The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-10-13

that Lee told them what to do and
how to proceed to capture Coombs.
Lee. I believe. had Coombs's number
as to how much vanity and how little
political ability he had
How Coonbs Climbed Up.
Coombs knew how to run a saw
MILL and being wealthy and willing to
spend money freely for control of his
local Republican affairs, he was the
local leader at Apalachicola, but this
came only through his money. Had
the president taken a civil service ex-
animation OF all the Republicans in
Florida as to their fitness and ability
to I'LL the job he gave to Coombs, in
my Judgment Coombs would have
been found to be almost the last man
for the place.
Coming to Pensacola during the
war, he remained there after the war
was over and engaged in the saw mill
business. Later he moved to Apa-
lachicola and made money. He was
overbearing by nature and became the
financial bully" of his section. He
was generous, however to those who
did his bidding, and after he had an
initiated a foe, he would then take
him into his fold and treat him well
so long as he would stay put" and
with 1t all he was energetic, and while
his business interests were too i'm
portant to allow him to be an office
holder, he liked to go to national con-
ventions as a delegate and he had the
price and usually went
The carpet bagger was the man who
came from the North after the war to
organize the negroes politically for
personal profit and aggrandizement.
The scalawag was the southern write
man who turned Republican for office.
Later days have developed another
class-men who have money and to
whom off1ce-holding Is not profitable
or desirable, but who enjoy the prom
inence and honor Of going to national
conventions as delegates, or after re-
firing from business they desire an
office for the same reason.
They are in the Republican party
of the South what the Guggenheims
States senators on the same basis, are
in other sections.
The CoIored Brother.
Every four years when the conven-
tions in the South are held to vote
for the delegates to national conven-
tons that the boss names, the attend
ing delegates from that part Of Flor
ida lying west of the Suwanee river
are about 80 per cent negroes. Sew
erad Of the counties in that section
cannot exhibit a single white Repub-
ncan, so these counties are entirely
black on the Republican map. AS the
white man holds most all of the of
fees, the brother in black expects his
white friends to foot all bills Incl
dent to expenses of holding precinct
meetings, county and state conven-
tons, including all transportation, etc.
What he gets out of It at convention
| times is about all there Is in 1t for
the negro, and naturally he plays this
occasion for all 1t will stand and alto
gether 1t Is a great period in his life,
from the time they begin to hold the
precinct meetings until the national
convention is pulled off.
Unlike Christmas. it doesn't even
come once year and ne makes the
most of it and don't blame him. It
means railroad trips, free board, whis-
key, CIGARS and often, new clothes.
And so the man who has money and
will spend it. who doesn't always want
an Office. but only the privilege of pay
ing these expenses, has a fine oppor-
tunity to indulge in the honorable
recreation of attending the national
conventions in the capacity Of dele
gate.
The carpet bagger and scalawag
received their designations long before
got into the game, but ire class
above described I have ALWAYS desig-
mated as niger buyers" This term
is not used extensively. but only as
the simplest and truest that our Ian
| guage seems to afford.
But to get back to the subject, with
or without the aid of Joe Lees advice.
the trap was laid for Coombs and he
fell in it. They waited on Coombs and
! said nice things to him. They agreed