The Punta Gorda herald. [volume] (Punta Gorda, Fla.) 1893-1958, 1916-10-12
The Contest Settled

On Saturday, the contest for the
gubernatorial nomination was def
initely settled by the highest au-
thorities, viz the state supreme
court and the state Democratic ex-
executive committee. That should
be enough to indicate to any loyal
Democrat what his duty is. All
are in honor bound to support the
nominees of the party among
whom are VIM. V. Knott for gov
ernor, r. Fenwick Taylor for SUI
preme judge and Frank Clark for
congressman from the second dis
trict. A persistent effort is be-
ing made to defeat these three 10y
al Democrats, who have been duly
nominated, and this calls for ex-
ira activity ON the part of all who
believe in majority rule, good gov
eminent and fidelity to the teach
ings and rules of the Democratic
party.
The fiercest opposition, as is
well known, is against Mr.. Knott.
This is the most unjustifiable po-
litical conduct of which this writ
er has any recollection. He has
personally known Mr.. Knott for
over thirty-fve years and has al
ways regarded him as a man of
singular integrity. Never until
this idiotic primary was thrust up
on the voters, was word of sus-
picion or an injurious aspersion
directed against him. 1t should
not, therefore, be surprising that
we reject any and all the injurious
stories told about him, which were
and are being told solely to put
some other man in the position for
which he has been nominated.
Mr.. Knott has been trusted i'm
plicitly by every administration
from Governor Bloxham's first
term until the present administra-
ton of Governor Trammell, and
not one of all the noble govern
ors with whom Florida has been
blessed during that time has ever
dreamed of questioning either the
integrity the fidelity or the eff
ficiency of VIM. V. Knott.
The campaign which he con-
Quoted prior to the primary was
characterized by the most high
toned conduct, as all the state
knows. He did not vilify his OPP
ponents and seek to rise by crush
ing them. And since the pri-
mary, which forced him to go into
the courts to establish his just
claims to the nomination, he did
MT abuse any one for mistakes,
he did not charge that fraud was
being used to defeat him, he did
not impugn the honesty of those
whose errors caused him all the
trouble and expense of proving
him to be the real Democratic
nominee.
On the other hand, his oppo-
nents, those who were and are
seeking to disrupt the Democratic
party, printed pages of abuse a
bout him, persisted in the cry of
fraud and even sought to bring
into contempt of the people any
and all the judges chosen by the
people-to arouse the hatred of
the people against the courts that
dared to do their duty and render
justice. Now, they are support
ing an Independent, a bolter, who
has done more than any other man
in forty years to disturb the peace
and good will existing among our
people, to stir up discord and
strife and set neighbor against
neighbor and sow seeds of discord
that will be bearing evil for years
to come.
Can any man who loves Florida
and sincerely wishes her people to
dwell in peace and happiness and
enjoy the prosperity now coming
to them, hesitate for moment in
choosing between Mr.. Knott and
the man who is guilty of causing
all the dissension and i'll feeling
that have been aroused during the
past six months?