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Hon. lerris Bryant
P. O. Box 563
Ocala, Florida

Dear Farris:

If Machiavelli could rise from the dead, he would
have to revise his book to include a chapter on the effect of the
Miami Herald. The Miami City Commission races were concluded
yesterday with the three Herald candidates defeating their oppo-
nents by tremendous margins. I am taking the time and effort to
write you now because I believe that an analysis of this election
strengthens the view which I have always held about your candidacy
in Dade County. I was intimately and accutely concerned in one of
the three commission sets. I know that thousands and thousands of
dollars were spent in daily newspaper advertising, bill-boards,
hand bills and television shots. I know that every big down town
business interest poured money into this race and I know that the
candidate had the active support of the entire Hiami Police Force
and at least 701 of all municipal employees. The campaign was
handled by professionals who have quarter-backed many past City
elections and the candidate himself made no political blunders during
the race. Yet, he lost by a very, very decisive margin to a com-
pletely unknown and below average individual.

Those of us who think we are politically wise can bore
each other for endless hours commenting on these election results.
I am simply trying to get accross one point in this letter, and that
is this: You can not heat the Press in Dade County by out-advertising,
out-televising and out-hustling them. You simply can't beat them
at their own game. They can be beaten, but not in the expensive
time-honored manner of flooding the newspapers and the streets with
hand bills, paid political workers, etc.

The papers don't just endorse their favorites any more.
They start out "editorializing" the general news columns about six
weeks before the elections and by the time the editorial endorsement
is printed, the voter has been conditioned for it.

November 25, 1959 Page 2
Hon. Ferris Brynn:

New, Iheveeenseenoughtcknowtheteverything
stated so for in this letter you ere alreedy ewere of. The
repitition here is simply given es a heckground to reise my
voice ageinst the present drift of your campaign here in Dede
County. You probably won't hove the Press end if the organic
ution continues in the direction you ere now going, you will
hevc e cenpsigu organization which will be siniler to thet which
Cleude Pepper, Fuller Hen-en end Charley Johns had here. As I
see it, the personnel is sheping up similar to thst in the three

cenpaigns I just mentioned; the struggle for power end politicel
commitment follows the sene pettern; there is not the slightest

evidence of the grese roots support which you should attrect free
the white-caller end middle-chess groups; there is no evidence of
en organised method of soliciting the non-professional politicel

support which I hove elweye felt would flock to you with a little
encoixragenent.

It is the some old story of all chiefs and no indiens.

In centrest, the Cerlton group has the nucleus of the
old Suther's good-squad plus the ective, end I do neen active,
support of Gentier end leton, plus both newspapers end plus mney.
John KcCerty hes e nucleus of disgruntled Collins people, hold-
overs from Dee's friends end is picking up elot of the Hillard
Celdwell faction. Burns hes slot of the political misfits end dis-
gruntled politicians who have nowhere else to go and are elweys
looking for a cendidete. In eech of these cases, however, they ere
orgenired with respect to W.

Idonotneentobe critical tothepoint thetell is
whutldomeentobecritiultothententthltmchisnot
right. I reiterate that Perins teller is es informed end straight
enanasyoucenget. I thinkthetJinlehoeisagoodmn. In
Stacey lowell you heve an excellent enthusinstic tweeter-Sibley can
end will get you more end more money if end when you begin to look
like e winner. I sincerely hope thet the money will be forthcoming

 

Criticism, without some etteupt at e remedy, is useles
end, therefore, I will persphrese:

1) Without the newspepers, Ferris Bryent will have to
cerry this rece here by his om riori

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over the other cendidetes on television. J z e m

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November 25, 1959 Page 3
Hon. Farris Bryant

2) The money which is spent should be spent on

- the level which will bring non-professional
political workers into the Bryant camp

immediately and conversely, no money should

be spent on highly paid political workers,

lavish advertising and campaign headquarters
end all of the other trappings. (I went into

greet detail above to give a recent, living
example of the ineffectiveness of this type

of vote solicitation in the City Commission
race.)

I have received a number of letters like this myself,

and I usually read about half way through and threw them in the
westehasket. If this meets that face, I have at least gone on

record one more time and sole day my "I told you so will be a part
of a 1959 miscelleneous file. I think you can beat the field on

your own if you use your speaking ability and House record. I hste

to see money and effort wasted on "campaigning the candidate" while
the voters are ignored. 1 continue to be baffled by all this big

money talk and not a dime for registered voter lists and other
essential beginning tools.

Macbeth spoke words of wisdom when he said,
"the first bringer of unwelcome news

Bath but e losing office, and his tongue
Sounds ever after es a sullen bell,

Remembered knolling a departing friend."

Sincerely yours,

[3n

ROBIII L. ABBOR

 

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