The Ocala evening star., 1910-04-16

and edible sides of the program and
we say here and now that We have
participated in the local campaigns
for a quarter of a century in Marion
county and this crop of candidates are
the best speakers that have ever
graced the Marion county platform
They were more self possessed, self
poised and more clearly defined their
thoughts in clear and expressive Ian
guage than any that had ever preced-
ed them to our way Of thinking.
John w. Stevens, who for all these
years has been the unwavering, un-
terrified democrat of the Fort Mccoy
precinct, presided and did il as he al
ways does, gracefully and acceptably.
All the candidates were present but
Messrs. Light and Bullock.
Mr.. Alfred Aver, candidate for re-
election as assessor, was the first
speaker introduced and kept the
crowd in q stretch Of smiles roar
Of laughter from start 10 finish. He
desired to succeed himself because he
had taken all these years to qualify
himself, while his opponent, Mr.. j. r
Moorhead, was a good fellow and an
extra good surveyor, he favored his
remaining in that position. Ia fact
ent any office but the one he was
in Marion wanting to be assessor was
an absurdity. Why there were 5000
persons and if each held the office one
term it would cover period of 5000
years and by that time the present
crowd would be dead some time. Now
he would be kind to Jim and instead
Of placing him at the end of the line,
he would be generous and place him
in the middle. Mr. Moorhead made his
maiden speech and his reply to Mr..
Aver was a happy one.
Mr.. Norman a. Fort of Lynne, pres
ent county commissioner and as as
pirant for county tax collector. fol-
lowed and made well worded state
ment why he pined for the office. He
said if he was collector. the office
should always be open, even while he
was preparing the delinquent tax list
for publication. Mr. w l.. Colbert
followed. He made very touching
little speech reminiscent OF MS stay in
Fort Mccoy, where in years past he
taught school and met the lady who
afterwards became Mrs. Colbert. Now
Mr.. Colbert has been in the tax col
lector's office five years and is thor
ouSHly IdInllldF with us duties ana a
very capable man. He said experience
demonstrated the office could not be
kept open while the list was being
prepared for publication and good and
efficient work done.
Col r. F. Rogers of Lynne was in
troduced as a legislative candidate
He appeared because of the urgent
demands made him. His platform
would be Equal rights to all and
special favOrs to none" He did not
seek the office for honor, for of tha,
he had a surfeit. He believed his ex-
perience would be of service to him
and the people. He believed in wp-
ing from the statute books dead laws
would frown upon visionary and freak
Legislation. He said since his candi-
dacy reports had gone around that
during the life time of John F.. Dunn
to whose memory he paid a beautiful
tribute, he borrowed $4,000 and new
er paid it and that his note was sold
in the winding up of the estate for
$3.50 1t was a base fabrication. New
er borrowed a cent of the late Mr.
Dunn, and also that he had got the
better in no way of Messrs. Charlie
and Lee Miller in securing the tur-
pentine plant, he now operated. For
the falsity of this statement those in
terested could see the Messrs. Miller
Mr.. f. C. Mcleod, another candidate
for the legislature, said he believed in
a good state road and the using of the
state convicts on same; said what a
factor good roads were in the develop
ment Of a country and how they en-
hanced land values. Believed in a
local option stock law for Marion
Said certain portions of Marion need
ed a stock law, while in others it was
not needed. If the amendment to the
constitution passed for state wide
prohibition, he favored such laws as
would make it effective. He desired
and invited questions from the voters
but none came. Col. Rogers was ask
ed how he stood on the stock law and
he said there were too many waste
lands in Marion and too many poor
people who need the range to favor it
j. p. Phillips the Ocala telephone man
was the next legislative candidate tc
state his position. He said in ths
campaign two years ago for Mr.. AL
fred Ayers position, the latter called
him Jock" but now that he was ne
competitor of Ayers, he had risen il
his estimation and honored with the
title of "cat SQUIRREL of which he was
in the woods Mr.. Phillips said tn.
reason he withdrew from the asses
sor's race was because that was an al
year job, but his present business was
such he would have to have a goot
man to take his place in case of OF
election. In this case if elected h.
would only have sixty days to serve
He was for uniformity of school book:
which is question of great import
ance to parents of school children
great saving. He also said if elected
he would labor for measures TO carr,
out the prohibition amendment if rat
iied by the people.
Then came dinner and a better an,
Judging from the expressions tina
filled the air by those whose achins
voids had been filled. The substantial
and delicacies were there in abund
ance and everybody in the communit,
joined in contributing to the meal
Col Rogers invoked the divine bles
sing. and then all fell to work TIL,
piece de resistance were the two bar
re1s of Dream and trout secured by tn,
Woodmen of Fort Mccoy and prepar
ed to a turn. II you have ever bee,
to Fort Mccoy picnic you know tn
rest.
At 1:30 p. m. speaking was resum
ed. BY special request Col Roger
made a short but pertinent and elo
quest address on Woodcraft, as For
Mccoy has a strong and enthusiast
camp of choppers. In word he trac
cd he a,,i1 y-ia Of fI,s