The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1954-05-05
JOHNS, COLLINS FACE
(Continued from Page One)


ocratic and Republican-were set
tied.
In the first district, Rep. Court
ney Campbell of Dunedin was un-
opposed for Democratic renomi-
nation and William C. Cramer de-
feated Thomas T. Dunn for the
Republican nomination. Both are
from St Petersburg.
Incumbent Democratic Reps.
Bob Skies of Crestview in the third
district, sgd Herlong of Leesburg
in the fifth and James A. Haley
OF Sarasota in the seventh dis
posed of their opponents with big
majorities.
State Rep. Dante Fasceu of Mi
ami got a clear majority over four
opponents to win the Democratic
nomination, and unopposed Elec-
ton, to Congress from the fourth
district to succeed Rep. W.. c. Lam
taft, who didn't run.
In the only other congressional
contest, converted Democrat E.
B. Sutton of Polk City apparently
won the Republican nomination in
the seventh district over old-line
Republican Philip Hiss of Sarasota.
Big surprise of the election was
Odham's sharp loss of strength in
the Tampa Bay area, where in
three big counties he got only half
the votes he did as runner-up to
McCarty in 1852.
Johns, Starke insurance man
who is acting as governor by vir-
tue of his position as state Senate
president, led in 40 counties,
sweeping nearly the whole north
ern half of the state But many of
them were low-voting rural coun-
ties.
Collins, Tallahassee lawyer who
is backed by most top men of the
late governors organization, led
in the McCarty strongholds of pop
ulouS southeast and southwest
Florida where the vote was heavy
enough to keep him within striking
distance of Johns by carrying only
Is counties.
Oldham led only in his home
county of Seminole and two 9th.
ers-Pasco and little Hardee.
The young gas and oil dealer
who staged sensational cam.
paign with his novel z24-hour radio
question and answer alkathons' -
in 1852 said he thought heavy sup.
port by the daily newspapers
turned the tide to Collins. He
blamed Orlando Sentinel backing
of Johns for loss of Orange Coup-
ty, which Oldham carried two
years ago when the Sentinel en-
dorsed him.
Oldham said he'll never run for
public office again, but In conced-
ing his elimination in a radio
broadcast he said 81 am going to
do everything within my power to
assist Sen. Collins in his fight to
be Florida's next governor. Any
thing l can do to assist him, all he
needs to do is say so, and I'm
ready to do it."
Il have weeks ago said that I
could not in good conscience vote
for the now acting governor" Cd
ham declared.
He and Collins have criticized
Johns as a machine politician. Ap-
pearing together on programs in
which Johns declined to partici-
pate, they sniped at him while Of
ten agreeing their own programs
weren't too far apart in principle
Collins said Oldham telephoned
him congratulations and offered
to help him. He said he replied
to the defeated candidate "I'n be
proud of it." =.
The Tallahasseean issued pub
lie statement declaring the "most
decisive thing about the results
is that big majority of our citi
zens have clearly shown by their
support of Mr.. Oldham and me
that they want clean, wholesome
government and not machine pow
err politics."
Johns said "Odham cannot de-
liver the votes of the people who
voted for him, even as Leroy Col
Inns or l could not deliver ours il
the results had been otherwise.
Il think the vast majority Of
them will now support Charley
Johns"
A glance at the county by county
returns indicated 10 second pri
mary battle-ground counties where
either Johns or Collins led but Cd
nam got a total of nearly 10000
votes.
They are Dade, Duval, Hillsbor
ough, Pinellas, Palm Beach, ES
Gambia, Orange, Broward, Vo
lusia and Bay.
Big prize. of course, is Dade
Collins led there, Johns was THIRD
and Oldham got $1,000 votes.
Duval gave Johns his biggest
vote edge He led by 5000 and
Collins was third. Oldham got g..
900 that the others now must try
to pick up.
Hillsborough, which was Cd
hams big county in 1852, was
neutralized yesterday. Johns led
but there was only thousand
votes difference between him and