The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-05-02

Governor Tells Wakulla Crowd
1000 Pensacola Union Men
Refused to Hear Senator.
WAS NEWS TO FLETCHER
Senator Is Given Glorious Ova-
tiOn While Governor Receiv-
ed Scant Attention.

Tallahassee, May 1.-Senator Dun
can q. Fletcher and Governor Sidney
j. Cats met today in joint debate at
Wakulla Springs and Senator Fletcher
emerged an easy victor. Fully 1900
citizens of Wakulla, Leon and Gadsden
!counties with representatives from
many sections of the state gathered at
the historic spot for the annual May
day picnic.
"A more perfect spring lay could not
have been wished for and shortly after
IL o'clock the speakers in this debate
were introduced by C. T. FerreH, a
prominent citizen OF Wakul!a county.
Cats. the challenger, opened the de
bate and was allowed under the agree
ment 45 minutes in which to present his
main argument. Fletcher was accorded
60 minutes and Cats followed with a
rejoiner of Is minutes.
In his main argument the governor
related a detailed account of his ac-
ofAhlto III Dtbd4L Va tue SlGh SOlllef6
lat Camp Wheeler in the fall of 1917,
assailed the senator for having done
little or nothing for the relief against
the high cost OF living and to curb
Iprofiteering by various large corpora
tions whom he named attacked him for
the introduction of a bill providing for
the deportation of persons convicted OF
a conspiracy to overthrow organized
government, charged that the senator
was corporation man and that when
in Pensacola recently 200 laboring men
refused TO hear Fletcher speak. He
took the senator to task for his vote
on the child labor bill and scored nim
for supporting the league of nations.
He concluded his argument by de-
claring that he was running for the
United States Senate because ten
thousand sun-crowned and glory kissed
citizens of Florida supported me
against the Sturkie resolution and a
large majority supported me against
the Rainey committee and the decision
of the supreme court. If did not run
it would be a slap in the face of the
thirty mine thousand who put me IN as
governor"
When Senator Fletcher was presented
he received an ovation. He ,aunched
into a reply 10 the gov
ernor's charges, taking them up one
by one. All the issues were fully and
refuted by the senator.
whose perfect diction and chaste Eng
lish were a delight TO the ear.
Fletcher related his efforts in behalf
Of the boys at Camp Wheeler and
showed convincingly that he himself
put into operation the machinery which
eventually resulted in relieving :he
conditions there.
The. senator declared that il was. all
news to him that 1000 men had re-
fused to hear him speak in Pensacola
md asked If there was no limit 10 the
imagination Of the governor. The
act was, said Fletcher, that on three
occasions when he spoke in Pensacola
'ecently by invitation he was greeted
n each instance with full and atten-
i've audiences and that at no time in
his state had any people ever refused
o hear him.
He answered the governors refer
nee to his deportation bill by simply
the provisions of the bill
which is aimed against those persons
MY who are found guilty. after due
rial, Of conspiracy to overthrow the
government. He explained in man
Ter satisfactory to his hearers his con-
lection with the child labor bill and
'ther charges which the governor had
made. He invited attention TO the rry,-
Ter in which the governor has failed
o carry out his pledges when candI-
ate for governor.
Continuous applause and shouts OF
urrah for Fletcher long resounded at
he conclusion of the senator's address
nd but little attention was paid 10
he governor while making his brief
ejoinder which was largely a rehash
( his original speech.
After the luncheon talks were heard
rom the following candidates: Y. L.
Watson, Van c. Swearingen, Rivers
1. Buford. James f. CaIkins and W.
ID