The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1916-08-11
J. SLATER SMITH Of
GREEN COVE SPRINGS
Wants To Know, You Know,
If We Are Going To Split
Democratic Party.

sery of independentlsm, }. Slater
Smith is the Grand Giascutis. J.
Slater is writing letters to build sen.
timent for his chief. He is getting
some hot replies. Here is J. Slater's
letter, together with the reply he re-
Gently received from Hon. j. M. Corn
to, State Senator from Lafayette
county, himself some democrat:
OFFICE OF j. SLATER SMITH.
Green Cove Springs, July 31st, 1916.
Hon ]. M. Gornto, Mayo, Fla.
Dear Sir: Owing to the unusual
political conditions now existing in
our great State the question natural
Ivy arises: Are we going to permit
the Democratic party to be split up
and torn asunder and allow the Re-
publican or an Independent candidate
to be elected Goveror of Florida:
We must not be too sanguine and sit
idly until it is too late. The Repub-
lican party, observing present condi-
tions, is beginning the most deter
mined effort it has made in a great
many years to elect Mr.. Allen and
an Independent named Mitchell, who
is amply supplied with finances, is
taking advantage of the opportunity
and launching most aggressive cam
paign. The situation is further ag-
gravated by the undemocratic action
of Mr.. Knott who was defeated in the
primary and is now trying to get into
the fight as a candidate, which he
hopes to do by the questionable and
irregular methods now so well known.
Therefore, it behooves us, as true
and loyal Democrats, to arouse to the
dangers that confront our party and
rally to the support of the Democrat
ic nominee, Hon. Sidney J. Cats, and
by organized and concentrated effort,
elect him Governor on Nov. 7, by
record breaking majority. At the
same time we should condemn with
our voices and crush by our activities
all questionable and improper meth
DDS that are being used to split the
party and destroy the integrity Of
the ballot.
In view Of the foregoing and for
the purpose of more effectively meet
ing the demands of the situation, l
am, with the approval of Mr.. Cats,
calling upon you as a loyal Democrat,
to undertake at once the organization
of a Cats Democratic Campaign
Club in your community so that the
voters may be organized for action
and enabled by this means to carry
forward the work of the campaign
and meet the unfortunate conditions
that now exist, or may develop, and
as the time approaches arrange for
fair election and a correct count. We
want to get the State organized as
rapidly as possible so | would be glad
if you would enlist the aid of others
of your fellow citizens and form a
club at once.
will be pleased to hear from you
promptly.
Yours faithfully,
(Signed) J. S. SMITH.
To this letter Mr.. Gornto replied
as follows:
Mayo, Fla, Aug. 4, 1916.
Mr.. j. S. Smith,
Green Cove Springs, Fla.
Dear Sir: Your circular letter,
dated July 31st, is before me, and in
reply to same will say, that while J
joined with you and others in the
fight against what is known as the
Sturllie Resolutions, | cannot join in
the organization of Cats club, Meth
er do | concur with the expressed
views of your letter. In fact, to be
perfectly frank with you, l cannot
agree with your statement that the
methods now being used by Mr..
Knott are questionable and irregu-
lar" on the contrary, consider them
legal and legitimate and that he is
acting entirely within his legal
rights and privileges.
| do not, personally, consider Mr..
Cats or anyone else, as being the
kind of man we need for Governor
, who, in view of the absolutely proven
irregularities in the count of the sec
ond choice votes in the recent pri-
mary, would be willing to accept the
nomination without an honest recount
Of those votes. His declaration that
he intends to run in the general cleo
ton, regardless of the result of the
proceedings now in progress, puts
him out of the Democratic party, and
stamps him as unreliable in any way.
In meeting the requirements of the
primary law, he made oath that he
would support the nominee Of the par
ty: by declaring that he will run re-
gardless of results, stamps him as a
man who has no regard for his oath
or his word, for that matter. | can
not support such a man; it will be
very bitter pill for me to vote for
him even if, at the end of these pro-
ceedings, he is declared the Democrat
ic nominee.
The only questionable methods that
I know of being used in the entire
campaign were used by Mr.. Cats
/ himself; I am of the opinion that
even Mr.. Allen is a better Democrat
/ than is Mr.. Cats; I certainly have
more respect for him and his hon
esty.
/ I would suggest that, as a "loyal
Democrat" you wait until the result
of the recount is compiled and de-
clared before organizing any kind of
a club. If Mr.. Cats in the legal
nominee, there will be no need of
| Cats Club, as he will have the sup
port of all "Loyal Democrats" even
including Mr.. Knott, the truest of
Democrats, for Mr.. Knott, unlike Mr.,
Cats, will not be in the race unless