The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1906-04-27
CRYSTAL RIVER.
It's Population and commerc.--,
Politics Warming Up-The pr;r.'
~ System Discussed.

Il
To the Editor ocala Banner:
AS / do not see anything IN -.
valued paper from this place, IT,.
you will give space to a short ls,,.
from a constant reader of your 49,.
First. a few lines of description !,
this place.
/ Situation.
Fifteen miles southwest OF Dun,.,
Ion, and about seventy-five miles =.
the crow flies" northwest of Tamns :.
the line of the old s. 8. o. & q. r.el
way. now part of the A. C. L. ran
way
Population.
About 1,500 pretty evenly divided l..
tween both races. and mostly cons,st.
| ing of employees Of the manufactu,.
ing concerns here. These consist Il
the following firms named in rotat,o.
and according to their Importance.
Dixon Pencil Co. Cbranch of JERSEY
City Dixon Pencil Coz: Crystal Riye,
Lumber Co. Branch OF The CAMPS,
Oxford Crate Co., Knight Bros. Nava,
Stores and Mercantile Co., Crystal
River Ice Co.; also several fish deaf.
ers and about fifteen merchants and
two or three hotels and boarding nous.
keepers. All Of these concerns seem n
be doing a thriving business and the
managers and proprietors are all cour.
teous and "up-to-date" business men
We have no tigers here and no u.
censed saloons. This is a "dry" coun.
ty and the officers seem to make
fairly earnest effort to enforce the Law
Local politics are getting warm and
one hears the usual amount of anua
singing" generally INDUCED in at such
times and Of leg pulling" and pay.
ment of polls" by candidates 80 the
poor voter can vote.
The writer being independent In
his own politics does not take much
interest in the primary system bul
| see long list of names for the vari-
Gus offices and each of their friends
nearly 'pestered their lives out the
they have finally consented to stand
for the offices.
The writer has got To hear Of any
instance of one of these gentlemsn
being asked to run" though he is fair
Iy well informed in local, politics.
He is not a candidate nor ever has
been. but does not think it dispss
to run for office. but thinks that i
ought to be an honor to be selected
To be a candidate for any Office
The writer is familiar with the 'pr-
mary election law" and in his opinion
it has become stencil in the nostris
of honest men" and has been weighed
in the balances and found wanting"
have many objections to the primary
system. too long TO be stated in lhe
limits. of this article. but at the rIsl
OF being tedious / will state few Of
them.
First.
Many thousands of dollars are col
lected to pay alleged election expenses
and rarely is any public accounting
made of this money.
A few gentlemen who may be very
honorable men. calling the nselves
state and county executive committees
set themselves up to dictate our poiiIi-
cal principles and in their own ard
their friends opinion all puce democ-
racy emanates from tn I'm like the rays
from the sun.
No one at ali is allowed to vote who
does not keep in accord and .hna as
they do. Any other person who thinks
than themselves are "re-
soreheads" ami Other dis
Sruntled characte 3" who do rot de-
serve to be allowed II vote any way.
IN my opinion. Mr.. Editor. the candi-
tate who comes oef)re the people
backed by petition signed by twenty
I'VE voters from his own precinct, IS
nearer To and in closer touch with bis
constituents than the man who goes
through the primary The candidate
Nho goes up and down the land paying
ne polls" and offering to do Other .
-hinss To benefit the average voter
Ices not deserve his Office and he, y
over than the man who pledges bis
vote TO him. A man who will sell his
'ote for money consideration or 9TH
n inducement does not know the
meaning Of honor. I hope some per
'"n competent to do so will say some
hing about this subject.
You. yourself, might express an
opinion on 1t. but know the amount
u courage required of an editor these
iays to criticize existing institutions
rs TO the primary II in no way ex-
presses the will of the people but on
ne contrary DISTINGUISHES from one
lalf to two thirds Of the voters. AZ .
ne executive committees. they seen