The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1897-05-14
SAT DOWN ON THE
DlSCOROANT ELEMENT.
Marion County Democratic
Executive Committee,
IN 4 SPECIAL MEETING,
ReiseTates Its Recommendations Tor County
Commissioners, and Brings to Light
Some Unpleasant Facts Regarding
the Small Clique Of Xickers-
Meeting Practically Unit.
IN A SPECIAL MEETING,

| %-~S@s--S GE@st4S0l4y a Gu1L.
The special meeting of the Marion
county democratic executive commit
lee las saturday was PROBABLY one Of
The largest and most enthusiastic ever
held, as upon roil.call twenty-five out
OF tweuiy-siX members answered to
ihe1r names in person or by proxy.
These who were present by proxy
We're; n. l.. Payne, proxy by f. E.
Harris; T. II. Nugent, proxy for s. n.
Dillard; NJ. Strauss, proxy for G.. w.
Dean, and Maj. Lancaster, proxy for
j. W. Coulter, The absent districts
We're 10, II, is and 10, though
/ It IS understood and generally believed
that one Of these districts was repre-
sented by proxy, but the gentleman
who held it, seeing how the cat was
going to jump, was missing when his
name was called.
As soon as the minutes of the last
meeting were read and unanimously
adopted, ". L. Tompkins moved to
have all resolutions to come before the
committee to so to q special commit
tee Of five, but this was objected to in
such strong language by Clarence
Smith and James CribbItt that the
motion was withdrawn.
At this point Chairman Harris
made full explanation as to why this
special meeting had been called, stat
ing that charges of damaging char
acter had been brought against him
as chairman of the committee, and
! against the entire committee and the
men selected for commissioners, and
it had been deemed best to have an
other meeting in order that those dis
| satisfied with the action Of said COM
mittee, and the men recommended by
it for county commissioners, might
have an opportunity to come before
the committee and make their griev-
ances known, and if possible, sustain
the charges they had brought Mr..
Harris then produced package of let
ters written to Governor Bloxham by
prominent p persons asking thatcher
than the regular nominees be ap.
pointed as county commissioners,
which letters and documents had
been obtained from the governor
through Senator Bitch. Mr.. Harris |
said that these letters and documents |
were the property of the committee
and as no injunction of secrecy had |
been placed upon them, on motion
they were read.
After reading these letters, MI Har-
ris, before turning them over to the
committee, also read a copy of his let
ter to G. w. Wilson, of Jacksonville,
inviting him to be present at the
meeting now in session.
d. l.. Morgan then introduced a res
olution confirming and ratifying the
former action of the committee, hut
before it could be acted upon, p.
Ii. Nugent introduced u resolution to
have the whole matter referred back
TO the people, to be decided by pri-
mary. w. III. Douglass having a sim
liar resolution, both were read and
acted upon together, and were voted
down by an overwhelming majority.
The resolutions are as follows:
NUGENT's RESOLUTION.
Whereas, There is a good deal OF
feeling aroused in the matter of re-
commendaiion for the appointment of
county commissiOne for Marion
county; and,
Whereas, 1t is the policy OF the
American people that only such pow
ers as have been delegated can be eX-
ercised by its representatives.. reserv-
Ing to the people themselves the ques-
tion of choice; and,
Whereas, A settlement by the pe0-
pie as TO who shall be recommended as
county commissioners will to tend to
the solidfying Of the party and res
toripg coed feeling among its mem
bers: therefore, be it
Resolved, That this hoard do order
a primary election to be held as soon
as practicable under such terms, con-
ditions and restrictions as 1t shall see
ht to impose for the election of per-
sons for the appointment to the posi-
tion of county commissioner.
DorGIAss' RESOLUTION.
May Sat a call meeting of the
voters of Precinct No. the chairman
stated that the object of the meeting
was to obtain an expression of the sen
timeuts of the voters of this precinct
as regards the appointment of the
county commissioners recently ap-
pointed from this district, as it was
understood, there was considerable
dissatisfaction at the appointment.
A motion @as made and carried to /
the effect that the committeeman from
this Precinct be instructed to use his I
efforts to have the matter of the Sc
lection Of county commissioners from |
this district, be referred back to the |
peoDle OF this district to be voted on !
by primary.
Also motion was made and carried /
that the name of Il. M. Gray be recon- |
mended as the choice of the voters of |
this precinct as the county commits |
sioner from this district.
II. DOUGLASS,
W. d. MORTON, Chairman.
Secretary.
Mr.. Morgan's resolution, confirming |
the actlOn Ol tHe colHlhittS03 "S'@
then put and adopted by unanimous
vote. 1t is as follows:
Resolved, That the endorsement fer
commissioners made by the Marion
county democratic executive commit
fee at its session held in Oeala on the
frst day in March, 1897, is hereby en-
dorged, confirmed and ratified; to-wit
For the FIRST district. 4. c. Mcleod;
for the second district, Martin J.
chitty; for the third district, e. /.
Carney for the fourth district. w. I.
Williamson and for the fifth district,
w +. Allen.
Mr.. Clarence Smith then offered the