The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1908-06-12
sITTiNeER OR LIGHT

the polls next Tuesday to express his
preference for one or the other of the
above named candidates, there are
several things he should take into
careful consideration.
Bittinger has been "a voter and
worker in the Democratic party for
over a score Of years. Born I'm a
northern state, soldier in the Union
army. he had not long been in Florida
before he saw In what party and pol
icy lay the only hope OF the state, and
cast his lot with that party to abide
with 1t through success or defeat to
the end.
Bittinger did not wait for the polit-
ical pendulum to swing to the demo-
cratic side before he enlisted in the
democratic ranks, but joined its forces
when 1t was fighting a hard battle and
needed every man and every vote, and
has not faltered in his allegiance
since.
How about Light?
In the days when the republicans
were in power, and a negro represent
ed Marion county in the Florida legfs-
lsture. Light helped to put him there.
.
the republicans were driven from
power, and lost all hope of office,
Light joined the populists, and made
ono unsuccessful attempt after an
, other to obtain office either for him
self. or for others who were trying to
split and defeat the democratic party
Ia party which, let it's mistakes be
what they will, has been, is now, and
For rxiII he hn 10 difrr11
OF the liberties of the Southern people.
And now that the causes of the re-
pubiicans and the populists alike are
hopeless-hopeless as long as demo-
Gratis stand together-Light comes to
the party that he fought from the
front, flank and rear-and asks it to
give him one Of it's most honorable and
useful offices.
Democrats are not pharisaical. They
are--they should be-glad to welcome
all good citizens to their party. And
Light Is good citizen; no dispute
about that But is it not just that
converts from the enemy should serve
quite a while in the ranks before they
art intrusted with command?
To come to the present, Light is
out denouncing the shortcomings of
the state government, high taxation
and extravaganza, Is trying to make
people believe. and probably believes
himself, that he is the Moses who will
lead the people out of the wilderness.
But this self appointed Moses cannot
pa oduce the tables of stone or point to
pillar Of fire. He is more likely to
prove a Korah, and though he will
I, never be big enough to cause destruc-
ton to- overwhelm the people, he will
undoubtedly lead such as follow him
into a lemon grove. 4
That taxation Is high, that govern
ment constantly needs correction, ev
err thinking man knows. But who
arc the men to do the correcting?
Those who prance upon the floor and
by spectacular methods draw atten-
ton, and ridicule, to themselves; or
the quiet men who study the problems
OF government and try to solve them?
There will be a hundred men in the
Florida legislature, and returns from
the first primary show that the peo-
pie are not sending men Of Mr. Lights
stamp to represent them in that body.
If he is elected, he will be practically
alone. He will enrage some, and
amuse many more; but his influence
will be nil, and Marion county will
suffer in having only one man to work
for her interests when she should have
two.
A philosopher one said. 'Any fool
can be critic, but it takes man
to do things" Light is a critic. He
demonstrates his will to tear down,
but he has not so far submitted any
plan for building up. He speaks Of
raising money by taxation in a way
that can lead people to only one con-
clusion. and that is that he intends to
try to be the father Of law that will
give the tax assessor inquisitorial
power.
There could be no law that would
50 much distress the people-the COM
mon people, the men and women of
small means-ahd destroy their
rights; no law that could equal it in
causing corruption. The rich man, the
bic corporation, could hide much of
their property, could tempt all off,
Gals, and would corrupt many. The
little homes of the common people
would be defenseless, and they would
be, much more than now. unequally
taxed and compelled to pay a dispro-
portionate amount of the burdens of
government which would by such a
law set premium on corruption
Such laws rare in force in Turkey
Persia and others Of the worst gov
erned countries OF the world, but the
legislature Of an American state has
never yet passed such a measure, and
IT will be step toward the worst