The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-11-07
TODAY'S BATTLE OF BALLOTS

TODAY'S BATTLE OF bALLUIS
BY the time this paper reaches its
readers the people of Florida will
have settled the long and bitter con-
test involving the gubernatorial NOM
nation. We trust they will settle it
wisely. We are frank to say the is
sue is in doubt The minds of the
people have been so beclouded, there
has been so much that is false, 50
much that is irrelevant, injected into
the campaign, that many good men
and true men have been deceived, or
have been foundering about in doubt
and uncertainty. Nevertheless we
are hopeful that the sane and sober
sentiment of the people of Florida
has prevailed, and that a man, and
not a mountebank, has been chosen
as Governor today.
The Evening Telegram has no apol-
ogies to make for the attitude it has
maintained during this campaign II
has the assurance of conscience that
it has championed the right, and that
assurance far Il is all sufficient. It
has never sacrificed its convictions at
the shrine Of popularity, and it will
never do 50. 1t is aware that in TAX
jrc 2 positive stand as between the
two aspirants for the GOvernOrship
il has not reflected the views of many
Of it's readers But the Evening
TELEGRAM has always been ambitious
to be something more than mere
reflector of public sentiment, and ha
never been content to drift with thu
stream when the stream led to rocks
or shallcws, or political mire. 1t as
pires to perform some measure o
public service. and this it can do onl
by advocating fearlessly and con
scientously the men and the meas
ures whose advancement it believe
to be best for the public veal.
Sidney j. Cats may be elected Gov
ernor today The people, who 1T
said can do no wrong, can do, an
MANY times have done, reckless an
unwise things, under stress of mis-
understanding or when dominated b
the impulse CT prejudice and nassi !
Should they do so, we believe the
will regret it; that the clearer visio
of returning sanity will show thel
that their action was ill-considere'
and that they have done their Stat
a great injury. The election of M
Cats, should it unfortunately occu
will modify no whit our estimate
the man. He may be elevated to tn
IGovernorship, but he will not be tn
first man placed in high Office havin
no qualifications whatever to justif
his selection We believe that
Governor he would show neither abb
ity nor good inclinations; that I
would be a disturbing element,
hindrance to business interests an
to the States progress. We have sa'
that in character, temperament, ar
ability he is lacking-that in nol
of these things does he measure up
gubernatorial size; and on the e.
of his possible election we reitera
this estimate. and we shall hold to
until he proves us in error
On the other hand, should Nj
Cats be elected. and he should, ait
all. prove his desire to give a go
and wise administration, this pap
will he the first to accord him /
due need of praise. There is not
ing personal in our opposition to N
Cats. though he has given us gre
personal provocation. 1t makes
tie difference to us, in a personal
business way, who is Governor
Florida. Should Mr.. Knott be ele'
ed. we will tell him, as we have u
the two last Governors of this Sta
that there is no office in his &
whose acceptance we would consld
II Mr.. Cats is elected, he can do
more to injure this paper than
has tried to do as a candidate. A
SO our interest is solely that of
public interest; and we await the
sue. trusting that the people "
have chosen well and wisely, but c.