Governor Doyle E. Carlton's Inauguration Day
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Governor Doyle E. Carlton's Inauguration Day
Cheering Thousands See Doyle Carlton Take Oath As 26th Governor
Transcribed by Spessard Stone from Tampa Morning Tribune, Wednesday, January 9, 1929
Tampan Assumes Office Amid Glittering Pageantry
By Bill Abbott, Tribune Staff Correspondent
Tallahassee, Jan. 8-A sunburned, wiry Tampan, with unruly hair and a big white flower in the buttonhole of his frock coat, stood up before thousands here today and promised with his hand on the Bible to faithfully perform the duties of the governor of Florida.
John W. Martin, the retiring governor, introduced him in a booming voice: �Ladies and gentlemen, his excellency, Doyle E. Carlton, the next governor of Florida.�
It was high noon. Cheers reverberated through more than a square block of solidly massed people and a cannon of Tampa�s battery of the 116th field artillery roared 17 times, the new governor�s salute.
Hail and Farewell
The outgoing Governor Martin reviewed the accomplishments of his administration and said farewell. A few minutes later he drove out of the city.
The incoming Governor Carlton told what he hoped to accomplish in the next four years and drove away to review the crowd that came from all Florida, to do him honor.
Today was Tallahassee�s biggest day. It saw Florida�s greatest show for Tampa�s own governor.
From morning to night the streets are filled with music and gay crowds and the measured beat of marching soldiers. People have swarmed into the historic town with its green lawns and vast oaks from the Florida keys to the Georgia line. These thousands are paying Doyle Carlton, the boy from the farm in Hardee and the man from professional life in Tampa, the highest tribute of any Floridian.
Cheer His Voice
They cheer when they hear his voice through the microphone two blocks away call for work and service. They think deeply when he says the government of the state must be kept simple and direct, when he says taxes are too high.
They are smiling with him as he doffs his silk hat in the reviewing stand to the pretty girls, the glittering bands and the products and possibilities of Florida presented by elaborate floats. It seems like miles of these floats are passing, each brighter and more ornate than the other. They come close upon one another for more than half an hour.
Thomas Jefferson, with his powdered wig and silk knee breeches, rides in an ancient surry with a negro coachman in silk topper holding back the prancing team. Hernando DeSoto, looking out from the shores of Tampa [line or so missing] the telegraph boys riding up to the side portico with congratulatory messages.
A big fire was going in the front room where Governor and Mrs. Carlton and the governor�s mother received a few close friends. Negro servants from the neighboring homes came out on the sidewalk to watch the big house .
Muffled drums and bugles sounded from down the street and in a minute the 124th infantry was drawn up before the mansion at present arms as Governor Martin, with Gen. Vivien B. Collins, drove into the wide driveway to escort the new governor�s family to the capitol.
Mrs. Carlton wore black, her coat trimmed in fur and a rhinestone ornament on her black silk hat. The governor�s mother and Mrs. Martin were in brown and all carried bouquets of purple orchids.
The incoming and retiring governors rode in an open car at the head of their military escort to the capitol down the broad, lined streets. Their parties followed in another car.
Crowds at Capitol
Crowds on the capitol portico, on the platform in front and all around the grounds stood shivering as they arrived and passed through lines of military in the corridors.
Governor Carlton�s military staff, Governor Martin�s cabinet and other state and city officials occupied the platform.
Governor Martin was in charge of the opening ceremonies. He called upon the Rev. Bunyan Stephens for the invocation. �We pray thy rich blessings upon him who shall lead us, upon our new governor and his family and upon those who shall serve with him.�
Governor Martin was applauded as he arose to speak. He fairly flung out his lists of accomplishments almost with a note of defiance. He told of the roads built during his administration, of the money added to the state fund for education. He said he devoted his entire term to the drainage of the Everglades but was defeated by �wilful and selfish interests.�
He went into oratorical heights now and then. Reviewing his road building accomplishments, he roared: �This is the answer to the promise that I would take Florida out of the sand.�
Oath Administered
Chief Justice Ellis administered the oath. He repeated it in a soft voice: �I do solemnly swear that I will support, protect, and defend the constitution of the United States and of the state of Florida; that I am duly qualified to hold office under the constitution of the state, and that I will well and faithfully perform the duties of governor on which I am about to enter. So help me God.�
Mr. Carlton said clearly, �I do.�
Then the new governor in his own right told the crowd what Florida needed and what he expected to do. Over government is a menace, he said. Local legislation is false to the spirit and purpose of the constitution.
A sound fiscal and sane economic policy lie at the base of the state�s future development, the new governor said.
�Ours must be a policy of rigid retrenchment and never dishonorable repudiation.� He suggested more simple and certain tax collection laws and economy. He launched into statistics of public utilities, finances and schools to show the state�s growth. Florida is sound, has remarkable assets and will continue to grow under the proper guidance.
The crowd roared as he finished and stepped away smiling to take the head of the inaugural parade and later to review with members of his family and its staff.
This afternoon the Carltons were hosts to Florida officials and the Florida public at their new home. They received hundreds in the massive halls of the mansion.
Then for an hour or two they were alone to themselves, the governor�s family, after all the work, after all the strife of the long spring and summer of campaigning.
Tonight again they were hosts at the inauguration ball at the capitol and in the dining room of the Florida State College for Women, where the 124th infantry band played old pieces and jazz.
Mr. Martin, driving west, expected to stop at Pensacola enroute to New Orleans and Hot Springs, Ark.
See also Doyle Elam Carlton and Doyle Carlton Dies.
Photocopies, courtesy of Canter Brown, Jr.
As "Doyle Carlton Inaugurated As Florida's 26th Governor," which had an additional article, this was published in The Herald-Advocate (Wauchula, Fla.) of January 9, 2003. This was first added to Cracker Barrel a year earlier on January 9, 2002.