The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1913-08-29
DOPE
is NOW I'M ORDER.
Possible Florida Lineup as
Published in Savannah

NSEb0a
A correspondent of the Savannah
Morning News from ST. Augustine
predicts that the Florida voters are
going to have some fun getting used
to the new primary law which does
away with the second primary and
which he insists will eliminate much
of the political mud-slinging Of form
er campaigns.
He also has something to say re-
garding the possible lineup of candi-
dates for u. S. Senator and Congress-
man from the new Fourth district in
which he uses the name Of our towns
man, Hon. S. J. Hilburn. That part
of his letter is as follows:
The Senatorial race promises to be
a three-sided affair. That Senator Dun
can U. Fletcher will stand for re-elec-
ton goes without saying. From pres
ent appearance he is likely to be OPP
posed by former Governor Albert w.
Gilchrist and by J. N. c. Stockton.
Senator Fletcher has most creditab-
ly represented his State. There is no
questioning the fact that he has won
respect and honor in Congress and is
one of the best known men the State
has ever sent to the national capital.
But down Tampa way they still blame
him for the transfer of the customs
district headquarters to Jacksonville
and here and there are little animosi-
ties which will have their effect. Sen
ator Fletcher will have the backing of
the more conservative voters of the
State. But there is no doubling that
he will have to put up hard fight.
Former Governor Gilchrist would
like to go to the Senate. That is GER
tain. But all of the Governors, old
supporters are not enthusiastic about
it. They believe him to have been a
splendid Governor but they are not
quite ready to send him higher yet.
But if he runs he will have the back
ing of part of the conservative ele-
ment and also of the wet or local op-
ton forces. There's one thing sure
about Albert Gilchrist-he was an hon.
est Governor.
John N. C. Stockton is veteran at
the political game. Time after time
he has gone down in bitter defeat,
some unexpected move just heading
him off from the goal. He doesn't
care especially for any more of it.
But he is being strongly urged from
different sections Of the State to make
the race. He is likely to give in to
these urgings and if he maintains his
campaign on the same high plane as
in his last fight he will prove Fletch-
er's strongest pponent-and not
meaning disrespect to the Hon. AL
bert Waller Gilchrist.
Either S. ]. Hilburn of Palatka OIL
W. A. MacWilliams of St. Augustine
will prove Claude L'Engle's strongest
opponent in the new fourth or "shoe-
string" district-with the odds in ia
vor of Hilburn. The district extends
from Jacksonville to Key West and
includes the counties of Duval, Clay,
st. Johns, Putnam, Volusia, Seminole,
Orange, Brevard, Osceola, St. Lucie,
Palm Beach, Dade and Monroe.
Hilburn came within a few votes of
defeating powerful Frank Clark the
last campaign And he stands about
the best show in this fight, if he en-
ters Frank Chase of Jacksonville is
a strong entrant, but he is not known
we'll enough down in the populous
East Coast counties, and then, too, he
comes from jacksonville. That oughr
not to be against him, but there's
jealousy of too many officials coming
from the big Florida metropolis.
L'Engla makes his race from this dis
.rict this time, and, Of course, is en-
trenched by his two years in office.
Albert Williamson, editor of the Flor
idian, is a seeker also, but then-he's
from Jacksonville.
OF course the contest is slowly but
really shaping up in all of the dis
tricts. But under the new law there
won't be much money spent, there will
be less mud-slinging and altogether
things political will doubtless move
along on a higher plane. The devel-
opment and advancement of Florida
mas broadened the view of some who
we're once narrow minded. A compa
tison OF today's issue OF the papers of
the State with an issue Of the same
oapers ten years ago would strikingly
prove this fact. The demagogue has
not much show The voters are not
fools. They will a,ppraise the candi~
dates for what they are and send them
to Washington or encourage them ir
The "bacll to the farm" movement, ac-
eording as they are fit.
Since the above was published Hon,
John N. C. Stockton has made formal
announcement Of his candidacy.