The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-01-18
TOO
LATE
TO
CLASSIFY
BY RUSSELL KAY
FLORIDA News Service)

Petersburg the past weekend as
democrats, old and young, assem-
bled for the meeting of the State
Democratic Committee.
1t was gay and festive party
and harmony prevailed despite
the storm clouds that, prior to the
meeting, led many to believe a
fight might develop.
Throughout the day Thursday
delegates and politicians from
every nook and corner of the
state drifted in to take up every
available room at the Suwannee,
headquarters hotel, and overflow
to others throughout the city.
Groups gathered in private rooms
for conference and pow-wow
while the lobby was constantly
filled with a milling crowd of
back-slapping, Misunderstanding can
didates, delegates and observers.
Governor Fred entertained
with feats of strength and greet
ed all with a bomoing voice to
put at rest all rumors to the eff
feet that his physical condition
might handicap him in his cam
paign for a seat in the U. S. Sen
ate. It is expected that his Off
cial announcement will be made
this week.
Equally busy contracting folks
during the convention were eX-
Governor Doyle Carlton, ex-Gov-
ernor Dave Sholtz and genial Jer-
ry Carter, all of whom are ex-
pected to toss their sombreros in
to the senatorial. campaign to
make that race as difficult to fig
ure out as is the governors me-
lee at the moment.
Holding their own with the
prospective contenders were Sen
ator Charles o. Andrews and
Democratic Committee w m a n
Hortense Wells, who have al
ready announced. If either of
them were particularly alarmed
over the vision of such formid.
able competition they failed to
show it.
In the gubernatorial "receiv-
ing line" were West Palm Beach's
b. F. Patty, Deland's Francis
Whitehair, Panama City's Clan
cey, st. Augustine's Fraser,
Ocala's Hans Walker, Bartow's
Spessard Holland, Avon Parks
Fred Touchton, Jacksonville's
Fuller Warren, as well as num-
Der of others spoken of as prob
able entrees who have not yet
worked themselves into that
feverish mental condition that
causes its victim to break out
with an announcement.
Newspapermen and photo
graphers were amazingly popu-
lar, and the efforts of the polit-
ical hopefuls to angle themselves
within camera range was anus
ing. Henry Wreen of the ASSo-
ciated Press, Paul Davis of the
St. Petersburg Independent,
Stanmore Cawthon of the ST. Pc
tersburg Times, and other scribes
assigned to cover the meeting,
found themselves the center OF
attraction in any group. Even
your humble columnist was show
cred with attentions from those
office-seekers eager for even the
merest mention.
SHRD shrdl shrdlu uu uu uu uu
Coat tail pulling developed in
to a regular indoor sport as can
didates caught this or that UNI
suspecting victim to drag him Or
her into a corner and pour the
old, old story in what they hope
will be an attentive ear.
Campaign cards bearing the ia
miliar Union Label were every
where in evidence-candidates
passed them to each other as well
as to mattresses, bellhops and
elevator boys.
The meeting was pronounced
one of the best ever held with
between four and five hundred
in attendance. An impressive
Memorial Service, in tribute to
those Democratic leaders who
have passed on, was held Thurs
day. evening.
At the Friday session, the plan
to pledge delegates was voted
down and it was decided that
Florida democrats would elect
uninstructed representatives to
the National Convention, who
will not be bound by any unit
rule requiring them to vote sol
idly for any candidate. A unit
rule resolution was vote ddown
70 to 81.
The Sunshine City" did q
bang-up job in arranging and
conducting the meeting and much
credit is due to Chairman t. T.
Turnbull and Paul Stansbury for
their work to make the event the