The Lakeland evening telegram., 1920-05-27
STATE POLITICS FROM A REPUBLICAN VIEWPOINT

Florida shall not suffer the GREA1
MISFORTUNE of Seeing that able
honest, sane business man and law
yer Cary A. Hardee, kept out of tn,
officce of Governor, and Attorne,
General Swearingen elevated to sue
ceed Governor Cats.
3. You desire that the Congress- q,
the United States shall not suffer thu
misfortune of losing that 'yaluablt
member, Honorable Herbert J. Drane
and OF seeing an untried and inexper.
fenced and new member in his place
Hon. George Wilder.
In all these sensible and worthy
desires | am with you. But I most
respectfully ask you to consider three
things before You seek to accomplish
these objects by voting in Florida on
the Sth of June.
First: 1t is not fair to the Demo-
Gratis of Florida.
Second: 1t is not fair to tha Ma.
tional Republican party.
Third: 1t is not fair to yourselves
as citizens.
Let me state my reasons briefly
The Democratic party did not try in
the slightest way to interfere with
tie convention at Palatka on the 2sth
day Of January, when we chose Judge
Cheney, of Orlando, for United States
Senator; Honorable George E. Cav,
OF Palatka, for Governor, and Can
tain ]. B. Jeffreys, Of Pasco county,
for member of Congress. The only
attempt to interfere with this con-
vention came from misguided gentle
men who deem themselves Republic
ans but refused to unite with us
Now, although the strong, able men
in the Democratic party are heartily
.ired Of the whole system of primar-
les, which, in my opinion, will ere
many years be tossed into the alley
and become part of the political Junk
pile where can be found the decaying
'emains of "sixteen-to-one,'' 'the
closed shop" tie recall of judges, the
single tax oef Henry George, and 9TH
n political fads and nostrums of the
time has not yet come and
We have this vicious and noxious pri-
nary system still with us, so far as
ne Florida Democracy is concerned.
The duty of all Republican believers |
to allow our Democratic brothers to |
LAY this primary game without let
r hindrance. Clearly it is up to US |
be as fair with them in respect to
his primary as they were with us in
espect to our convention. Well-de.
erved criticism will be directed
gainst us If we are anything other
nan interested observers. We must
OF be participants. Mr.. Burton and
IF. Raney were right in their fears,
expressed few months ago. H.
eg you so to act that there shall be
0 such fears for the future.
Again: 1t is not fair to the Ma
onal Republican party. which the
lorida Supreme Court admits has an
Iistepce. The legitimate and prop
; ambition of all to whom this let
r is addressed is that we shall have
Republican party in Florida which
le Supreme Court of Florida will
'cognize later. And no State party
Republicans is possible except it
a part Of, and work in harmony I
ith, the National party. Therefore,
hen the National party shall admit {
its councils the Florida citizens
lmed at Palatka, all of us who vote
Florida are bound to stand behind
ose citizens. And If we participate |
Democratic primary we simply
AXE more difficult, for we do not
stroy, the efforts to create in this
ate a party that will be efficient, S
hesive and whose legitimacy no
an may question.
Finally, participation in this pri- "
ary on June Sth is not fair to your
Continued on Page 81