The Palatka news and advertiser., 1916-06-30
FY.GOv. G|LCHR|ST
| On CAUSES OF DEFEAT
Eormer Governor Lays it to
Influence of "Guard-
eens' Et AL.

r po,atka News on Wednesday
Inc ,od tbe following interesting let
Feceseu ssem Ex-Governor Albert w. Gil
el t lt0,,, who is at present in Waycross.
Ea., where he has extensive iahoeo
Interests
Editor Palatka News;-
/ 4 number of Florida papers have
nisbaI the following extract cred
eG sTSe fy notion that billed shirt has
niocp ni,v in Florida politics has been
eIpr"ved p,Td bv Gov. Trammell, who
aars apr immaculate linen and who ran
S@ad s~l] Of Albert Gilchrist, who work
l'+S -So hack woods cracker racket,
orcr ,vc $1,000 first choice votes"
y disIike to refer to my personal
rnsreI During the campaign l
topa rp,'t "biled" shirt, averaging six
% seven of such weekly. Some one
sled me if | would wear a certain
mo- in the country. l said, Ger
pi9lv; the same in the country as
tho cities" One of the two high
enddates for governor was not ac-
ned indicted, tried or convicted of
caring too many white "blled"
Eirs, With one or two exceptions,
the night speaking, l blossomed
N as a night-blooming cereus, in a
|hite vest. :,
Catts and Trammell were endorsed
tbe secret political anti Catholic
bceties. Of these, they were the
nrdians Of Liberty, the A. P. AS.
h Junior Order of Mechanics and
fother the name of which is un-
town to any except its members.
here may he other such societies,
Eving the same object in view. Two
Tvs before the primary an officer of
e Anti-Saloon League had publish
throughout the State suggestions
lat the pr0hibitionists should vote.
Knott for Governor and for Tram
Ill for L. S. Senator. Cats was
b a prohiliaionist and a candidate
b Governor. Had the prohibition
Is been advised to vote for Cats
stead Of Knott for Governor, it is
lite probable that the vote for Cats
d for Trammell would have been
actically the same throughout the
kte. Some of the prohib;tionist's
les were thus billed" away from
tts. The gentle suggestion was
fown out that Gilchrist had no
pw | learned that fully two weeks
fore this suggestion was thrown
by some friends" of mine in
eksonyille
Pie answers to the following Ques-
prs propouaded to me, and l am
ESfed to other candidates, by one
these secret societies, had more to
with the election than "biled'
rts. Are you in favor of the free
b Of the press?" "Are you in ia
Of freedom of speech?" My re-
was substantially the same to
h. | quoted from the Constitu-
Of Florida, which guarantees
RedOm Of the press, subject to its
1se, | stated that if an editor
nmered at me injuriously for
nth Or so could stand it, but that
he continued it longer l would be
ghty apt to hold him personally re.
pnSoIe for it, That if l was not
physically to slap the socks off
hlm, | would like to have the law
feet me- The same would apply
Freedom Of speech. The next de-
R0e question was, substantially,
you favor the inspection of some
tain nstitutions?" My reply
that | favored the inspection Of
ythng Of which there was any
plcon Of wrong. That if they
e clean, such inspection would
Glcate them. That if they were
ean' such inspection would puri-
SAem, also added that | was
OStuI as to the constitutionality of
aaonaI law which would cover all
cases, l was asked if l favored
Use Of public funds for secular
poses to which I said, "No."
SeqqItentIy, an old friend, personal
PoIltlcaI, Of fully twenty years
Jung, a member of the camp or
which sent me these questions,
H. n 70 my manager that the "Gen-
would get but few votes in his
as was under the control of the
soLlcS' He was right as to my
e'lhg but few votes in his city
county l really expected to
IN that county. Cats ana
S.neII' me one with a "biled" shirt
u. yne other without, swept that
Il "I N mere at Waycross, temporarily
ssn TO some private business.
y LFea ~ That there are many men,
i, sucA secret societies here. Two
tJa T'ieh ran in the primary here
Man,, v giSiature, putting in their
rion i5n mat mat they favored the in
"a I, Io, ol al, schools, public and pri-
"a ,.S r.SSo',Vents). The other candi-
B. "rS oS IS an ex-senator and an ex-
- TL court which would cor
'N III Florida to the circuit court,