The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1912-05-24
AN EDITOR FoReETs HIMSELF

EultOT MdycS HdHilcSIS a fCAy POO'-
ish spirit in regard to the second pri-
mary race for delegates to the nation
al democratic convention. Mr.. Mayes
has been elected one of the delegates
from his district and he is evidently
very DESTROYS that the other delegates
elected be men of his own way of
thinking, obviously for the purpose OF
controlling the Florida delegation at
Baltimore. The advantage of this
position TO Mr.. Mayes personally is
evident. So DESTROYS has he been of
election as a delegate that he has, ac-
cording TO his filed statement, spent
s15440 in his campaign-which, we
doubt not, is considerably more than
all the other candidates for delegate
combined have spent in their cam
paigns. Besides, Mr.. Mayes has de-
voted his paper for more than three
months to the advocacy of his candi-
date for president, and the delegates
favorable TO him. His zeal for Wilson
has been exceeded by only one paper
within our observation, the Atlanta
Journal, which was confessedly work
ing not so much for Woodrow Wilson
as for the control of democratic al
fairs in Georgia by Hoke Smith.
In his zeal to have elected dele
cation which he can dominate, Mr..
Mayes goes so far as to charge deceit,
double-dealing and treachery to the
four candidates for delegate on the
Underwood ticket, one of them
resident of his own city, and two OF
them fellow newspaper men. He
casts a most unjust and uncalled for
slur upon Hon. Frank Harris, one of
the veteran newspaper editors of the
state, and a man who has never given
him cause for offense, when he says
that MIR. Harris is counted upon TO
support anyone the Special Interests
desire 10 have nominated" He charg-
"a that the other candidates for dele
gate are not honest in their support
of Underwood, but are trying to de-
ceive the people of the state with the
nefarious purpose of nominating some
other man. These baseless accusa-
lions on the part of Mr.. Mayes do him
no credit. We had regarded him as
a fairer. more reasonable, less pref =
diced man.
The fact that is greatly annoying
Mr.. Mayes is the majority given by
Florida democrats for Underwood
and against the Mayes candidate
Had Wilson received the endorse
ment OF the primary, Mr.. Mayes
course would have been plain sailing
tie would have come out with
broad declaration that the democrat:
OF the state had expressed their pref
erence and that Il would be presump
ton and folly on the part of candi
dates favoring Underwood to further
ask the support of the people for Pc
sitions as delegates. But the expires
sion OF the people of Florida spoiled
this excellent program of editoria
policy. With his presidential candi
date showed under. Mr.. Mayes had t;
devise some other plan. He now de
sires TO bring about, by whatever
desperate means, the election of tbs
Wilson delegates, so that, regardless
Of the voice of the democrats of Flor
ida, they may, while nominally carry
ing out their instructions by perfume
tory voting for Underwood. fall il
with whatever scheme may be devils
cd in behalf of Wilson or any Other
candidate. not endorsed by the demo
Gratis OF Florida.
Il is nonsensical for the Wilson
candidates for delegate to try am
make the people believe that, outside
OF the mere matter of their vote, they
would be anything but anti-Under
wood In the convention. 1t is for this
reason that the Tribune urges tina
the democrats OF Florida send Undef
wood men TO the convention, in ordel
that the sentiments of the majority
81 the party in this state may be con
sistenily and faithfully represented il
the national council of the party. Thi!
would be just. fair and in line witt
democratic policy. The majority o
the democrats of Florida has sale
that q wants Underwood nominated
for president and it should send mel
20 The convention who will do Their
best 20 nominate Underwood.
Getting down to plain facts. Mr.
Mayes must realize that his candi
date. Wilson, has ceased to be fac
tor in the race for the democratic
nomination. He will not be a serious
figure In the convention Take The
results of the past few days, for ex
ample. South Carolina, regarded a:
a veritable Wilson stronghold, refus