The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1901-09-06
WILL NOT GO TO BUFFALO.
Mr.. hsrris's Card Of WithdrswaI-can.
not Subject q Friendly Newspaper
to Unfriendiy Criticism.
Editor Times-U,iou and Citizen.

EailI finest olOn and Citizen
My esteemed confreres, Mr.. {. l..
Bittinger. of the Ocala Star and Rev.
J. {. Porter OF the Ocala Star and
BAPTIST Witness, conceived aud pro.
mulgated an sdrOit scheme to side
track me in the Times-Uniou and Cit
iZen's "Pan-American free trip con-
test for the most popular editor" and
while doing NE receive the plaudits
Of the state press by shielding them
selves behind the petticoats of bright
and charming woman.
With much show of gallantry, my
two friends enthusiastically aud elO-
Vuently blew the whistle and rang the
bell attached To the Times Union and
Citizens Buffalo train, and placed
Miss r. Nellie Beck, editor of the
Barlow Courier-Intormant, on the
main track, directly in front of me,
knowing that if a contest for the
most popular editor" narrowed down
between a man and a woman, the
man, IL ungallant enough To continue
the race, stood no possible show of
winning.
Miss Beck, whether or not detecting
the motive behind and impelling this
display Of chivslry, defeated the
scheme by promptly declining the
proffered honor.
Perhaps Miss Beck remembered that
the ballot reads: For the most pop
ulAr newspaper man" aud was I'M
willing To drop the qualities that make
her 80 queenly To accept and assume
\ distinction 80 masculine.
The Ocsla Star, under the direction
90 the gentleman named, now charges
that am the Times-U Mon and Citi-
yen'- candidate, and broadly insinu-
ate- that the count will be unfair, and
that I will win, regardless of the
number of votes my competitors
shall receive.
am told that Mr.. J. ". White, of
tht Futerual Record, for two terms
president 90 the state press associa-
uru. DO openly making the same
changes iu the hotel corridors and
streets of jacksonville.
deeply dep,nre that my candidacy
subjects o. unjust criticism the news
larrr that has 49, generously made
what Wa supposed would he a popu-
Oar and pleasant contest, ami under
tlr circumstances feel there i moth
.us IrfJ for me todo but To step down
aud out. which I 30 most cheerfullv,
.ui I trust not ungracefully.
am glad 10 l. possible for me to do
-u-Wh.Ir among those in the lead, and
feed that cannot thank too sincerely
ODE friends who have voted for me up
tn ttI- moment.
\ compliment uf this nature TO be a
compliment must be entirely volun-
tar, and spontaneous, and if the COM
pamrut should have come 10 me l
"a. determined that il should come
iu that way.
The yDte- east tor me were entirely
unsolicited. and Tor that reason are
th- more appreciated.
am sorry that IL did not occur to
tHs gentlemen, whose unjust criti-
,i-m- make my withdrawal neces-
-ar,. that 20 the Times-CniOn and
CItr-u wanted 10 give me y compile
meutary trip 20 the Pan-American ex-
position 10 hs. ample money aud in
hu-uee enough behind Il to dc so
~ituout re~ortiug to low aud dirty
mrthoi-. that oughtuot To he thought
af Iu connection with decent and
re-T table urW-IaPef.
feel that with discriminating,
intelligent puddle the,r puerile, and
ruy.su- ,harge- viii be hurtful, not to
tH, urW-pap-- lut to the men who
r.aae fI.m
FRANZ HARRIS.