The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1947-11-27

Inc IOFlud fIcSS doSo>ioeAOAA
held a pre-convention open
house at St. Petersburg last
week and invited political aspi-
rants to attend and get acquaint-
ed. Just about every candidate
for public office put in an APP
pearance.
Among gubernatorial candl-
dates, or prospective candidates,
seen milling about the lobby OF
the Suwanee Hotel were Fuller
Warren of Jacksonville, Walter
Rose of Orlando, w. A. Bill
Stands of Gainesville, Dan Nc
Carly of Fort Pierce, Colin Eng
lish of Tallahassee and Dick
Cooper of Deland. Attorney
General Tom Watson sent his re-
grets and stated he would have
been present but for the fact
he was confined to the hospital
in Tampa recuperating from an
eye operation
Among candidates for other
state and federal offices who put
in an appearance were: Dick En-
vim of Palatka and Grady Bur
ton of Wauchula, both seeking
the office of Attorney General;
Ed Fraser of McClenny and
Clarence Gay of Orlando, who
will square off for the post of
State Comptroller; Ammon
Mcclellan of Fort Pierce, candi-
date for Commissioner OF Agri-
culture; Sgd Herlong, Jr., candi-
date for congress from the fifth
district; r. T. Carlisle of jack
sonville who is running for state
treasurer, Ed Larson who seeks
reelection to the same office,
and r. A. Gray, Secretary of
State. Congressman present
were J. Hardin Peterson of the
first district and Little Joe Hen
bricks of the fifth. Altogether it
was quite a party, The only lady
politico present was Mrs. Nell
Afford of Jacksonville, state
committee woman.
Approximately 100 newspaper
folks were on hand to greet the
dignitaries made the most of
this opportunity to renew as
quaintanceS, meet new people
and make an impression, while
the newspaper folks welcomed
the opportunity to size up the
field and form opinions.
Some of the politicos simply
put in an appearance, shook a
few hands and then bowed out
while others stuck around. Full
err Warren's stay was brief but
he was one of the most popular
figures at the gathering. Bill
Stands and Dan McCarty did
good job of hand shaking and
met a lot of folks, but the chap
who surprised everyone was
Walter Rose. 1t has been said
that Walter lacked the ability
to mix with people let his hair
down and be one of the boys.
Well there may have been such
time, but after watching him
work at this convention, for
one am ready to stack the Sena-
tor up alongside Warren or any
body else in this regard. He
made mighty good impression
and plenty of friends with his
easy manner, his ready wit and
personal charm,
Nothing developed at this get
together get-acquainted party
that would indicate how these
candidates will stack up when
the race is actually underway. 1t
was more like looking the horses
over in the paddock prior to the
race.
Very few editors have picked
a man as yet and this was the
first opportunity most of the
boys had had to look the field
over and form an opion. While
it has been generally accepted
that Fuller Warren is out in the
front with Tom Watson, close
second at the moment, few are
ready at this time to concede
that either one will be the next
governor.
Most folks believe that issues
will have more weight in the
coming campaign than personal
appeal or oratorical bility.
People are concerned over the
future and will want sound, con-
StructiVe, intelligent propocals az