The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1916-11-05
AN OPEN LETTER.
My Dear Mr.. Thomas:

tA1y bCdl MI. 1bOlAtdos
1t is seldom that an editor in campaign
which is SO greatly defaced by abuse, and
so little illuminated by logic, as the present
gubernatorial contest, receives a communi-
cation so courteous, so temperate, SO aptly
phrased as your letter, which is repro
duced in our Vox Populi column and in
which, after presenting the case as it APP
pears to you, you ask for information,
which, if I or anybody else supply to your
satisfaction, you promise to come clean
for Mr. Knott.
You ask why il is that we must resort
to the court to elect our governor why
Cats could have gotten the nomination if
he had not deserved it; why Knott re-
ceived more votes than Cats on the re-
count why it was only in the gubernatorlal
contest that there were any errors.
Your reference to Knott's alleged sup
porters as the money class is, of course, no
argument it is. indeed, not advanced as
such Even if it we're true, it would be OF
no Importance. for certainly there is no
bribery going on and millionaire's vote
IS worth no more than a laborer's. And
Mr.. Knott's recently announced stand, al
ready discussed in this column, in favor
of the eight-hour day, which the railroads
and captains Of wealth generally have been
assailing so bitterly, and are even now pre-
naring to resist to the last, does not sug-
pest the suspicion that the Democratic
candidate is the tool of the corporations.
Your two questions, Why did Knott re-
ceive more votes than Cats on the re-
count? and Why were the errors confined
to the eubernatorial election? are the SIM
plest. and shall, therefore, be answered
first
If Knott had not received more votes on
the recount than Cats, the present situa-
ton would not have arisen, for Cats nom
nation would have been verified, and Knott
would have dropped out of sight. He
would have supported>the party's nominee
as Cats should now be doing.
Mr. Knott asked for the recount because
he was convinced that, through error, GER
tain votes of his had not been counted, and
Others had been incorrectly tailed. The
fact that the recount gave him more votes
than it did to Cats simply proved the
truth of his claims
In computing $4,000 votes, it was in
evitable that errors should occur. Even
with the simplest sort of a system there
would be mistakes; the second-choice com
plication served to multiply the danger
Take ten columns Of figures and add them
up-you are almost sure to make mis-
take. Even-with adding machines, bank
ing clerks specially trained though they
be- make mistakes which they are some
times days in discovering.
But what natural errors there might be
in the case of the other contests, could
make no difference one way or the other
because there were majorities Of several
thousand, too great to be overcome. But
remember-Catts' lead over Knott wa:
only matter of 260 votes! What more
natural than for Mr.. Knott, knowing there
were errors, to ask for a recount, In order
that the truth might be established beyond
the shadow of doubt, as provided by The
primary law, foreseeing just such contin
gency?
The recount was made-and gave Knott
a majority of twenty-one.
Made under extraordinary precautions
the recount represents probably the mos
accurate vote tabulation in the history O.
the state: and proof that the errors were
due to the complicated system was fur
nished. when every candidate made gains
AS follows:
Farris gained in Bradford, 4; IN Duval
lain Hamilton. 8; in Jackson, Il; IN Leon