The Ocala banner., 1907-11-01
THAT "coMIkG OUT" coNvEN.
TIoN AT OcALA

Ocala is an enterpriSing town. Ii
once aspired to be the capital city. 1t
looked once like the name would
stick. Then Ii became the Brick
City of Florida Later il was the
Phosphate Town.
Yet. in all its changing ambitions,
Ii has held its own as one OF the
greatest convention towns in Florida
We once heard that brilliant noble
son. John q. Reardon, say, in welcOm-
ing some gathering; "ocala bids you
welcome. What you do not see, ask
for. Ocala viii 20 farther and sit up
later 10 get a convention than any
other town. We simply want them
all-and We generally get what We
60 after"
Since The ''peepuIs" primary, there
is not Sc much opportunity for p0liJi-
cal gatherings as in the former days.
when 7he convention" with its pass
es, proxies, pulls and on-hangers was
the thing
Still, OcaIa has held its own Tor
harbecuos and Fourth OF July eNcur-
sions. The people like Ocala. Ocaia
likes to have the people 20 there.
Now. true 10 their history. they viii
have a coming out convention. On
November 1ith it viii be pulled off
and the grafters viii Toe there. the
buzzards. to pull The boys. Editor Bit
finger and Mr. Harris. the Nestor of
the Florida press, do not always
agree. but they always meet Al the
spout. where the shekels come out
Cor i'm for Ocala
Why do those editors want such an
aggregation? Patriotism. you say.
True Public spirit, another re-
marks. True again. 40 doubt tbay
want to furnish the occasion and the
place for the diSchar-, of the long
pent-up elOGUenCe and craftsmanship
that viii there make more than one
candidate famous. There is another
possible reason. Both of these paJTi-
otic pencil-pushers have come out for
a dry town and a dry county Like
wise men. they know that the wet
boys. in a few more months. will have
TO do like their wet brothers in Pa
latka-try another line of work Some
of those vendors have been good to
the Star and the Banner. Their ads
have enabled the editors to buy new
coats at times. and they aided Broth
er Bittinger to go to the mountains
II will be nice thing 10 get a thirsty
crowd to town-to be for drainage
Anyhow, il will be a big time The
candidates are already trying their
platforms. The mules in the lot and
the denizens OF the woods and prai-
ries are standing transfixed by the
eloQuence OF the candidate as he re-
hearses his piece, New mirrors have
been placed all around the bedrooms
of some, so as 70 let the Statesmen
see themselves as others will see
them at Ocala. Some of the big poll
ticians are already planning and
promising 10 send their families off
next summer. They are expecting TO
handle the rolls and the doughhags for
the ambitious citizens, who will need
their help.
Now. il is very doubtful about this
scribe being able TO spare the cash or
the time TO attend Ii is rather early.
according 10 our thinking. for the
campaign. We are very busy trying
TO keep the DeSoto News in sight of
some of the best weeklies. whose ex-
cellence is a weekly envy OF our Jour
nalisIic soul. Unlike the CRATER,
when We want 10 90 to such places.
We have 10 pay our way And. too.
our work is undone at home.
So, We venture a word of advice to
the candidates who will he pushed
into The limelight on that momentous
occasion. Our advice may not be TAX
en-, and if followed il NAV nrove not
the best We. however, know a few
things. and feel pretty certain of 9th
ers
We have AT different times been
among the Florida people We have
seen them all the way from Pensaco-
Ia 10 Key West. We do not know all
of them-and We are glad We do nor
There are certain things that ought
not 10 be ignored by the candidates.
Among these. We mention a few.
Dodge them il YOU dare. II is not
likely the people will find all the car
dinal virtues in any man. They will
choose. How do Won stand as to con
unuing the dredging operations. now
being carried on hy TIE trustees Of
me internal Improvement fund.- What
will he your rnliCyH
How do ven stand and what is Your