The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1894-09-14
A Gard from Mr.. Sims.
UMATILLA, FLA, S pit. 10th, 1894

OMA1lLi1A, IlsAti y ~. lVtlii 1901.
To the Editor of the Banner.
Through the columns of your paper
/ wish to thank the democratic voters
of Marion county for the hearty sup
port they gave me in the recent pri-
maries. / am glad to say that their
onfidence has not been betrayed. i
feel that have come out of this con-
test (if contest you call it) with at
least as much honor as / went in with.
When my name was first suggested
by few friends in Ocala, and differ
ent parts of the county, some two
months before the election, / most
emphatically declined, and still later
on ! was urged by many more to
allow the use of my name, / left them
with promise that would give the
matter consideration and report one
week from date.
/ tried to consider the matter from
every standpoint. first considered
the source from whence came the
solicitations and finding that it was
from representative democrats of the
very highest type of manhood and
sufficiently strong.
next viewed it from a financial
stand point and finding that there
was no money in it, | still hesitated
as my business at home needed my
daily attention. / knew that the
democratic party owed me nothing
in that line as / had done nothing
more than my duty, and nothing
more than any good citizen and demo-
crat ought to do. | finally concluded
that if it was the wish of the party
that ! allow them the use of my
name for the responsible position of
representative for Marion county that
is was my duty to consent even at a
personal sacrifice. Hence my an
nouncement, after which met many
more representative men from almost
every precinct in the county, who ex-
pressed their satisfaction, and, unsolic-
tied by me, offered their services in my
behalf. It seemed TO be generally con-
ceded that it was not necessary for
me to canvass the county before the
primaries and so | did not. / only
mention these facts that you may
know that whatever success attended
this contest was due solely to my
friends, and also to show you ] was
no dark horse or compromise candi-
date taken as last resort, and present
ed to the people after the polls were
opened. 1t is true | was defeated from
some cause and am satisfied with the
result, for, i had much rather suffer de-
feat by a fraudulent or unfair vote
than to have obtained the nominal
ton by single vote east under sus-
piston. All the people who heard me
at the few precincts / attended know
that my remarks were entirely in the
direction of harmony in the party
and to urge the voters to take part in
the primary. never asked single
man to vote or work at the polls for
me. / find a number of democrats
where i have been who seem to take
no interest in elections and give as
reason 80 many unfair means re-
sorted to in PRIMARIES and conventions
that they have become disgusted,u
nj 0xff bof 90 fIaxy Ia ~
wishes of the people" They are not
Third party men as you suppose eth
er. j also find considerable prejudice
against the people of Ocala by some
WAC think that the politics of the
county are run bya Ring in town. All
this / think is more or less uncalled
for and good men in Ocala are made to
suffer by the actions of few design
ing ones who carry such matters to ex-
tremes. l have tried on all occasions
to relieve their minds of such preiu-
dice and told them Ocala was town
of huge proportions and that they had
thirteen times as much strength in
the senatorial convention as my own
precinct and had a right to use it as
they saw proper. And when Ocala
gains strength enough to overcome
the balance of the county, she has a
perfect right to fill every office in the
county and no doubt will. Now,
fellow-citizens, let me say that sub
mitted my claim before the primaries
in this county and / cheerfuIly sup
port all the nominees of the party,
and think that it is the duty of all
to give them their help and influence.
don't consider that a primary is the
proper place for contest between
democrats as to who shall serve the
dear people, it is only an arbitration
who shall decide among many good
men whose names have been placed
before them. If there is anything in
the nature of a contest let it be between
opposing political parties. Again,
thanking my friends for their hearty
support and words of cheer and with
a hope that we may all work har-
moniously together until victory il
gained, and that we be blessed with
good faithful officers and law makers
IN the future as ia the present.
Respectfully,
]. II. SINS.
Mr.. Henry Herring and family, O.
Beaumont, Texas, arrived Wednes
/ 10 =, and x.,;u ,,~,a.><zt III