The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1905-09-29
TO THE VOTERS OF MARION


In view of the present agitation of
prohibition in this county. we respect |
fully direct your attention to what |
seems to us good reasons for discour- |
hging such agitation and for refusing |
to sign any petition calling for an |
election.
1. Past experiences in this county |
and in other counties demonstrate that |.
IL Is impossible. without mourning ino-- |
dinate expense to enforct prOhibitory |
laws. and even with that expense, the |
enforcement will only be partial and
Intellectual. People will not voluntar-
lily detect. inform against or prosecute
offenders. and the county cannot af-
ford to employ sufficient officers to do
this work, even assuming that eff
cient ones could be found. There is
no use of adopting a law which we
know In advance cannot accomplish
It's purpose without an expense which
the county is unable to bear
? Closing licensed saloons here will
not interfere with the lawful sale of
intoxieants in this County. Liquors
would be sold and sent here from
Tampa. Jacksonville, and points out
side of the state, without violating the
law We see no reason for merely
transferring the traffic from Ocala to
other points No practical good can
come of preventing local men from
selling while others are permitted to
do II.
a. Present conditions in Ocala
compare favorabIy with any prohibi-
ton city Of the same population in
Florida or elsewhere. The degree OF
sobriety and good order prevailing
here is even higher than most prohibit
ton towns OF similar size can show.
4. Elections are costly. Recently we
have had two. one to elect a state
senator and the other on the PROPOSE
tion to bond the county. each of which
coSe the people five or six hundred
dollars In our opinion, 1t is not now
useful wise or necessary to spend
more of the public money on an cleo
zion of this kind. 1t Is certain that
the two precincts Of the county having
licensed saloons are not demanding
such election. The other precincts
canid not have saloons. anyway. It
this election be called, there will, OF
course. be another one two years hence
on the same question. Thus we shall
have constant expense, controversy,
/. tterness and strife, with their re-
II. mt bad effects, and in the end no
80. al good. in the light Of exper-
- - be done.
'ity of Ocala has recently
s, r.. lded debt Of $4,000. Ma
-. -, w greatly in debt and
a., t house and other
improvements II thu :.
from the licensed SALE. 80
will be necessary to fsaa>
crease the tax rate on prop
that rate is already high.
While we cOncede to the parties W.
are carrying on this prohibition move
ment the right to bring up the Ques-
ton, We think those who have to pay |
the expense and Increased taxes ought |
to consider this phase OF the ques-
ton. 7 |
Ia openly state these views as be- |
Ing some Of the reasons for opposing |
the calling Of this election:
Herbert A. Ford. president Central
National Bank. president Board Of
Trade. chairman Finance Commit |
tee Of city council.
Munroe & Chambliss. bankers. MEM |
beers Board OF Trade.
william Anderson. druggist. member |
Board OF Trade.
Abe Brown & Bro. grocers, members |
Of Board of Trade.
B. A Weathers. merchant, member Of |
Board Of Trade and City Council |
George MacKay. merchant, member of
Board OF Trade.
ID. f. McIver. merchant. member of
Board Of Trade and City Council.
H Il. GARRISON. member Marion Hard
ware Company and member Board
OF Trade.
Rheinauer & Company. merchants.
members Board Of Trade. !
Green. lawyer. member Of Board
- Trade
Chas. Peyser. cigar manufacturer,
member of Board OF Trade.
J. ID. Robertson. member Board of
Trade.
v. j. Shipman. hotel proprietor. men,
Der Board of Trade.
r.. r. Carroll. business manager Daily
and Weekly Star. member Board
OF Trade.
.. w. Reagan, manager for Hopes
. Bros. Darlington. Inc, member
Board Of Trade
:. A. Rawls. manager Marion Farms,
n member Board Of Trade
ID. w. Davis. insurance agent, mem-
Der Board OF Trade.
X Il. Bullock. lawyer, and member
Board OF Trade
X b. Campbell, manager Florida Elec-
trio and Plumbing Company, mem