The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1912-04-19
LOCAL CANDIDATES AT KEN
DRICK

ABOUT ~ per cent. VI the sotciS VI
that precinct. The meeting was ably
presided over by 2. Graham, former
clerk of the circuit court of Lafay-
cite county. With the exception of
the legislative candidates, Mr.. Ora
ham gave the speakers notice that
only a reasonable amount of patience
could be expected from him.
The arrangement of the program
gave first place to VIM. NJ. Gober,
candidate for the office of county
Judge. Mr.. Gober talked in very
forcible and convincing manner OF
his qualifications for the office in
question, bringing out the fact of his
having for several years been engag-
ed in the practice of law in addition
to having served for number of
years as a justice of the peace. His
life and experience, he stated, lead
him to believe that he is sufficiently
familiar with the rules of legal pro-
cedure to give the people an admin
listration of justice such as the office
of county judge demanded.
Mr.. w. E. Smith, the rival candi-
date, followed Mr.. Gober. Mr. Smith
stressed the fact of his birth in Ma
rion county and stated with pride
that he had not "roamed over the face
of the EARTH" but rather that he had
chosen his lot among the people
whom he was addressing. Mr.. Smith
told of his life and success as book
keeper and of his admittance to the
bar after several years of home
study.
The candidates for the office of
county treasurer were next allowed
to present their claims. Mr.. T. A.
Cobb assumed that the audience need
ed amusement and proceeded to tell
all the jokes that he could remember.
He incidentally stated that he was a
candidate and that he wanted the Of
flee of county treasurer. Mr.. Cobb
proposes to turn into the public
school fund one-half the salary con-
nected with the office he is seeking;
this he considered sufficient consider
alton for a majority vote. Mr.. John
M. Graham, present incumbent of the
office, stated that Mr. Cobb's propo-
sition was an 'open bid for the job"
Mr.. Cobb replied that even though a
bid it was a bid in favor of the voters
of his county, and that it would put
money into their pockets. Mr. Ora
with the office and asked that in the
coming primary the voters observe
the democratic precedent of continu-
ing in office a public official who has
with credit discharged the duties of
same for an appointed term. Mr.. c..
NJ. Livingston was not present, on ac-
count of the recent death in his fam
lily, but Mr. Graham kindly stated for
him the points in favor of his candi-
dacy.
The name of Perry H. Nugent, can
didate for the office of clerk of the
circuit court, was next called, but Mr..
Nugent not being present the facts of
his candidacy were briefly stated by
another candidate, and the floor CIV
en- to Mr. S. T. Sistrunk, candidate for
reelection to the same office. Mr..
Sistrunk spoke chiefly of his admins
tration of the office and called atten-
ton to several reforms instituted by
himself in recent years, particularly
the substitution of the typewriter sys-
tenn of filing records in the place of
the former primitive penmanship sys-
| tenn. Also, his revision of the index
books of record, reducing them to a
few volumes, and simplifying research
work on the part of citizens desiring
| information. He stated that he had
the legal and moral right to be a can
didate for the office for another term.
Messrs. Alf Aver and James Moor
head, in their race for the office of
tax assessor, as usual, made their
friendly thrusts at each other, to the
enjoyment of the audience
Mr.. Alex. Moorhed made very
brilliant and eloquent speech in be-
half of his campaign for the office of
county surveyor Mr.. Robert Fergu-
son, his opponent, was unable to be
present.
! The legislative candidates present
were Edwin Spencer, Jr., and l.. S.
Light. Mr.. Spencer spoke first, deliv-
erlng remarkably forceful speech,
which brought much applause at its
close. He is opposed to bonding the
state for any amount, but is willing
to have the matter submitted to the
people. Mr.. Spencer also spoke at
some length in regard to the absurd
| technicalities in our statutes which
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