The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1918-02-25
The -
Retired Politician
MOralizeS

Talking about bonfires," said the
Retired Politician, sitting at the
street car junction at Palafox and
gregory street, waiting for an East
Hill car, my old friend George
Siocumb, who is among those who
nave answered the last roll call, had
one OF his own making one night,
put after his intentions were made
known, adherents and helpers came
thick and fast. It was after the me-
morable senatorial contest in the leg
lslature when Stephen r. Mallory
was first elected. One ballot after
the other in the legislature had been
taken, w. d. Chipley and John N. G.
Stockton bucking one another IN an
attempt to defeat Senator WIKI. Call,
who l believe, had been in Washing
ton for about sixteen years. 1t look
ed Squaiiy for the opponents OF Call,
1t seems, at times, and after the bal
lots had reached about the thirtleth.
without an election, Stockton, the
shrewd politician that he is, did a
little caucusing and the result was
that S. r. Mallory, who | am told was
on periodical fishing trip, was tel
egraphed to hurry to Tallahassee. for
the Stockton strength, in an attempt
to defeat Col Chipley, was to go sol
idly for Mallory, the dark horse. NAL
lory reached the state capital in
time, and things looked for while
as if Chipley was the next senator.
In fact it is stated had the pre-
siding cE,icer have announced the
vote at once, it would have meant
Senator Chipley, but he deferred for
just a trifle and the crash came
when one senator,S whom | will not
name, arose and changed his vote.
This was after Chipley enthusiasts
had hoisted their champion to their
shoulders and were carrying him
from the state house, if / recollect
Alright When the first vote was
changed, and went to the dark horse,
Stephen R. Mallory, it was followed
by others, and almost in the twink
ling of an eye, the other man had
been elected 1t was a blow so sud-
den that one admirer in Pensacola,
standing at the old Clubbs building,
a few yards from the Western Union
telegraph office, tainted when he
heard it. He was standing with his
back to the building when the bulle-
tin was posted. The telegraph office
was on East Government street, just
around the corner from Palafox. at
the time, and the Clubbs building
was three-story brick affair which
stood where the ten-story American
National Bank buildino now stands.
But Chipley was not forgotten. fer
when he came home, it was the
greatest reception ever rendered TO
a defeated candidate. / remember
when his train rolled into the old
depot late at night on his return
the air, crossing one another as the
train came hustling into the city. and
thousands greeted him, with brass
/ band and escorted him to his home,
at the corner of Belmont and Baylen
streets But about my friend, Slo-
cumb and his bonfire. He was a
great Mallory man, and s7hen he
/! found out the arrival date of the new
senator, he hunted about the water
front and junk shops until he found
a barrel just as thoroughly satu-
rated with oil and pitch as could be.
At his own expense, he had the said
barrel carried to point on North
/ Palafox street, setting it in the mid
die of the street directly in front OF
the home of A. 2. Mallory, brother
of the new senator, at whose home
! S. r. was staying while in the city.
| When the new senator, in a buggy,
was driven from the depot to his
! brothers home. George applied the
torch and let her go, and the fires
] sprang up brilliantly. Senator Mai
| lory, of course, was received with q
welcome, and when he made his
speech at his North Palafox home
he was cheered to the echo. This
was another beat for the Tammany
! faction, for it was recognized tina:
the Mullet faction were behind the
new senator, and they won the great
est political victory of those times
Col Chipley, however, was never tho
same man. Whether his defeat had
anything to do with it or not, was
never ascertained, but shortly after
his return, earbuncle developed te
such serious proportions on the back
of his neck that he was removed te
Washington for treatment. The
trouble, however, was never checked
and his death took place in the ma.
tional capital and his remains were
conveyed to Georgia for interment
Whenever | hear of bonflres The
thought of how George Slocumt
undertook to have a little celebra
ten of his own, comes into my mind
George was great politician him
self, and never lost chance to tax;
part in elections. In his youngel
and more active days, he was captain
MIR McADG0 HIRE TS