The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1907-11-29

John y. 9. Stockton, who * recog-
n.zed a. the chief candidate for Gov
eInor, was not there. but Mr.. George
O. Matthews. VINO represents Mario.
county in the Florida House Of Rep
Iesentatives. announced in a spirited
address that H. had been requested by
Mr.. Stockton to declare Mr.. Stockton =
candidacy for the Governorship. Nj.
Matthews acquitted himself exceeding
IT. well His previous declaratio had
qualified him as an enthusiastic sup
porter Of AIr. StOcktOn's claim on the
people OF Florida for the highest Office
in their gift. He was full Of his speech.
and made an eloquent appeal for the
man he was bringing out. 1t does not
often happen that plenipotentiary re-
ceives as much attention in making an
announcement for his chief as is given
To the man himself, but in the case of
,ir. Matthews il Is doubtful if the APP
pearance OF Nj. Stockton himself would
have gained from the audience closer
attention
cir. Stockton is 50 constituted that he
does not need platform u stand on.
He is recognized by everyone as an adj
vocate Of the people. Friends as well
as political enemies CfOr he has but few
personal enemiesD unite in believing
him to be in sympathy with the masses
Many years of his life have been de-
voted 10 what he believed 10 be the
| cause Of the people. The mistakes he
has made have been due TO his violent
/ style in presenting the remedies to be
applied to the conditions that Cypress
the people rather than to his want OF
! fidelity to their cause. Robbed of the
opportunity, on account of his absence
| to receive by popular demonstration
the expression Of the sympathy Of those
who were assembled, he was neverthe-
| less the dominant factor in the cOnsid-
Grafton for this office with all who
were present. There was more Stock
ton sentiment in the gathering at Ocala
! than there was any other kind Of senti-
ment. The people We're talking about
him in small and large groups, and
/ those who came from distant parts OF
! the State declared that the people OF
| their respective counties seemed to be-
for him.
There is no doubt about it-Mr
Stockton is at this time SO far in tbs
lead of the other candidates for Gov
| ernor that there is no second, and the
popularity Of this Stockton sentiment
is that it is not manufactured senti-
ment. IL cannot be compared to The
carefully nourished, dollhouse plan
known three years ago as the demand
for our Bob" which was prOpagateC
! and spread about by the Times Cnior
and other corporation owned and in
fluenced papers which have unfortu-
nately for the principle of truth, large
circulati0ns. This Stockton sentiment
is a spontaneous sentiment-rather, i
is sentiment that has long been witt
very large minority of the people, and
which now breaks forth spontaneous!
from all parts of this State. There i:
no denying this. Everyone comedies i
those who have heretofore been op-
posed to Stockton (and am one of the
| least Of tkese) and those who have al
ways been with him. The feeling o.
his former opponents is expressed by
the repeated remarks of two of them
one VINO said in conversation with ont
of Mr. StOckton's friends that he wa!
going To vote for him this time because
he believed. in spite Of his mistakes o
judgment. that his heart was always il
! sympathy with the masses; and th'
other who said that he was going t
vote for him because he was tired o.
| voting against him.