The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-07-09
BY FRANK L. MAYEs.

wanted and the pressure brought to
bear by them finally had the desired
result.
AS matter of fact, had the most Of
the delegations not been tied up with
cast iron instructions-which if fol-
lowed to the end would have prevented
the nomination of anyone-Wilson
would have been nominated early in
the sessions. Delegates from all sec
tions. talking individually were frank
to admit, though instructed for some
one else, that Wilson was by all odds
the most desirable candidate and that
he would make the strongest race over
the country at large. 1t was the te
nacity with which the opposition lead
ers held their men In line that pre-
vented wilson's nomination earlier in
the fight. The Clark forces were nat
urally expected to hold out to the end,
but had the minority candidates, or the
men who had their interests in charge,
done earlier what they were compelled,
by the force of public opinion, to do
later, the expense and work and tur-
mol of the prolonged deadlock could
have been avoided.
Though feeling sure that the Demo
Gratis of Florida had been deceived into
making a great mistake by instructing
their delegates for Mr.. Underwood as
first choice, Judge Griggs and myself,
the only anti-Underwood candidates
who were elected, kept faith with the
Democracy of Florida and voted for
Mr.. Underwood for 36 ballots until it
became apparent that their first choice
couiG by no possibility be nominated.
We then, believing that the Democrats
&C Florida were more DESTROYS of par
,icipating in the nomination of a pres
Ident than they were in the mainte-
aauCe of what threatened to be dis
astrous deadlock, voted for Governor
Wilson as the man whom we believed,
Eext to Mr.. Underwood, was most sat
isfa Glory to the people Of Florida and
vino, on the other hand, gave the
greatest promise of Democratic sue
cess in November. The effort of the
other members of the Florida delega-
ton to force a unit rule on the Third
district delegates was as futile as II
ridiculous, and Senator O'Gorman,
who was in the chair, promptly ruled
that they had no authority over US or
any other member of the delegation.
AS a matter of fact, this was the hrst
time since the adoption of the primary
system in Florida that any attempt
had ever been made to adopt or en-
force a unit rule. There was of course
no authority for it and the chair did
not hesitate a minute in so ruling.
On the ,37th ballot Judge Griggs and
myself voted for Wilson, and Governor
GiIchrist followed on the 44th ballot.
On the 46th ballot when Wilson's
nomination became apparent, four
other members, Frank Chase, DR.. Aber-
nathy. Hunt Harris and Frank Harris
joined US, so that on the last ballot
seven votes from Florida were cast for
the party nominee | am sorry that
the Florida vote could not have been
a solid one on that last ballot. There
were only "a votes altogether cast
against Wilson on the ballot which
nominated him and so of these came
from Missouri and California. Only
eight states were represented in those
"a votes. AS an example of the almost
unanimous good feeling which prevailed
and of the forgiving spirit which ac-
tuated most of Governor Wilson's for
mer opponents, Mrs. Anna B. Pitzer,
Champ Clark's sister-in Law and a
member of the Colorado delegation,
which sat right back of Florida, voted
for Wilson on the 46th ballot. When
heard Mrs. Pitzer instruct the chair
man of the Colorado delegation to cast
her vote for Wilson, 1 could not help
but contrast the generous spirit of
tHis fine woman with the action OF the
81 men delegates who had denied/Gov-
ernor Wilson their approval On the
last roll call, even after he had been
dominated.
The Mississippi delegation was the
center of good deal of interest from
the fact that it was strong for I'm
derwood and that Governor Brewer,
who was chairman, always announced
the twenty votes for Oscar Under
wood" in a long drawn out, sing-song
tone that always raised a laugh,
though it became very familiar before
the convention closed. Senator elect
Jas. K. Vardaman and Senator John
Sharp Williams were both members
of the Mississippi delegation and both
attracted general attention. Mississippi
was instructed for Underwood, but as
the contest dragged on the delegation
threatened on several occasions to
break away and were only held in line
by the pleas of Senator Bankhead and
the insistence of Governor Brewer.
Finally they went into caucus and de-