The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1954-03-13
Johns Ku Klux
Stand Becomes
Campaign Issue
Collins Claims Acting
Governor Voted No
On Khan Unmasking
BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

oY TIE ASSSStAI Ed fkESS
Acting Gov. Charley E. Johns
stand on the Ku Klux Khan is an
open issue in the Florida governor
ship campaign today.
At Miami last night Johns told
televsion audience I'm against
the Ku Klux Khan and always will
be-"
Almost simultaneously, State
Sen. Leroy Collins was telling
Tallahassee audience that he sup
ported the 1851 act unmasking the
Khan in Florida while Johns and
his present administrative assist
ant, G. Warren Sanchez, cast two
of the six votes against it.
He talks about being hum ami
tarian," Collins said of Johns. "He
had a chance to be humanitari-
an" by voting to unmask the Khan.
81 was up there fighting for the
bill because I don't believe in ter
roriSm, but he voted mo-"
Johns didn't add anything to his
statement that he was against the
khan and always will be. He mere
ly answered a question from an
interviewer and didn't 60 into de-
tail.
Oil In Park Vicinity
Meanwhile at Gainesville, Candi-
date Bradley Oldham limited in a
question and answer session on the
University OF Florida campus that
he may have something to say in
a few days about a stock deal tied
in with discovery of oil near the
Everglades National Park.
He was asked about his stand
on exploring for oil in the big
South Florida park.
Don't quote me on this" he
replied. "But you might be inter
ested to know we have been doing
some research"
Without naming anyone, he said
q corporation was formed with five
million shares oil Flock at one cent
a share and the so, 900 worth of
stock rose to . valNe of Is million
dollars after talk Of opening oil
fields in Everglades.
Oil in relatively small quantities
has been found In two wells just
OUTSIDE the parks northern boun-
dairy and Johns has said he will
make 4 campaign issue out of the
right TO explore for oil On lands
which the state gave the federal
government in 1913 for the park.
Both Oldham and Collins took YER
bal punches at each other and at
Johns.
No Joint Appearances
Johns said he wouldn't partici-
pate in any joint appearances with
the two candidates because he
didn't want to get into a mud
singing campaign"
He added later in a statement
handed to newsmsn that Il wish to
place the candidates on notice that
I will not engage with either of |
them, or anyone else, in any news.
paper, radio or television name
calling contests, or in any other
activity that has the appearance |
of a Sideshow."
Both Oldham and Collins have
speeches scheduled tonight in San |
ford. Oldham offered to make it a
three-man joint appearance. Col
Inns accepted, but Johns declined.
Collins and Oldham also will appear
together next week on two Miami |
television programs to which spon-
sors invited Johns. He will not |
Both Oldham and Collins have !
accused Johns of lodging" de-
bate.
Collins told his hometown audi
ence he is compiling a list of
professional politicians" he says
Johns has put on the state payroll
to help the acting governor cam
paign and will make it public soon.
He had little to say about Oldham
except that the Sanford candidate
differed from a lady whose slip
Continued On Page Three)