The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1913-09-19
A FINAL WORD
To the Editor ocala Banner:

Now that the issue is decided, and
that Marion county is destined to
have the unenviable distinction of be-
ing the only inland saloon county of
the state, we must nevertheless all
unite our energies to make it a great
county, in spite of this handicap.
am sorry our decision on Tuesday
bars the possibility of our securing
the Methodist orphanage, as by reso-
luton of the conference this institu.
ton cannot be located in or near sa-
loon town. | am sorry our wide-awake
and progressive board of trade will
not be able in advertising among our
advantages to home-seekers, mo sa-
looms" l know this is a handicap.
saw an ad that was and is intended
for insertion in three great papers in
the south, offering special induce
ments to this county, held up till after
Tuesdays results in the hope that
there could be added mo saloons"
But the eagle has screamed" and the
word she spoke is not liberty" but
license" A majority of the voters
said, Give us saloons" They also
say by this: We are willing to accept
the consequences. We are willing to
handicap our county's progress. We
accept the notoriety it brings to US;
to endorse, license and legalize an
agency which gives US week by week
a weary grind. such as was witnessed
last Monday in the recorders court:
Drunk and disorderly,' drunk and
fighting" lighting" etc. To the ma
jority who wish it so, without an I'M
kind thought, we say: When you see
your neighbor go reeling home, TO
curse his wife and abuse his children,
the agency which sent him there ex-
lists and is protected by your vote
When your own boy, perhaps a fair
haired fellow, whose dimpled cheek in
babyhood nestled upon the virtuous
bosom of your wife, his mother, then
the pride and joy of your life, goes
across your Threshold debauched in
morals and bruised in body, you will
console yourself with the thought,
while he might have gone wrong any
way, but he did go wrong with the
consent of your voice and vote. When,
as chance you may, your neighbor
falls prone upon your street, and there
dies. weltering in his hearts rich
blood, biting the dust at the hands of
another whose brain is delirious with
drink, you can comfort your trouble |
with the reflection that your voice and
vote helped to legalize and protect an
agency which has wrought such hay
oc.
To my colored. friends, who were
marched to the polls for the public |
commitment of yourselves to the Ii |
censed policy, and through whose vote
ALONE the saloons in this county
and state are made to survive, accord !
ing to a statement of high state pris- |
on official, 1900 of your brothers are
in the chain gang-a slavery as COM !
plete and CALLING as ever cursed your
fathers, and 90 PER CENT. OF
THESE ARE THERE THROUGH
DRINK. You may argue that they |
will get flicker" and Ticker will get
them, whether you voted dry or not. |
True, possibly and to any extent, but
it will be small comfort to you when |
that boy of yours goes to. the camps
or the gallows to reflect that he got
Ticker" made convenient and easy
and legal by YOUR VOTE and with
your consent.
But the die is cast. The fight for
this campaign is over. I'm ready to
join hands with those whom | oppos-
ed equally with those who stood with
me, to make Ocala just as good, just
as prosperous and just as delightful
and religious a place to live in as it
possibly can be made-with the hand
leap of legalized saloon.
J. B. LEY.