The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1912-04-11

The local candidates and number
OF Ocala citizens who were not candi
dates went 10 Anthony yesterday to
I'LL the appointment al that thriving
city. The Star man was with the
crowd. and arriving short time be-
fore the speaking began took a run
around that section TO look at the
farming and crop conditions.
Anthony Is in the heart of the finest
farming and truck raising section of
Florida, which statement is made
without fear Of contradiction There
is a scope of country nearly six miles
square and fully seventy-fve per cent
is in cultivation and the crops never
looked better than now. Unless all
signs fail the people of the Anthony
section should one and all come out
away to the good with their farming
this year.
The attendance Of the men folks and
voters was not large, but the ladies
and children were present in large
numbers, school having been dismissed
for the day, and the gathering in the
school house park, ~beneath the beau
tiful shaded trees was quite a large
one and presented most animated
scene.
their crops to attend the speaking. It
is their very busiest time till the har-
vesting commences. and every lost hour
in the fields means much to them.
The ladies had prepared a great bas-
ket dinner which at noon was spread
on the long tables beneath the trees
and huge kettle of chicken piIlau and
another Of hot coffee was added to the
cold viands. Such a dinner as was
served the candidates and visitorss is
only found at Marion county picnic.
Every one ate to his or her full ca
pacity and there was plenty left
Among those from other sections of
the county whom the Star man knew,
were NJ. L. Payne Of Fairfield. to whom
was delegated the office of master of
ceremonies; Allen Stephens of Spar:
VI. j. Timmons of Citra, and Mr..
Thomas of Pine.
At II o'clock Mr.. Payne called the
gathering to order and introduced the
first speaker, Mr.. Edwin Spencer, Jr,
candidate for the legislature Mr..
Spencer is the orator of THE entire
bunch; he is not only an orator but
states his case clearly. concisely and
in a business-like manner that carries
conviction to his hearers. He told of
the reproduction of local bills for
the relief of different people. bills to
validate Illegal acts of different bodies
etc. He thought candidates should dis
pense with pleasantries and state what
| they proposed to do and stood for. He
was prepared to answer for himself
| yes or no on any issues that would
| come before the legislature; he would
make the campaign on issues and not
on personalities. He would work for
! the passage of a law to reimburse the
innocent purchasers for money paid FOL
stolen property out of the proceeds OF
the thief when sentenced the abolition
| of the present fee system in county Of
fees. Favors the abolition of the pres
ent convict system, but it would have
to be done gradually, and to place the
lconvicts on the roads of the state as
fast conditions justified. He would
work for the passage of bill author
izing cities and towns to change then
own charters without burdening the
Legislature with these hosts of loca
bills. He thought the people would b.
best represented by a lawyer in the
Legislature. He favored the abolition
of technicalities in the laws. If elect.
ed, he would stay on the job, never bt
absent from his seat and no bill:
would be passed without his knowledge
and would work for or against them a:
his convictions dictated He favored
law to improve the methods Of oul
lpublic schools, and teach more prac
ticalities Of life, instead of Latin and
lGreek; that the public schools should
teach farming, industries and good
housekeeping, and not merely be
preparatory step for the college edu
cation that ninety per cent of the pu-
lpils never get. Wants a more just tax
iation on the railroad property of tn,
Estate. Favored the election Of u. S
senators by direct vote of the people
Favored an income tax law. Woult
lprotect the interests of the farmers il
their relations with the railroads. TIL.
next legislature would make the law