The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1908-04-15
TO THE DEMOCRATIC VOTERS OF
MARION COUNTY
Martel. Florida, April. 100

nomination for the office of county
Judge of Marion county, which nomi-
nation / accept with the following
declaration of principles, or platform,
upon which ! squarely stand:
l. Public Offices were not created
but for the transaction Of the peoples
business.
2. A public office is a public trust,
which carries with it solemn and bind
ing obligations to give personal and
faithful attention to all the duties of
it's requirements, provided for by law
3. A public officer who, by neglect
of duty or incompetency. fails TO per-
form all Of the official duties required
of him by law in an efficient manner,
should be promptly removed from Of
flee.
If nominated and elected to the Of
flee Of county judge of Marion county,
pledge myself to conform to the let
ter and spirit of the foregoing plat
form, to familiarize myself with all
the details and legal obligations of the
office, so as to enable me to aid all
persons having business with the Of
flee, by answering proper questions as
to the mode of procedure to be pur-
sued, to give legal advice to admins
traitors and guardians in all matters
not requiring the assistance of an at
torney, and to keep and maintain a
watchful oversight in the protection
of the interests of minor children. and
all others involved in estates of real
and personal property. by requiring
good and sufficient bonds of admins
traitors and guardians, and such an
nual returns by them as are required
by law.
l feel that justice to those friends,
as well as to myself, demands that
should make an active canvass for the
office 1 have been nominated to fill
AS the support of myself and family IS
based upon the products of my farm,
and as it Is impossible to secure re-
liable labor, justice to my family will
prevent me from making a house to
house canvass. l therefore will try
to reach the masses of the democratic
voters by and through printed state
ment of these facts upon which 1 base
my claim to the Office of county judge
1. / base my claim upon my eff
cheney, both mentally and physically.
to perform all of the duties of that
office. and if nominated and elected
will give my undivided time in the
discharge Of those duties.
2. Incidentally, base my claim TO
the office upon residence in Marion
county of over fifty-two years, most
of which has been freely given, with.
out compensation, for the material
prosperity of our people on lines of
progress, and the development of the
resources of the county. To briefly
summarize: In 1872 secured the ap-
pointment of. deputy clerk, and, with
out compensation, made personal
canvass Of the western and northwest
ern portion of the county and regis
tered scores Of dispirited democrats,
who believed to carry the county
meant to be counted out! During the
year 1876 spent weeks in executive
work as chairman of the county demo-
cratic committee, which became an
important factor in seating Governor
Drew as governor of Florida. During
1888 1 spent one month in canvassing
the county in the interest of a white
mans government, and through we'll
arranged executive work, based upon
the provisions of law, for the first time
since 1868, elected every democratic
candidate for county office. In 1892,
when the democratic party was in
peril, as chairman of the committee
on platform and resolutions, | was
largely instrumental in the adoption
of a compromise PLATFORM the planks
of whichrin 1900 and 1904 substantially
became the platform Of the national
democratic party, thereby placing the
Florida democracy eight years in ad-
vance of the national demo cracy. The
office of clerk Of the court Is the only
county office l have filled that paid
for loss of time and expenses while
performing the duties Of the same.
In 1898 / represented Marion county
in the Legislature of Florida, and in
troduced a health bill. which was
passed, and through provisions and
afterwards made, has EN-
abled the board of health to effectually
keep yellow fever from becoming cpl
demic in Florida. Four times l Sc
cured exhibits from Marion county,
and secured premiums for the best
collective exhibit. 1 was largely in
strumental in the erection of our mag
nificent court house, and now feel that
it would be a nice compliment to place
me in pretty office for term of four
years.
l have no mud to fling at my OppO-
nent. He has a good profession. and
by sticking to it may in the future
arise to fame in legal lore, and cleo
trify and thrill vast audiences with
his matchless logic and eloquence.