result in nv being
shown TO be the choice Of the voters
OF West Florida. The sufficient rpa-
sons why / should decline are so num-
erous, that 1t requires a selection from
ID 10 avoid wearying voUr readers,
a. 4, hence, / give only some of them:
A FEW REASONS.
The proposition involves the as
that West Florida is alone
concerned In the selection of a candi-
date from West Florida This is en-,
urely erroneous. A sense of fair
ness and the desire to prevent the
centralizing Of offers in one section
or the state, may cause the voters
throughout the state to desire a candi-
date residing in West Florida. but all
of such voters have right to select
the man from West Florida for WHOM
they wish to vote. An attempt on the
part Of West Florida to dictate to the
remainder or the state, on this i'm
portant point would be strongly re-
scented, and would result in the Ger
tain defeat of the candidate selected
at the proposal primary / decline 70
put myself in the position indicated
While ] believe that at the present
time one Of the senators from Florida
should reside IN West Florida, yet,
believe that he should be the candi-
date of all those throughout the state
who desire him as such senator. n
l should be elected senator. while 1
would ever have West Florida in care
ful remembrance, and by reason or
my knowledge Of her needs might BE-
best fitted TO serve her interests, yet.
would be, and be proud OF being. the
senator of the whole state OF Florida
OF course, this being so, all portions
Of the state should have the opportunf-
ty 10 determine whether I should be
such senator
PLAN WOULD DEFEAT BOTH.
The proposed primary would GER
tainly defeat both Judge Reeves and
me. There is no way Of excluding the
friends Of eli the other candidates
from that primary. Those candidates
state l am much stronger than Judge
Reeves, and in the proposed West
Florida primary their friends would
vote against me, and for Judge
Reeves, 50 as to leave the weaker
candidate in the field. Then, in the
general primary. having eliminated
the stronger candidate. they could
easily vanquish the weaker This
would be the plainest and simplest
politics. Of course. the suggestion
hat all candidates might be voted
or in this primary, is not feasible,
or II would not be permissible or
ust to test the strength Of the other
candidates in West Florida. without
heir participation in the primary and
Is preceding canvass, and, Of course,
hey would not participate. Even II
hey were TO participate, the result
would be the same, for the follow
rs of each would refrain from voting