The Punta Gorda herald. [volume] (Punta Gorda, Fla.) 1893-1958, 1916-10-12
SUPREME COURT
DECISION WAS END
OF THE CONTEST
For Democratic Nomination as
as Governor of Florida
KNOTTIsPEoPLE's NOMINEE
Is Endorsed by the State Execu-
tive Committee in Resolutions
Adopted at the Late Meeting
Held in Jacksonville

The long, bitter contest to de
eide who was nominated for gov
ernor in the June primary was Fl
nally decided on Saturday last il
favor of Win. V. Knott. In fact
it was decided by the Democrat,
voters on June 9Th; but owing tt
many errors in counting and tabu
latig the votes in the various coun
ties, it took long, acrimonious
and expensive contest to deter
mine definitely who had received a
majority of both first and second
choice votes.
The final hearing in the supreme
court last Saturday resulted in
that tribunal refusing to order
the state canvasing board to make
a third canvass that would include
/ the slxty-nine votes cast for Mr.
| Cats in precinct No. of Alachua
county and the corrected returns
from Hilsborough and other coun.
ties, these returns being in favor
of Mr.. Knott. Thus the request
of the attorneys for each contes-
tant was denied; otherwise, if
both had been granted, Mr.. Knott
would have been shown to be the
nominee by thirty-six to forty
eight majority. AS it was and is,
the second re-canvass by the state
ty-ono majority and the certificate
board which gave Mr.. Knott TWEEN
of nomination, holds good, and he
is the de jure as well as the de fac
to nominee OF the Democratic par
ty, for governor of Florida.
AT the same time that the su-
preme court was delivering its
final decision, the Democratic
state executive committee in ses-
sion at Jacksonville, by a vote Of
81 to 10, adopted the following
resolutions.
Whereas, the rule and provi-
sions of the primary election law
particularly with respect to the
counting of the second choice
votes were not generally under
stood by the inspectors of elec-
tions in the recent primary in
which candidates Of the Democra-
tic party were nominated and
Whereas, many errors were
unintentionally made by the in
spectors in several of the counties
Of this. State in tabulating and tai
lying such votes; and
Whereas, it has been judicial
ly determined by the courts of this
State, after full and impartial in
vestigation Of the contest for the
Democratic nomination for gov
ernor that the Honorable W. V.
Knott is justly entitled to such
nomination; and
Whereas, the high character
and ability and integrity of the
judges of the Supreme Court and
the other courts of the State of
Florida is such as to commend the
confidence and respect Of every
fair minded citizen of this state,
Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, by the Democratic
Executive Committee Of the State
of Florida, that the action of the
Honorable w. V. Knott in insti-
tuting and carrying to a conclu-
sion the recount contest In the
courts for the purpose OF judicial
ly determining the true Democrat
ic nominee for governor, was nee
esary in order to properly protect
and secure the rights Of the indl-
vidual Democratic voters OF Flor
ida. Be it further
Resolved, that the State Dem
ocratic Executive Committee
heartily endorses all of the Dem
ocratic nopinees, national, State
and county, and does hereby
pledge to Loyalty support the
said nominees in the ensuing cleo
tion.
"Be it further resolved, that all
Democrats in the State OF Florida
should give their active aid and
towards the election OF all
said Democratic nominees and
thereby continue the supremacy
of the Democratic party. BE 1T
further
Resolved, that all nominees OF
the Democratic party in the recent
primary election are particularly
oollod ,,no,, - Iond their aid and