The Ocala evening star., 1908-05-06
THE SPEAKERS IN
THE PHOSPHATE CITY

The speaking began late Tuesday
right In Dunnellon because the stores
60 not close before 9 o'clock, but when
the ball was started it rolled merriiy
for three hours and 1t accorded the
Star reporter much pleasure to say
ii was the most sympathetic and re-
sponsive audience the candidates have
struck since they started to cross the
desert of despair to the shores of hope.
c. L. Bittinger was the first speaker
and consumed his fifteen minutes and
d little more. He said he believed in
all the agencies that go TO make up
he procession of progress and pros
perity and that such advancement
meant taxes-not to be wasted, but
administered in the interest of the
taxpayers.
That the voters Of Dunnellon might
not mistake his position he assured
them that one of the things that would
confront the legislature that is to be
elected and would legislate for the
state for the next two years, was the
question Of state prohibition, and he,
for one, would vote to permit the SOW
ereigns Of the state to pass on that
very important and vital question, IL
they preferred state prohibition to To-
cal option and in doing this he was
cCnceding a right Of free government
to those whose votes would either
dominate the question and relegate for
snother campaign. i: y
Mr.. Bittinger said he believed in the
best schools, longest terms and best
teachers our school tax money could
supply; in good roads and the FOSTER
ing Of that progressive spirit; in keep
ing faith with our Confederate vet
Grams in liberal pensions, not as an
act of charity, but as an obligation
and reward they had bravely, honora-
lily and patriotically earned.
In other words, he believed in the
PEOPLE getting the worth Of their taxes
and IL economy and savings could be
made along lines of the expenditure
OF said taxes, to see it was done by the
public servants who legislated for the
people and those who disbursed them.
i. S. Light followed and, he by w.
d. earn, and their speeches were
identically as those delivered on for
mer occasions, except that Mr.. Light
never once "peeped" as to how he
stood on the prohibition question, but
he had plan to increase valuation 100
million and reduce taxation or cut
present taxation in two, but failed to
tell his wrought up audience what was
the secret Of such a marvellous trans
formation. Some think he proposes
TO work miracle; convert every tax
payer in the state, who will bring ev-
cry item of hidden wealth from it's
hiding place and reveal it to the tax
assessor and Immediately the civic
millennium will dawn.
The picture made Alfred Ayers
eyes dance with joy, for in the eight
years he has been searching for this
hidden wealth he has signally failed to
find it and it has caused this popular
and efficient officer much poignant
regret.
Messrs. H. w. Long and Joseph Bell
pleaded for the county judgeship, the
former to be elected to the office, and
in this connection he related the fact
Of making his first public speech, made
in Ocala forty eight years ago, which
appeared in the Star yesterday, and
his service for the county in the past
end Notwithstanding his advanced
years he was competent mentally as
ever for the position he sought.
Judge Bell, who has many friends
and supporters in Dunnellon, follow
cd and made most pertinent talk,
which was received with favor and
from the applause at the conclusion
of his remarks he was in the house Of
his friends.
The candidates for sheriff then took
the stand, ]. l.. Edwards first, follow
ed by G. Y. Miller, J. L. Smoak and
John P. Galloway.
The candidate for tax assessor re-
enacted the possum and persimmon
story, but in this instance Phillips
leading stole all of Ayers thunder and
funny jokes and placed him at d
slight disadvantage, reiterating he
would employ no more boys in his Of
fee to come up like Banquos ghost to
steal his daily bread, but would en-
ploy girls for clerical duties, who
would not aspire to his position.
Messrs. wv. D. Graham and E. L.
Carney came next and as Mr.. Carney
came last he made fine presentation
for himself.
Then the candidates for county COM
missioner from the fifth district, Mr..
Dow Beck making his plea first and
saying he did not think Mr.. j. M.
Mathews had done much for his con-
stituents and spoke slightingly on the
condition of the county roads in his
district, same being almost impassa
BILE and he could not see how Mr. M.
&C ,uld fulfill the promises he made the
people of the fifth district, as only a
few cents belonged to the fund and
didn't see how the Dunnellon road