The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-01-21
bL0UNT WAS
WELCOMED BY
0CALA CROWD
WEST FLORIDA CANDIDATE Civ.
EN- ROYAL WELCOME BY MAR
ION COUNTY VOTERS-ANSWE
ED BRYAN AND TUMER-RE.
CEiVEO HIGH COMPLIMENT
FROM FRANK HARRIS.

Tuesday night Hon. ". A. Blount,
candidate for the United States SEN
ate, spoke to the voters of Marion
county in Ocala, and the Ocala Even
Ing Star, c. L. Bittinger, editor, had
the following to say in regard to his
address:
good sized audience greeted the
Hon. W. A. Blount last night at the
court house-an audience in size, in
telligence and interest that must have
been quite flattering TO the distingu-
1shed speaker. There we're quite a
number OF ladies present. The meet
ing was announced for 1870, but as
most of our people had the impress
sion that it did not start until S
O'Clock, the audience did not gather
until then and Editor Harris who in
troduced the speaker said if any one
in the audience desired to speak be-
fore Mr.. Blount he could have that
opportunity. and called on several per-
sons present but they declined, as
they had come to hear and not be
heard.
Compliment From Frank Harris.
1t was SIS when Mr.. Harris pre-
scented Mr.. Blount, saying that fifty
years ago, this very month, the demon
OF war was stalking through the land
and the people had been aroused to
angry, fraticldal strife. which ended
four years later in dissolution, ruin
and disappointment and the devasta-
ton effects of same had not yet been
fully eradicated. He said as is gep-
orally the case the thoughtless, the
loud-mouthed and the rampant had
the floor and ran rough shod over
the wiser and more modest, thinking
people. He said the conservative,
thoughtful patriotic people, North
and South. exerted their best efforts
to prevent the impending struggle.
but the curb stone agitators were too
many and overbore all opposition. He
then referred to reconstruction times
and the suffering brought on the
Southern people by incompetent ma
tional legislation. He referred to the
distinguished men that represented
the South in Congress before and
after the war and from the tide of
political battle during the late election,
there was a bright ray of promise Of
a Democratic victory in 1912. >and that
the South should send it's ablest men
to Congress to again assert its ability
to assist in making laws and carry
ing on the government and in the
person of the distinguished citizen
who would address them he felt con.
fident such virtues, such ability,
such judgment and such power resid-
ed, if he could be elected that would
place Florida in the forefront with
such able representatives and law
makers.
Mr.. Blount graciousIy acknowledged
h r-I, h hry+ hn
chairman. Mr.. Blount then paid the
ladies present a high compliment by
saying they were the power behind
the domestic throne and were largely
instrumental in inducing their hus-
bands to sote for the right man.
Qualifications of a Senator.
He defined what should constitute
the Gualifica tons of a candidate for
the high Office of senator. First and
foremost he should be rigidly honest,
with a mind educated to think clear
ly, judiciously and with ability to
| discuss all public questions in an i'm
partial, just and equitable manner; TO
meet all opposition and fully and logi-
cally answer any objections, SO that
| the best interests of all the people
| would be served. He made master
| full plea for individuality. hence he
| firmly believed in the primary, so
| that every voter was a true sovereign
and the Judge of the qualifications OF
| the candidates and at the polls each
could express their preferences, in
| contradistinction to the old Conven-
ton system where a few men combin-
ed and said who you should vote for.
| He did not believe in the methods
of the demagogue he frowned on
and despised such trick attempts to
cajole the voter with misrepresenta-
tons and appeals 10 the passions and
prejudices of the voter, instead of to
his intelligence and reason. He said
| he was no mans or no corporation 5
candidate. Every dollar he had put
| into the campaign was money he had
earned by persuing his profession.