The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-04-02
SMITHWICK IS OUT
FOR REEL ECTION
Present Congressman from Third Flor.
ida District Announces His
Canidacy.

4 IL ia 65s VE%SDUI
gresgman from the third Florida dis
| trict, announces himself as . candidate
for reelection subject to the action OF
the Democratic primary. Mr.. Smith
wick Is now serving his second term
az representative from this district and
10 asking that he be allowed to con-
tinue In his present capacity. His an
nounoement will be read with interest
by a large number Of people through
| out the IL counties comprising the
| third district, and throughout the
whole state, for ne Is favorably known
in all sections Of Florida.
/ Mr.. Sn1ithwtok Is a man OF pleasing
| personality, and is gifted with the
ability to remember people and their
names once he has met them. TO this
and his diligence in the discharge OF
| his duties is accredited the honors
shown him by the people Of his dis
trict in the past. He has a host Of
friends who will rally to his support
in the coming election.
Praise from Atlanta.
When Congressman Snithwick as
sumed his duties after he had recov-
cred from the injuries which he sus-
! tanned In the Knicierbocker theatre
crash, the Atlanta Constitution car
| ried the following story by James A.
Holloman, Washington correspondent
for that paper:
Congressman John Smithwick of
| the Pensacola district, is back at his
congressional duties completely 'recov-
cred from the wounds he received as
! one Of the more fortunate victims Of
| the memorable Knickerbocker tragedy.
"Smithwick, who, by the way, is a
native Georgian and brother-in- law
| Of State Democratic Chairman Vereen,
was the only member of the house of
representatives in the Inflated theatre
at the time OF the collapse.
HE. was in the rear of the gallery,
/ and this probably was responsible for
| his escape. He had been seated on
the front row, but the individual who
sat next to him had a severe bronchial
cough, and Smithwick purposely re-
| tired to the rear, just moment before
I the collapse, in order to get away from
such close contact with the coughing
! patron. When the gallery pitched for
ward those on the seat from which
the congressman had moved were
killed or severely wounded.
Good Fortune.
Another illustration of the special
| Providence that seemed to have pro-
tected the Florida member that night
| was the eleventh hour decision of Mrs.
Smithwick and the children not to ac-4
company him to the picture, due to the
snowstorm raging. -
"The members of the family had pre-
pared to go, the theatre being within
a block Of their apartments, but after
getting to the door, with wraps on,
they suddenly decided the weather was
too bad. So Smithwick went alone
and the story is one of the best good
fortune.
DiIisent at Duties.
There is no man in congress more
actively attentive to his official duties
than this little red-headed solon from
the west coast of the Peninsular State.
He never misses roll call unless prov
identially prevented, and takes the
keenest pleasure in doing the small
things as we'll as the big things that
crowd into the demands upon a repre-
sentatives time. heard Charlie Bar
rett, president of the National Farm
ers' union, make the statement the
other day that in all of his Is years
in close contact with congressman
from every state of the union, he
never knew one more genuinely inter
ested in his work or more active in
the interest of his constituency than
Smithwick of Florida.
Here's hoping that kind Provi-
dence may continue to protect hint"