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Cracker Boy Wilcox has helped crack many a pet project of Franklin Roosevelt. In the midst of his campaign, he scuttled up to Washington to vote against the Reorganization Plan, claimed personal responsibility for defeating it on the grounds that his reports of local feeling caused four other Representatives to change their votes. In Florida's current political cockfight, Cracker Boy Wilcox's chief distinctions so far have been the facts that: 1) he has only one sound truck to two for each of his opponents; 2) his expenses are thus far listed at $3,000 to $6,000 for Sholtz, $7,000 for Pepper; 3) he made the best wisecrack of the campaign.
Literally true to his promise not to meddle in this year's local elections Franklin Roosevelt has so far himself said nothing whatever about this year's Florida primaries. But when James Roosevelt stopped off in Palm Beach last winter, he glibly announced: "It is our sincere hope that he [Claude Pepper] will be returned to the Senate." Mark Wilcox's acid comment: "The State of Florida is waiting with bated breath to see what stand Sistie and Buzzie [Dall] will take."
On tour, Representative Wilcox adheres to a curious habit to which he attributes his success, of sitting on the edge of his bed for half-an-hour each morning while he simultaneously plans his day in detail and massages his head to improve the circulation in his brain. Unlike Dave Sholtz who makes a point of stopping at a second-rate hotel wherever possible, Mr. Wilcox and his wife—who calls her 5 ft. 6 in. husband "the little giant" and whose social rivalry with Mrs. Pepper is rumored to be one reason for her husband's desire to sit in the Senate—invariably choose the best.
It is also rumored that Mr. Wilcox was drafted for the race by influential businessmen of Miami and elsewhere in the State. At any rate, he seems to have the support of the solidest of Florida's financially solid citizens. Mark Wilcox on Franklin Roosevelt: "President Roosevelt is not God. He is a man just like all of us. He is bound to make mistakes. When he does, I will vote against him."
Outcome. Last week, as all three candidates rounded out their efforts, political observers were sure at least next week's balloting would break all State records. This is the first year that Florida voters: 1) have not been required to pay a poll tax, and 2) have had voting machines—which should be an intriguing substitute for the popular slot machines its citizens lost last year. Total vote in 1936 was 320,000; next week it will be about 365,000.
As to how the 365,000 would be split between Messrs. Wilcox, Sholtz and Pepper, opinions were more varied. In a Florida primary, the winning candidate must poll as many votes as all his opponents put together or face a runoff. Best guess appeared to be that Pepper would be high man in the first primary, with Sholtz and Wilcox running neck and neck for second place. If, as is likely, none of the three has the requisite majority, Florida voters will not know for sure who will succeed Claude Pepper until the runoff election on May 24.