The Punta Gorda herald. [volume] (Punta Gorda, Fla.) 1893-1958, 1916-12-28
CHARACTt
Elk &C

A8
Editor The Herald ~ see &. in
around in the press some advers
criticism of Mr. w. ". Knott D
account Of his failure 10 con ii
lulate his successful opponent, Nj
1Sidney j Cats, who was electe
governor of Florida. NY recolIc,
tion is that none of the other car
|didates for governor sent an
congratulations. When / wa
nominated and elected governo
of Florida, my recollection is tha
none of the defeated candidate
congratulated me. My recollet
ltion is that none of the defeate'
candidates congratulated my pre-
Edecessor in Office or my successor
II know that / did not congratu
late any one for beating the sock
loft of me in the recent senatori
al campaign. / don't know of j
lever having been done in any 9th
er campaign for the United State
Senate. Enough said.
when Mr.. Knott was first de
elared nominated, he requested
that all of his net gain votes il
THE recount Of Madison county
l173, be thrown out. There was
much talk Of fraud in the Green.
vile precinct, where the net gain
was 58 votes. | have always
thought !, and still think, that a
reward of fully 100000 should
have been offered for the convic-
ton Of those who perpetrated the
fraud in the Greenville precinct.
Mr.. Cats intimated in his speech
es that he had secured some infor-
nation relative to this fraud,
through a dective. He has never
divulged the same. Whoever
tampered with these ballot boxes
should be punished, as it was di-
rect crime against every one in
Florida. / trust the incoming
governor will offer a suitable re-
ward.
Exclusive Of the Greenville pre-.
cinct, Mr.. Knots net gain in
Madison county was lis. Throw
ing these out, left Mr.. Knott's net
gain throughout the state about
81 or % in excess Of his nearest
competitor, Mr. Cats. The throw
ing out of these votes Of Madison
county, gave Mr. Cats Attorney
the opportunityof Of demanding the
counting of SO votes, which Mr..
Cats received ii the Alachua pre-
cinct Of Alachua county These
votes had not been counted, be-
cause the inspectors of the elec-
ton failed to sign and swear to
the returns. Upon these being
certified, MI. Cats was
undoubtedly entitled to them,
Twice before this, Mr.. Catts
local attorneys had 4 instituted
mandamus proceedings ito have
them counted. On both occasions,
his chief attorney, Mr.. Floufnoy,
had the proceedings stopped. Af-l
Ter Mr. Knott had had the Green
vile precinct and the other 115
votes Of Madison county thrown
,ut, leaving him only about %
votes ahead, Mr.. Flournoy then in
,tituted proceedings to have the
50 votes Of Alachua precinct
These were counted,
Mr.. Cats receiving the benefit of
hem. In other re-counts Mr..
Knott received a net gain of a.
,out 22 over the gain of Mr..
,atts, including these votes Of A.
achua precinct.
Jng thirty days before the gen.
lcllion in November, the SUI
N.msL Nirt refused to order the
tate n assing board to count
heseis sPPrrsbotes, unless 1t could be
bownhntsht such would change
he r,corss This could not be
hown, Vel cause, If the net gain Of
9th DIR. Datts and Mr.. Knott had
cen COUNTED, Mr. Knots lead I
yould have been increased from a.
out % To IA This left Mr.. Knott
he declares nominee by about ~
otes.
Mr.. Cats managers shelled the
yoods with fhc Statement that the
9 votes a Iaehua precinct hadI
ever been Eounted, the natural
lference being thai if they had
cen, Mr.. Cats would have been
he nominee of the Democratic
arty. The majority Of the Dem
Gratis evidently thought that Mr..
ats had been swindled out of the
omination.
The election is all over with.
he truth might as well be re-
Dgnized. Mr.. Cats pre,pri-
lary speeches were all directed a.
ainst the Catholics and incident