The Punta Gorda herald. [volume] (Punta Gorda, Fla.) 1893-1958, 1916-11-23
George P. Raney

| his great work for the florlud b0
mocracy in 1876, will feel a spec
ial pride that his son and name
sake, a native of the capital city,
is the directing head of the tlrst
real fight the party has been fore
ed to make in forty years.
George P. Raney, ST., was one
of Governor Drew's counsel IN the
| celebrated mandamus case which
won from a Republican supreme
court victory of the Democratic
candidate for governor, after a
Republican returning board, in the
interests of carpet-bag govern
ment, had refused to make q COM
plete and correct canvass OF the
returns. This time carpet-baglsm
has been to fight within the party
ranks, and while the Democratic
canvassing board has at all times
performed its duty conscientiously
as required by law, singularly e.
nough it has been necessary to use
the same extraordinary legal rem
edy to secure the true result OF
the primary election.
The elder Raney was appointed
attorney general in the Drew cab
met, and afterwards served with
distinction as chief justice of the
state supreme court. The politl-
cal honors which have fallen to his
son have been of a lesser dignity.
Moving to Tampa twenty years "a
go, to begin the practice of law in
a new and wider field than ITALIA
hassee afforded, the younger Ra-
ney has served as its municipal
judge, as solicitor of the criminal
court of Hillsborough county, and
as state attorney for the sixth ju-
dicial circuit of Florida. Two
years. ago he was chosen as chair
man of the state Democratic exec
utive committee, and was re-elect-
ed last August without opposi-
ton.
Usually the position of chair
man of the state executive COM
mite is coverted but empty hon
or. A weak man would have
been satisfied to occupy the posi-
ton when all was smooth sailing,
and to decline it when its accept
ance meant hard work, sacrifices,
and heavy responsibility. But
George p Raney, like his father
before him, is not shirker nor a
gutter. Personally a supporter of
Senator Hudson for the governor
ship, he accepted the result of the
primary without question, and has
thrown himself whole-souled into
the work of electing Hon.. w. V.
Knott. The campaign could not
be under ADLER direction nor in
better hands. Sometimes he is
right, sometimes he is wrong, al
ways he is fearless, and always a
which is to say, his
party to him is above mere person.
OIL preferences.
'''God give us menl" is always
a good prayer in times of stress.
He has given Florida many men
real men, not limitations. Amongst
others, He has given two genera
tons of Floridians a George P.
Raney.-Florida Record, Oct IL.
Amongst the democrats who did
their full duty in this campaign,
none rank higher and few so high,
as George P. Raney, chairman of
the state executive committee.
From first to last, he was brave
and unselfish. There was never
any doubt in his mind as to what
was his duty, and he left no doubt
as to where he stood. In contrast
TO the thousands of political cow
ards that this campaign develop
ed, he looms up like a lighthouse.
If he was defeated, it was not his |
fault, nor Of the principles he
stood for.
When the democratic party |
comes to its senses, it will have |
great honor for such men as
George P. Raney. In the mean |
line, the SCtar prefers to be de- |
featcd with them than to be vic
orious with their opponents
)cala Star.