The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-10-13
By
Jno. E. Stillrnan.
No. 2

that it was necessary to have an or
ganfzation, but that If he tore down
the existing one he would have to
build new one, which might not be
any more satisfactory than the old
one.
They placed their organization In
his hands and grovelled at his feet,
told him that his lightest wish would
be their law in every respect, and that
he could make of the organization
whatever he wished and they would
endorse him and his work, and rem
der to him all praise, loyalty and i'm
phcit obedience, and that where "he
went they would go, and that his God
should be their Cod"
They captured him, and no chteftain
from Zulu or Borneo was ever kow-
towed to more unctiously and defer
enttally by his subjects than was the
Hon. James N. Coombs, the referee"
for Florida OF his Excellency Theo-
dore, the Good.
During those uncertain days. Cooulbs
clustered some, scolded some, but took
the boys to his bosom. He was really
UP against it just about as much as
they were, with his lack Of political
ability, and his ignorance Of political
matters generally in the state
II Gunby and Anderson had met him
as requested in Jacksonville, or II
they had come on to Washington after
the holidays, they would undoubt-
edly have captured Coombs, but
they didn't, and Coombs just had to
unload his white elephant on some
one, and the Joe Lee Chubb boys got
1t and were supremacy happy, and oh |!
50 relieved
Case of Mr.. w. 3. Sheppard.
The first exercise Coombs made Of
his new authority was to attend to
Mr. Sheppard's case. He made bee
line to the White House and repre-
sented to his friend, the righteous one,
that the one particular thing that this
country needed right quick was the
appointment Of one Mr.. Tip" Warren.
harmless citizen Of Apalachicola, in
the place and stead Of w. B. Sheppard
as collector of customs at Apalacfi-
cola, Fla
The president evidently saw this as
Mr.. Coounbs did and realized the
gravity Of the situation for he acted
with commendable promptness and
Mr.. Tip" Warren became one of the
elect and Mr.. Sheppard retired tempo
rar1ly from the government service
Mr.. Coombs then paid me the dis
tinguished honor of diverting his at
tention to me and my case. He was
devoted to Mr.. Northup and wanted
him to have a job. Now, Capt. "Bill,~
as we all called Northup, is my neigh
Dor and I consider him a good citizen,
and far be 1t from me to say he had
not every right to aspire to a lucrative
position under Mr.. Roosevelt He had
not however, been known as work
ing Republican, but UP 70 the time
he aspired to Office in the Republican
party, had affiliated with the Demo
cratic party as much at least as with
the Republicans.
I had gotten It into my head that
in politics the HORSE that pulled the
plow should get the fodder"
But Coombs wanted Northup to
have the job and exerted himself Wig
orously to that end.
Northup, like Coonbs, had come to
Pensacola after the war and made
money, and had loosened up consid-
erably on negro expense money, and
his claims were strong with Coombs
Being birds Of a feather, this was
natural.
Senator Mallory and the President.
The days went by and as I did not
care to annoy Senator Hanna, I asked
my townsman and friend, Senator s.
F. Mallory, although Democrat, to
take me up to the White House, which
he did. The president said to me
when we met him that I was in good
company, If I was with a Democrat,
and that he thought q great deal OF
Senator Mallory, but would have
thought more of him If he had voted
for the Nicaraguan treaty a few DAYS
before, when it was up to the senate,
and stated that he had not arrived at
conclusion in my case as yet. AS
we left the White House, Senator NAL
1ory said:
That's the way he has of attempt
ing to work Democratic senators ant"
he added. cit works with some Of
them, too. He meant to use the op-
portunity to tell me If I wanted any
favors from him, the way to get them
is to vote for the bills he is In favor
of. I don't like to have him assume
with me that I might be Influenced
that way and he need not expect nv
vote for any bill he favors unless my
best Judgment dictates IT"
Hanna and Mallory were different
types, but each was q representative
man. I have never seen a man whom
I considered answered to the descrip-
ton Of the word Democrat" more
thoroughly and naturally than Stephen
r. Mallory, whether the word was
used in its descriptive or political
sense.
I thought It best to see Senator
Hanna again and he expressed sur