The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1913-11-28
JOHN D. ROBERTSON FOR MAYOR
Ocala, Fla, Nov. "a, 1913.

~ INC CuiIOI OCdid BANNER.
The voters of the city of Ocala
possibly do not realize the impor-
tance of the ensuing city election for
mayor, and possibly are not fully ad-
vised as to the issues before the peo-
pie for their decision.
Some time ago the people of the
city of Ocala voted bonds for $780,
600, to be used for the purpose of pur-
chasing and improving the water
works system, and since this was the
purpose of the issuance of those
bonds, they cannot be used for any
other purpose. The city and water
works appraisers met and fixed the
value of the water plant at something
over $6S,000. Dues however, almost
solely to the efforts of the present
mayor of the city of Ocala, who
threatened to refuse to sign the bonds
unless the water plant was purchased
at reasonable figure, the city sue
ceeded in purchasing the plant for
$42,500, thus saving the city, through
the action of our mayor, nearly $780,
900, which, it seems to me, the tax
payers of our city should appreciate.
The city council then demanded that
the mayor sign the entire amount of
the bonds, to-wit: 100000 worth, in
order that the entire sum might be
placed on the market. Again Mr..
Robertson refused to sign the bonds,
except enough to purchase the plant
and to make the present needed re-
pairs, leaving ON hand $4,000 worth
of bonds unsigned. Mr.. Robertson
based his refusal to sign these bonds
-on the business proposition that it
was folly for the tax payers of the
city to be paying five per cent. inter
that money was not needed by the
city, and when it would only be de-
posted to the credit of the bond trus
tees. Thus again Mr.. Robertson, by
his fearless attitude, saved thousands
of dollars to the city. Since Mr.. Rob-
ertsons refusal to allow this $4,000
of the peoples money to be placed to
the credit of the bond trustees, con-
sistent and determined fight has been
made to defeat him for mayor.
The issue, then, before the people
is centered around the question of
whether or not it was right for Mr..
Robertson to save to the city nearly
$4,000 on the purchase of the water
plant, and whether or not he did right
in refusing to permit $55,000 of the
peoples money to be used by private
individuals. If the people believe
that he was right in saving them
thousands of dollars, they should GER
tainly reward him, and if the people
feel that they desire to have $4,000
of their money protected for the next
ensuing year, or until such money is
needed, they should work and vote
in behalf of Mr.. Robertson.
There can be no argument adduced
against the election of Mr.. Robertson
because of his official record. When
John D. Robertson was first elected
to the council, the script of the city
of Ocala was being very largely dis
counted. There were no cement
sidewalks and no brick streets, and
we had a poorly lighted city, but
since his advent into city politics
Ocala has forced ahead more rapidly
than any other interior city in the
state At his own expense he began
the improvement of Oklawaha ave
nue., and forced the city to take ac-
tion on the laying of cement side
walks. Since he has been in munich
pal politics the finances of the city
have been placed in sound and sure
condition; brick streets have been
laid, the convenience of the electric
light plant has been extended and
the price lowered. Whenever he felt
that the finances of the city were be-
ing wasted, he has, at his own ex-
pense, enjoined action of the coun-
Gil, to have the people money, and he
has consistently fought for equal and
fair taxation. No bad law has been
placed on the city's books, except