The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-10-06

rankin county and when the anti
Mckinley forces contaminated a bolt
from the convention hall to set up a
convention for themselves, Sheppard
refused to go with them, although
Coombs was very insistent that he
should
Soon after McKinley's Inauguration,
Sheppard was appointed collector of
customs at Apalachicola, very much
to the distaste of Mr.. Coombs, al
| though UP to the state convention in
/ cident they had been good friends.
! Coombs knew he could not injure
Mr.. Sheppard's political ambitions so
| long as Mckinley was president, but
with McKirley's death and a new man
| at the wheel. he packed his grip and
! took his man Buffum, who knew
! Senator Hale and Congressman Bulk
| ley, on to Washington with him, with
all his mind and energy concentrated
on his desire to accomplish the defeat
| of Sheppard.
The crowd in the secretary's room,
senators, congressman, most of them
accompanied by some one wanting
| something. and the other men and
some women talked and jostled each
other waiting for the appearance of
the president.
Suddenly the door from the cabinet
room opened and in came, or rather
he seemed to be projected through the
opening like bull breaking through
a fence, President Roosevelt.
! Looking around the room, he saw
and made a dive for Senator Hanna,
grasping him with both hands, and
effusively saluted him with How do
you DOR How do you do?" and
| What can do for your"
RUSHED THEM THROUGH.
The senator replied pleasantly,
stating that he was well and had only
come in to introduce a friend from
Florida, that he was in no hurry and
that there were other distinguished
senator's there who had preceded him,
and that after the president had at
tended to them, he would be glad to
see him" With this gentle reminder
from Senator Hanna of the ameni-
ties, the president bounded off and
commenced first with one and then
aHother, listening briefly and respond d.
ing sometimes vociferously and at
times whispering in the ear of the
other party, until he reached the cor
ner where the statesmen from Maine,
n with their two proteges from Florida
were sitting.
AhCy al use anu S6UdIOT 1dl6 dCIeQ
as spokesman, introducing his F1orida
friends. He prefaced his remarks by
saying that these gentlemen were re-
publicans from Florida, but were not
office seekers. This was a center
shot to start with, and probably the
senator knew some of the presidents
weaknesses at least. Having been a
life long office seeker himself, he
seems to have a fixed dislike for all
other office seekers on the principle
perhaps that they are poachers' on his
exclusive rights. The senator added
that they. were business men, owners
of the largest saw mill and timber
operations in Florida (Which was n
long way from the TRUTH, that they
had no personal axes to grind which
was also a long way from the truth
but only a desire for the best inter
ests and the upbuiiding of the party
in Florida. The president boisterous
ly exclaimed, 81 am glad to meet you
gentlemen. You're the kind of men
like to meet. That's bad situa
tioa down in Florida. I have beer
talking to some gentlemen from Flor
} Ida about 1t. It's a bad situation. Dc
YOU know Gunby and Anderson he
asked.
Mr.. Ccombs replied that he knew
them.
"They are fine men are they not p
he further asked.
Mr.. Coombs seemed frustrated, but
rep ed that they were alright so fal
as he knew.
How long are you going to be in
Washingt on?" he asked.
Mr.. Coombs replied they wanted tt
= leave as soon as possible, consistent
!. with their mission there.
"I want you to come here next Mon
day at 10 o'clock to talk over thai
situation he said. 'Cortelyou," he
} hollered, make an appointment fol
next Monday morning at 10 o'clock fol
these gentlemen from Florida"
Y COOM1S BECAME "REFEREE"
t Every person in the room could MOI
fail to hear every word Of the presi-
dents part of the conversation. Tbs
bearing of this conversation will show
| later as through it and the impression
] the president had received of F4orids
i republican politics from Anderson and
r Gunby, Coombs became the president:
I personal representative and referee
5 in Florida. He was like the man II
r the poker game who drew four card:
to 2, ten spot and made royal flush
i