The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-06-08
Florida Primary Election To-
day Promises to Bring Out
Greatest Vote Ever Cast
SHOWERS ARE PREDICTED
interest in Practically Every
Race and Procession Has
Been Maintained.

one of the most interesting cam
paigns in the history of Florida nolifirq
came TO an official close in Escambia
county with the Smithwick rally a.
Mallory Court. Today's primary pron-
ises TO bring out the heaviest vot.
ever cast, although there are possi-
bilities that local showers NAV slow
down the voting to some extent. The
polls will open at O'clock this morn
ing and close at sunset Interest in
practically every race, and some prob
able professions has been maintained
Throughout the campaign and some OF
the political rallies have developed in
tense feeling.
Featured by the speeches OF the
three candidates for congress from the
third district and characterized by few
personalities, the closing rally of the
campaign last night held the attention
of thousands of voters. who stood for
hours while every county candidate
was given an opportunity to present
his claims to the suffrage of the voters
/ of this district
r. Pope Reese acted as chairman OF
the meeting. Ben S. Hancock. the first
speaker, spoke very briefly. basing his
claim to election on his record Of SER
vice as business man. as postmaster
of Pensacola. and as the head of a
number of war drives, to which he gave
much time during the world war. Mr..
Hancock called attention to the fact
that in spite of the increased pooula-
tion during the war. his record showed
that his service as postmaster had been
IsS per cent perfect. according TO Off
cial count.
-
lowed Mr.. Hancock, opened his ad-
dress OF half an hour with a tribute
to Americanism and attacked the l. w.
W. and the bolshevistic element in the
labor organizations. Mr.. Watson then
turned his batteries upon Congress
man Smithwick. seeking TO prove that
the present incumbent from the third
district had not well served the people
in this district by falling to introduce
any legislation in congress.
Mr.. Smithwick. who was late In ar
riving, having spoken in Milton dur
ing the day. met every charge made by
his opponents. He devoted the greater
part OF his thirty minutes to roasting
Mr.. Watson. w. had turned upon him
most of his artillery earlier in the
evening. Mr.. Smithwick had published
advertising matter and documents to
prove that Mr.. Watson was backed by
J. Ed. Graves in his campaign and
that Mr.. Graves had spent his money
freely in Watson's support. He also
presented evidence to show that Mr..
Watson was not a friend OF the labor
ing man. Congressman Smithwick ex-
pressed the conviction that the boil
shevist element which Mr.. Watson so
greatly feared, would never get con-
troll of this country, which was de-
Tended during the world war by the
who are no less loyal to their
today than when they gave
and their sons to its SER
vice. Mr.. Smithwick reminded the
people that he had served during his
term with republican administration,
but in spite of this handicap had put
forward as much legislation as any
man in the house.
Every office-seeker Of the county was
given an opportunity of few minutes
to present his claims to the voters.
Among those speaking were r.. A.
and Harry Thompson, for
states attorney; William Fisher and
Walter Kehoe, for county solicitor:
Herbert p. Caro-, L. w. Hardy and
James Macgibbon, for clerk of the
circuit court; A. w. Davis and A. S.
Edwards. for superintendent Of public
H. E. Candy, Henry Gar
rett. l. S. Gilmore. J. d. Mccurdy. w.
c. Barrineau, Z. p. Preston, Gus Soder-
lind. T. T. Wentworth, for county
w. +. Rowland. John
Clay Smith, J. Leo Anderson, Frank
x. Carroll. for legislature; Robert p.
Stout, Judge Henry Bollinger, NJ. Z.
Morey, for county Judge; ID. A. Nee.
Clarence Stokes. VIM. L. Johnson, for
Justice of the peace; Lawrence Mayo.
w. p. Price. and c. g. Hall, for clerk
court of record.
The polls will be opened at O'Clock
his morning and will remain open un-
Ill sunset tonight. which comes at s:4S
o'clock. Clerks and inspectors will be
on hand from shortly before this
morning until after the votes are
counted and tabulated, probably zs
hours. owing TO the great length of
he ticket and the second choice vote
First returns are not expected until
nearly midnight tonight and It win be
ate Wednesday before the returns are
even close TO being in
Polling places for Escambia county
ire as follows:
1-Coldbachs' store.
2-Butch's store. West Jackson-st.
3-Millview.
4-Roberts' Place.
5-Klondyke.
e-GonzaIez.
7-Pine Barren.
s-McKinnonviIle.