The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1916-08-11
WANTS TO KNOW
WHOM PEOPLE
HAVE CHOSEN
Pensacola Journal Ably De-
tends Mr.. Knott's P0-
Siti0n.

| SitIClt.
Referring to the charge of Mr.
Cats that Mr.. Knott asks theh courts
to make him the party nominee, tho
Pensacola Journal of last Sunday, II
an able editorial says:
Referring to the proof Mr.. Knot
submitted to the highest court o.
Florida in substantiation of his claim
that certain votes had not been count
ed-a proof apparently so well found
ed that the tribunal in question de
cided only a recount of the ballots
could decide the question, daily
newspaper has this to say:
Gle asks the courts to MAKE
him the party nominee. But
the people of Florida will not ac-
cept . COURT nominee"
Bear in mind that Mr.. Knott never
has agitated the question of Mr.
Cats constitutional eligibility, nor is
he doing so now. The Journal
printed recently an interview with
Ex-senator John S. Beard discussing
the law on the question, but this was
entirely without the authorization or
the knowledge of Mr.. Knott. The
discussion was not politicacl in char
acter, it was purely didactic: seek
ing to interpret the constitution of
Florida which provides that no one
shall be eligible for governor who has
not been a citizen of the state for five
years preceding the election-a quail
fication Mr.. Cats will not have COM
piled with until June, 1917. Had Mr..
Knott taken appropriate steps to de-
clare Mr.. Cats candidacy illegal, in
order to overcome his present majori-
ty, there might be some rhetorical ex-
cuse for saying that Knott was ask
ing the courts to MAKE him the NOM
inee.
But Mr.. Knott simply asks that the
votes be recounted. The people have
already MADE their choice: Mr..
Knott simply wants to find out who
that choice is.
Mr.. Cats on the other hand does
rot want the recount. Stripped of all
piff1e and partisanship, the reason
why he does not want a recount is
that he is afraid his majority will be
upset; and in using every legal re-
source possible to prevent a recount
is he not putting his nomination up
to the courts?
One argument Mr.. Cats uses
against the recount is that the Bryan
primary law under which the election
was held was unconstitutional as re-
CARDS the second choice vote. He
therefore appeals to the courts to
throw Mr.. Knots request out and al
low his nomination to stand. Is not
this putting the nomination squarely
up to the courts?
Failing to gain that point, Mr..
Cats, through his attorneys, has adj
vanced this remarkable plea, in the
case brought by Mr.. Knott
last week to require the clerks in GER
tain precincts of Duval and Putnam
counties to reconvene and recount the
votes:
Namely, that Mr.. Knott wasn't eli
gible to run after all! Thus eX-
planned:
Mr.. Knott signed an oath, when he
his candidacy, declaring 81
am qualified to fill the office of gov
ernor."
The oath did not say, argued Mr..
Cats counsel, 81 will be qualifed'
but the language is in the present
tense. But, says learned counsel, he
could not be qualified unless he had
resigned as comptroller.
Fortunately this plea fell Of its own
weight. Had it carried, we would
have confusion worse COMPOUNDED: for
it would automatically throw out
Governor Trammell's election, for he
was still governor when he ran for
the senate.
Is not this putting Cats nomination
5quarely into the hands of courts?
Had Mr.. Knott pressed the question
IF Mr.. Cats incligibility, we would
1e able to understand the psychology
If this plea of Mr.. Catts-if not the
ogic But Mr. Knott has done moth
ng of the kind. He has accused
Nr. Cats of nothing, he has not ques-
Toned Mr.. Cats qualifications. The
'nly thing Mr.. Knott is Interested in
$, KNOWING what the people have
decided.