The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1911-04-07
HOWELL A. DAVIS
A THIRD TERMER.
Reelected Mayor of Palatka
on Tuesday by a Big
Majority
Over c. A. LeHardy, Socialistic Can
didate.

Over {. A. Leftardy, oociahstic Nah-
didate.
Howell A. Davis, one of Palatka' S
best known and most progressive GILL
zens, a successful manufacturer and long
recognized as a leading spirit in the
work of modernizing this city, was on
Tuesday, reelected to the office OF
mayor by majority of l62 votes over
C. A. LeHardy the recognized head OF
the local socialistic movement, and with
out doubt its most strenuous and inielii-
gent advocate.
The total vote of the city was but 334,
the lightness of the vote being due TO
the fact that a new poll tax was payable
and many had forgotten TO qualify In
time.
OF the 1874 votes cast for mayor, Mr.
Davis received 24S and Mr.. Leliardy 30
The vote by wards on mayor was as
follows: First ward, Davis II, LeIlardy
5; Second ward, Davis 81, Leliardy "A;
Third ward, Davis AZ, LeI1ardy 4; Fourth
ward, Davis SO, LeHardy 6; Fifth ward,
Davis 10, LeHardy 9; Sixth ward, Davis
9, LeHardy Is; Seventh ward, Davis 81,
LeHardy 20.
Mr.. Davis lacked but OF receiving 3
votes for every one cast for MIR. Le'
Hardy.
The following were elected alderman
First ward, +. ii. Wilson; Second ward,
r. c. Howell; Third ward, II. NJ fearn
side; Fourth ward, L. A. Smith; Filth
ward, ] H. Haughton; Sixth ward l.
N. Robinson; Seventh ward, w. NJ
Cannon and Mr.. Thompson.
There were aldermanic contests in
but two wards. the Second and the
Seventh. In the Second ward, J. II:
McHale, socialist, received p votes and
Mr. Howell, democrat, 80. In the
Seventh ward Cannon and Thompson
the democratic candidates received A
and IS votes respectively; while the So
cialiStic candidates DuboSe and Sherman
Hagan received and 10, respectively.
But funny thing happened in the
First ward. Ii will be remembered that
it was freely charged that the demo
cratic caucus in this ward was packed,
and that Alderman F. H. Wilson was
defeated by a narrow margin by friends
of w. P. Slaughter, who became the
regular democratic nominee. lhere
can be no objection to Mr.. Slaughter
he is one of Palatka'S best citizens. Bui
the men who were Instrumental in
nominating him, feeling secure in his
election, were caught mapping. Friends
of Mr.. Wilson went TO the polls ano
quietly wrote his name on the blank
space left by law under the name o.
each candidate. The scheme was wei
planned, and was not spoken OF during
the day except in whispers. However
when the votes were counted Mr. vii
son had 81 and Mr. Slaughter but II
The Slaughter forces had packed The
caucus, but the Wilson forceSI packet
the polling booth. =,
Mr.. Wilson publicly declared himsel
democrat some five years ago. Ht
was not an independent candidate, anc
so far as known had no hand in the
matter. 1t appears 10 be case where
the "office sought the man" and tount
him under the pilotage of skilled di
rector of men.
The handsome vote for Mayor Davi
is due largely TO the quiet. gum-Sho,
methods of his campaign under the dl
rection of DR.. H. r. Estes, who hat
able assistance from other members
the democratic city executive commit
tee, notably Capt. j. E. Lucas. And on
of the Strangest things about the vot
was that these gentlemen, perhaps NOR
than any others, were most surprised a
its magnitude.
There can be no question of the or
position TO Mayor Davis at the start, an
many hinted at slump from him as i
the Stephens county commissioner cam
paign last fall. But DR.. Estes and hi
lieutenants on the committee, like kee
political manipulators, did not contin
themselves TO a defense of Davis, bt
, spent their time in quiet, person;
and gum-shoe attack on the principle
r of socialism. They were OF courS
aided much by Mr.. Davis unquestione
standing as a business man and patriot
citizen. Men began TO reflect-then th
tide of sentiment began the inflow, an
when it was at its greatest height, cam
= the election and the magnificent victor,
: To the astuteneSs of DIR. Estes, hov
ever, belongs much of the credit for tn
, victory, and all day on "Wednesday Il
doctor was receiving the congratulatiol
! of his friends-the friends of sane an
5 Soher municipal management