The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1912-04-12
CANDIDATES AT FORT mccoy

The second days journeyings oil
| the county cand dates terminated al
} Fort Mccoy on Tuesday, where they
: were greeted with open nand by the
/ voters and citizens.
The candidates put in several hours
, in the forenoon doing individual
; stunts with the voters, and the meet.
/ ing, which had been arranged for,
was not called until eleven o'clock. At
this hour Mr. John w. Stevens, exec.
iutive committeeman of the precinct,
called the meeting to order in the
town hall, and after a few preliminary
remarks introduced the candidates.
Messrs. W. A. Tongue, c. NJ earn
and Walter Huffman, candidates for
county commissioner from the first
district, were the first on the stand
in the order named. Each presented
his views of what he thought should
few words, all claiming that they
were not orators.
Mr. Alfred Aver, for assessor, on
being called up, expressed surprise
that he should be put on the program
before the big guns, viz: Candidates
for legislative honors. Statesman
Payne here accused him of misrep-
resentation, claiming that he well
knew exactly how the program had
been arranged, which created quite a
deal of merriment at Mr.. Ayers ex-
pense Mr.. Aver says that his many
years of experience have made him
more competent to fill this office than
anyone else, and advised those pres
ent not to experiment with untried
timber.
Mr.. James r. Moorhead, candidate
for the assessorship, was then called
on. He wanted to know how man
was to get experience, according to
Mr. Ayers version of the matter
claiming that according to this mode
of figuring no otner man would ever
be qualified to fill this position. He
wanted to know how long Mr. Aver
would have him wait before being ell
igible to take charge of the place.
i He made claim that his experience as
a surveyor in che county for many
years should make him at least eligi-
BILE as an applicant" for the posi-
ton, and on the ground that he was
as thoroughly competent as any man
in the county, asked the support of
those present in his behalf.
Mr.. j. HI. Brinson, superintendent
of public instruction, stated that as
he had performed the duties of his
office to the best of his ability dur
ing his administration, and had vast
tly improved the service, he felt that
he was entitled to reelection. He
then devoted some time to the dis
tiers. He cited the fact that there are
ia schools in the county, and claim
ed that it was a matter of impOssi-
bility for the superintendent to visit
them all during the term, and also
attend to the duties of the office. He
said that he stood ready to discuss
publicly or privately all matters per-
tanning to the school work at any
time, and asked the support of his
hearers at the coming election.
Mr.. P. Wilson Green, who is also a
candidate for the office of superin-
tendent of public instruction, said he
made no claims to great ability, but
, cited his record as an educator, and
felt that he was thoroughly compe-
, tent to fill the position to which he
, aspired, and promised, if elected. to
visit the schools, as prescribed by
law, even if his opponent had declar-
ed it a matter of impossibility. He
read statistics which he claimed did
not reflect any great credit to his op-
ponent. Mr.. Crimson arose to correct
, certain figures used, claiming they
were in error. However, as Mr.. Green
, had them in his memorandum book
and insisted that they were correct,
! the matter rested here.
Mr.. John NJ Graham, candidate for
treasurer, preluded his own claims
with an explanation that one of his
opponents, Mr.. c. M. Livingston, was
called home on account of the death
of his father, and expressed his sym
pathies. Mr.. Graham cited instances
in which by close attention to his du-
. ties he had saved the county hun
dreds of dollars in interest by taking
up warrants ahead of time, and as he
was at present filling an unexpired
: term in the office, asked that he be
retained.
Mr.. t. C. Cobb, also candidate for
treasurer, expressed his sympathy for
Mr. LIVINGSTON in his sorrow. and re