The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-10-26
DEMOCRATS MUST
GET TOGETHER
(Plant City Courier.)

(Plant City Courier.)
The Manatee River Journal con-
tains this bit of sound advice: ''Dem-
ocrats should wake up and unite in
a fight against combination of In
dependents, Prohibitionists and Re-
publicans to break up the party in
Florida"
We have only to look back four
years to a period when dissension
cost the Republican party crush
ing defeat-a defeat which, however,
proved blessing to the United
States. But in that instance the vic
tory was complete, both as to legis-
lative and executive control of the
government. In the case of Florida
today, the Democrats have unani-
nous control of the Legislature, but
suppose we should have Republican
Governor, or a Governor elected on
the Independent or Prohibition
ticket? Such cndition can only
come through disruption of the Dem
ocratic party. Florida has made
wonderful progress under Democratic
rule. Could we expect as favorable
progress if we bolt the ticket and
put in man who represents tenets
directly opposite to the principles we
have been preserving under the Dem
ocratic form Of government? Are
we going to use the primary-the
agency which We nave been using to
preserve the party standing-4to ov-
erthrow our own principles? Did we
not elect legislators few years ago
instructed to formulate for us a pri-
mary system under which we Guild
make nominations according to law
that would keep the Democratic par
ty free from danger? Did we par
ticipate in the primary of June 9Th,
knowing that that primary was duly
authorized under our laws and OBJ
ligating ourselves to abide the re-
suit, approaching that the primary
was a part of our laws? If we did
not voice our choice under that i'm
preston, it would have been better
not to have voted at all. Independ-
'ent candidates have appeared for
county offices in many sections.
Why? Is it because the aspirants are
displeased with our democratic form
of government, or is it greed for
cffice-greed for personal gain? Did
we have such a condition two, four,
six, eight or ten-even twenty years
ago? Is it not because of the tur-
moil engendered by Rev. Sidney j.
Cats, who landed in Florida only a
few years ago from a State in which
he was defeated politically and as
sumed the role of gubernatorial as
pirant?
When will it end? When. the DEM
ocrats, looking the situation squarely
in the face, get together, throw aside
and hatred for one an
other and poll united vote for those
whom the greatest number select in
the primary. The primary was held
to obliterate all save one candidate
for each office, and unless the parti-
cipants in the primary can see far
enough ahead to decide whether they
would be guided by the result of such
it would be better for
both party freedom and individual
conscience if such electors would
,old off till the general election.
Rev. Cats, who has been certified
" H Clay Crawford, secretary of
State, as the nominee of the Prohibi-
ion party, has made several tours 81
he State since he moved to Florida :
rom Alabama, few years ago. Pos '
IDLY you have heard him in one or
nore addresses. Do you recall that /
e advanced one good reason why he
hould be elected to the highest Of
ce Floridians can bestow? Did he
xpress opinions on subjects that are
t interest to the welfare of the peo-
lie of the State? Did he say any
hing concerning taxation or State
nances? Did he have any fixed view +