The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1912-02-09
STATE OFFICIALS PAY RESPECTS
TO THE MEMORY OF
B. e. McLIN

At meeting of the governor and
the administrative officers of the ex-
ecutive department of the state OF
Florida, held in the executive office
February End, 1912, the death OF the
Honorable Benjamin Ernest McLin,
late commissioner of agriculture of
the state of Florida, on the night OF
the 31st of January, 1912, was an
nounced; whereupon the following
resolution was unanimously adopted
and ordered to be spread upon the
records of the executive office
Benjamin Ernest McLin
was born at JonesbOrO, Tennessee.
September End, 1851. He was educat-
ed in his native state and at Hampden-
Sydney College, Virginia, after which
he studied law under his father, Col
onel John Blair McLin. After prac-
ticing the legal profession in Tennes-
see for ten years, he moved to Flor
ida in 1885 on account of his wife's
health and engaged in commercial
pursuits in Lake county. He served
by election as member of the state
senate in the sessions of 1895, 1897
and 1899 At the democratic state
convention, held in 1900, he was NOM
mated for the office of commissioner
of agriculture, was duly elected, and
in January, 1901, entered upon the du-
ties of that office, which he continued
to hold under repeated elections by
the people of Florida until the time of
his death.
Throughout the eleven years of his
service at the head Of the states ag-
ricultural department, Mr.. McLin de-
voted to the faithful and conscientious
discharge of the many duties devolv-
ing upon him, all the energies of his
mind and body. His conception of
duty as a public official was at all
times kept upon a high plane and he
was very jealous of the integrity and
efficiency of all his acts. His duties
as commissioner of agriculture were
many and varied and Onerous-suffi-
cient to tax the resources of any man.
Mr.. McLin always faced these duties
cheerfully and with a spirit determin-
ed to render to his state the best and
most beneficial service that was in
him. He took conspicuous pride in
improving each branch of the public
service which was entrusted to his
management; and he left record of
civic and official effort which his sue
cessors may profitably emulate, and
his loved ones cherish with deep sat
isfaction. In his death his associates
in the public service are deeply sensi-
BILE of the loss of valued friend and
wise counsellor, and join with his
thousands of friends throughout the
state in the grief felt at the passing
of this excellent man and faithful Off
cial
In consideration of the exalted char
acter which the deceased had con-
sistently maintained as a citizen, and
of his long and honorable public SER
vice, it is deemed proper that this ex-
preston of the esteem in which he
was held by his official associates
be inscribed on the archives of the
state; and it is hereby ordered, as
mark of respect to his memory, that
the flag of the state capitol be display
ed at half mast for period of thirty
days; that all offices in the capitol be
closed during the time fixed for his
funeral obsequies; that an engrossed
copy of this memorial be sent to the
widow of the deceased, conveying the
deep sympathy of the subscribers;
and that copies be also sent to the
press.
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