The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1916-05-31
CHOOSING THE CANDIDATES

mary election, in which the democrats
of Florida will chose who the party |
shall vote for next November. The
primary, according to the law, is for
all parties, but in this campaign, as
in every campaign since the primary
became an institution in Florida, only
democrats have qualified to be voted
for in it.
The most important Office we have
to vote for is United States senator,
for which there are four candidates
BRYAN, Gilchrist, Wall and Trammell.
1t is impossible to forecast who will
be the winner. The Stars first choice
is Senator Bryan, candidate for re-
election. He has served one term, or
rather the remnant of term, most
acceptably; ne deserves reelection
NOT only on account of faithful SER
vice, but because he is undoubtedly
the most able Of the four candidates.
He is simonpure democrat, without
any trimmings or sidelines and the
democrats of Florida will make a.
great mistake if they do not select
him to succeed himself. We have
consulted old-fashioned democrats,
and we have found that most of them
favored Bryan or Gilchrist, one for
first the other for second choice
Sometimes Bryan was first, some
times Gilchrist, but with them it is
nearly always one or the other. Gill
christ made Florida a good governor;
il elected he will make good senator.
Wall is an excellent business man; II
elected he will do the best he can for
the state, out some things in his plat
form seem to the Star would come
with better grace from a republican
than democrat. OF the four men, we
think Trammell the least qualified for
senator, and yet he probably has the
best chance to win. Also, in fairness,
we must say that Park Trammell has
plenty of brains and character, and
when we survey the four candidates,
nc matter which is elected, Florida
will not suffer in the Senate by COM
parison with the other states.
For governor there are five candi-
dates-Farris, Hudson, Knott, Wood
and Cats. Farris is Marion county
boy, he is young man of ability and
character, he has always been on the
side of the people, and he has shown
himself not afraid to attack error.
The Star thinks Marion county men
should consider Mr.. Farris when they
mark their first choice. Mr.. Knott is
a quiet and Industrious man, better
acquainted with state affairs than any
Of the other candidates-he has been
faithful in all the public places he has
held; if he is elected he will be an
honest and efficient governor. He is
the least snowy and demonstrative of
the candidates, but let it be remem-
bered that the quiet men do the worlds
work. Mr.. Hudson is more of a
statesman than any of the others; the
only fault the Star has to find with
him is that he, the best qualified OF
the candidates to combat and show up
the religious bigots that have tried to
poison the minds of our people, has
remained as mum on the subject as an
oyster. Mr.. Wood is live, hustling
competent business man; like Farris
he isn't afraid to speak out. Any one
of these four would make a governor
creditable to the state. As for Cats
all we have to say is that in the forty
years that we have been student Of
politics that he is the first man we
ever heard preach bigotry from {
democratic platform; we do not con
slider him democrat and do not thinl
he has any place in democratic pri
mary. He should have been com
PEELED to run on a platform of his own
and the said platform would have
been, IF man does not agree will
your religious creed, he has no polit
ical rights"
The candidates for justice of th'
supreme court are Francis Nj. Cock
rel of jacksonville and Jefferson B
Browne of Key West. Both are ex
cellent men, but it is the Stars opin
ion that Mr.. Cockrell, who has fillet
the Office well, deserves reelection.
The candidates for secretary O
state are H. Clay Crawford, the pres
ent incumbent, and A. p. Jordan. Mr.
Crawford has filled the office ably AM
honorably for fourteen years; TIL
only argument against his reelection
is that he has been in office longe
than it is customary for a democra
to hold one office. Mr.. Jordan is
veteran newspaper man, is in ever,
way worthy to hold the Office and tn,
Star would be glad to see him elected
Nobody is running against Ton
West for attorney general. For stat,
treasurer there are Mr.. Luning, TIL
present incumbent, and. Mr.. Griner O
Bradford county, and from all we Cal
hear OF the two gentlemen eithe
would fill the office well.
OF the candidates for controller, W
favor z. p. Thagard, not only becaus
ne is a Marion county man, but be
cause our acquaintance of years wit
him convinces us that he is peculiarl
qualified to fill the place. We have n
choice between his opponents, Messrs
Angle and Amos, both of whom ar