The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1906-04-27
MR.. EcWiN w. DAVIS OUR NEXT
STATE ATTORNEY.
To the Editor ocala Banner:

as TO the race now on, IOr the Office
Of state attorney is quite a remarka-
BILE effort Voter would laugh at Peter
Stanley for writing his article favor
ing Mr.. Davis, and yet the article of
Voter is the more laughable of the
two. The writer of this article does
not know either Peter Stanley or Vo-
ter, but claims to know something of
the trend of times at present, and some
political history of the past.
The people elected Neil ". Aired
state attorney; he became i'll and could
not attend to the duties of the office.
Mr., Davis did not butt in" but was
appointed acting state attorney by
Hon. w. S. Bullock, judge Of the fifth
circuit and has been constantly re-
appointed, which is good evidence of
his merit and worth; and his expe-
rience would naturally be of great
benefit to the state, whose interests
the state attorney represents.
Voter does not know the trend of
the times, or he would not predict a
victory for his man; the expressions
of the people are that Mr.. Davis will
be an easy winner on May Is. The
people are the jury; let us see some
of their verdicts. When Dan Miller
was clerk, Sim Sistrunk was his chief
deputy, Miller like Alfred, was sick
and did not ask for re-election; Sim
Sistrunk became a candidate and be-
cause he had been doing the work the
people turned down two good men and
elected Sim. Again, when b. Dupree
Hodge was sheriff his chief deputy was
Mr.. Nugent. Hodge died, and Mr.. NJ
gent filed the unexpired term and
asked for full term at the next pri-
mary; although strongly opposed. the
verdict OF the people was for Nugent.
Then again. Mr.. Thaggard was ap-
pointed tax collector and against strong
opposition was elected to a full term.
Now Mr. Davis has been filing the
place for another, Mr.. Alfred will not
be candidate Mr.. Davis asks for the
place in his own right. as any other
worthy. meritorious man would do, and
the people Of Marion will join with
the people Of Lake. Sumter, Citrus and
fernando in giving Mr.. Davis a ma
jority vote
If Mr.. Sistrunk gets a majority in
any county some wonderful changes |
will have TO take place before May Is. |
Voter would slur at Mr.. Davis be-
cause he came from Ohio. This shows
weakness; this slur will go unnoticed !
as IL is only the straw that the drown
ing man catches at.
Did not the voters of Marion county
nominate Jim Hill over that good old
soldier, Robert Bullock? yes. they did,
and Jim was from some other state
than Florida. Then this fling at Mr..
Davis because he came from Ohio is
doubly bad when made in behalf Of
Carlos l.. Sistrunk, for Carlos has not
done what Voter would have the peo-
pie do in this case. Voter have you
forgotten that Carlos was a delegate
TO the state convention in 1900 which
met in Jacksonville? And do you re-
member who were the candidates for
the high office of governor? Four Flor
ida boys and one from the state of
Illinois. Voter, have you forgotten tina
Carlos did not vote for one Of the Flor
ida boys? There were four candidates
seeking the nomination: Milton. MAYS
Myers and Beggs, all grand old sons
of Florida, and yet Carlos voted for
Jennings from Illinois. Now the people
VIII do as they please and vote as
they please and will resent this fling
you make for political effect.
do not wish to be understood as
rejecting in any way on Governor Jen-
nings. | simply cite above instance to
show that Mr.. Sistrunk did not do that
which you now would have all voters
do {
One point in. the political record Of
Mr. Sistrunk which Mr. Voter asserts
is so good is fresh in the minds of
the people. The people know that the
legislature of 1905, Carlos being one
of Marion's representatives. passed
bill raising the salary of the state at
torney, making it $4,000 when it had
been up, 10 that time but $1,000 per
anpum. an increase of $500 per annum. II
and as soon as the salry was raised 4,
Carlos began trimming his sails for
the job. Now, if Carlos had not been {
in the legislature or had waited until I
the law had become cold il would not <
have been so pointed. but as il is Car
los is disqualified under article 3, sec
ton of the constitution of the state
of Florida. for Carlos is still a repre- |.
sentative and has not resigned as we
know of. and that would not help him.
as he was elected for two years. which I,
ends December ~. 1905 l.