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Letter to Joseph E. Lee Concerning the Florida Gubernatorial Election of 1916
(From: Lee, Joseph E., Papers, 1876-1920, Collection M86-27)
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Joseph E. Lee was arguable the most
prominent black Republican in Florida during the late nineteenth and early twentieth
centuries. Born in Philadelphia in 1849, Lee moved to Florida in 1873. He represented
Duval County in the Florida House of Representatives from 1875-1881 and then
served a term in the Florida Senate. In addition, Lee attended the Republican
National Conventions in 1880 and 1884, was secretary of the Florida Republican
State Central Committee from 1912 until 1920, and held positions as municipal
judge, and as collector of customs and deputy internal revenue collector for
Jacksonville. The Florida State Archives maintains a collection of Lee's papers,
two of which are reproduced here.
The letters relate to the controversial
gubernatorial election of 1916, which was the only election from the late 1800s
through the 1960s not won by the Democratic nominee. In 1916 Sidney J. Catts,
a colorful Baptist minister, lost a bitter primary fight with Democrat William
V. Knott. Rather than admit defeat, Catts ran in the general election on the
Prohibition Party ticket against Knott, Republican George W. Allen, and Socialist
C.C Allen. Surprisingly, Catts won the general election, defeating Knott by
39,546 votes to 30,343. Allen finished a distant third with 10,333 votes. During
this era legal restrictions kept many African Americans from voting, and white
voters overwhelmingly supported the Democratic Party. Consequently, virtually
no Republicans won election to statewide offices. In the first letter, John
Edwards, secretary of "Club #2," evidently a Republican organization, asks Lee
his opinion as to the merits of the various gubernatorial candidates. In his
reply, Lee states that he will vote for Allen, and that "I wish you and all
other Republicans would vote . . . the whole Republican ticket."
A text version of
the letter is included below the graphic image.
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Letter to Joseph E. Lee Concerning
the Florida Gubernatorial Election of 1916
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DeLand FLA
Oct 24--16
Hon Joseph E Lee.
Jaxville
Dear Sir-- I Received the matter Sent from your office last week, I
would be very pleased to you give me some information relative to the
Campaign. Mr H.S. Chubb was in DeLand on last Friday, unfortunately I
did not see him; Now relative to Mr Geo W. Allen Candidate for Governor.
we would like to know are you supporting him We understand that he is
a lilly White and held his meeting in the Seminole Hotel in the city of
Jaxville While an other meeting was in progress elsewhere. What is your
instructions regarding this issue. Some of our men are favoring Mr V.W.
Knott for Gov, and some are for Rev Sidney J Catts and a few for Mr Allen
but we want to do the best thing and follow the leaders to victory if
such is the
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