The Punta Gorda herald. [volume] (Punta Gorda, Fla.) 1893-1958, 1920-05-27

]. L. (Sawgrass) Sauls, who is the
anti-divisionists candidate for memb-
er of the legislature, in his campaign
speechmaking emulates the uncouth
harangues of the governor, calling
leaders Of the division movement
buns, traitors, criminals, thieves,
robbers and other pet names, and
after relieving himself thusly de-
signates their purpose as the most
preposterous thing ever attempted.
Here is the Pilots report of the
TRADE he is said to have delivered at
political meeting at the Charley, be-
tween Zolfo and Crewsville, several
days ago:
Then came the most important of
all-the candidates for representa-
tive-one of them running on we'll
defined platform of dividing DeSoto
county into FIVE parts, creating four
new counties, as outlined by the
county division committee, the other
with no platform at all, except cater
ing to the interests of small coterie
of cattlemen and political leeches.
These candidates were DR.. f. j.
Etheredge of DeSoto City and ]. L.
"Sawgrass') Sauls. The latter was
given the first inning, and after an
attempt to explain his platform G),
with which he was entirely unfamil-
lar, reading it over in stumbling
manner, showing that it must have
g. hA lon oh Cd
forth in TRADE of abuse and ridi-
cule of his opponent and every man
connected with tire county division
movement. He referred to the coun-
ty division committee as 1.-The under
ground committee gang or ring"
calling its members buns, traitors,
criminals, thieves, robbers, etc, and
designating their purpose as the
most preposterous thing ever at
tempted" He stated that they were
all crazy when this movement was
started and were a set of maniacs
who held their meetings behind bar
red doors. In referring to the meet
ing recently held at Moore Haven he
stated that Capt, J. J. O'Brien was as
"crazy an idiot or lunatic as ever es-
capped a madhouse" and referred to
one of Sebrings most respected cit
liens, Fairfax Haskins, as a little, |
warty-headed chap" Even the ladies
of Moore Haven did not escape the
abuse of this political scrapegrace.
chosen as a last resort to represent
inf of
long controlled the politics of Desc
to county and suckled at the teat of
public pap and graft until the old |
COW has nearly run dry.
"Sawgrass," in his fiamboyant and
boastful so-called speech related a
few coarse and time-worn stories,
entirely irrelevant to the issues, and
otherwise disgusted the audience, as
we'll as making himself appear more
ridiculous than at the time when he
was answered by the poor catfisher-
man who branded him as toy pistol
instead of a big gun.
His TRADE was what might have
been expected from a man devoid of
the principles of a gentleman and
the tool of a set of selfish men, whose
chestnuts he would pull out of the
fire-had he the ability.
He failed TO make a single point
in his rambling discourse, every SEN
tence of which was followed by
expectoration, reminding one of an
old tomcat, its back arched and fur
standing on end, splitting at we'll
bred collie. too intelligent to notice
such an inferior animal,
The discourse OF his opponent was
entirely opposite and was delivered
in quiet, gentlemanly and unassum-
ing manner. DR.. Etheredge picked I
Mr.. Sauls remarks to pieces in such ;
an able manner as to create favor
able impression upon every one OF '
his hearers. He did not resort to I
abuse or villifcation, but clearly I
stated the position of the divisionists {
and thoroughly demonstrating that /
their cause was just and right and If 9
won would result benefcally to all (
parts of the county. He proved con-
clusively that taxes would not be in a
creased by the creation OF four new |
counties and that. on the other /
hand, enough money would be saved
by those having busir to transact a
at the county seats to ply a goodly f
portion of their taxes. t
In drawing a comparison between a
the two candidates. one could not {
help being favorably impressed with a
DR.. Etheredge. In language, logic t
bearing and every other way he out a
shone his opponent. and if he failed n
to convert any of the anti-divisionists C
present, he at least convinced them