The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1913-11-28
PATTERSON is CONVERTED

Ecolumbus, o., Oct 20.-MalcoIm R
bed NHerson. former governor of Ten
% a N.see. heretofore firm friend of the
aooa IL in that state, the man who We
lano H. the statewide prohibition BILL
her n who pardoned the slayer of Sena
sfeai n Carmack, announces that here
Tie er he will be the uncompromising
Fogs of the liquor traffic.
atilg IN. Patterson has given out the fol
Ling statement, which is a part OF
lea Nsueech he recently made:
Tie When | sent In my message to the
0 kislature on the prohibition ques.
IL Il and afterwards vetoed the bill
Il kas as honest and sincere with the
OK IODle as knew how to be, and abso-
keIy true to my platform pledges.
pen rSince them have tried to discov-
Tie whether the law itself was respon-
ngs h for the evils, or its non-enforce-
vel mt, and | have been irresistibly led
Of If BY the hand of an unseen power
IRIS the belief that our trouble was not
L the law. not altogether in the non
Toll Morcement of the law, but in the ac-
sn rsed thing itself.
ylW kYou who have followed me in the
our st and rallied around my flag when
Rpz smoke was thickest and the fight
fercest, will ask. is this the man
The once knew? And | answer, yes
cas only difference is that | have cast
ban the shell of my environment, cut
Otel cord which bound me, ard enter
past upon a new and l hope a happier
IA better life.
Oaa III know that every man in Ten
an ssee who has been my real friend
Rne an never find it in his heart to cen
iaR Ire. There are others who will
aa large me with inconsistency; those
an ho have used me to their own ad
Tie kntage, and those who wish to be I'M
= Olested while they coin money from
The e walls OF children, the tears and
bis Rartaches of women and the degrad
q ion of men.
To those who charge inconsistent
lar my reply shall be an admission Of
for Ee fact. am inconsistent-my
eF ews are not what they were-I an
out ad | am inconsistent want anC
hat lean to be inconsistent. How ha:
y Dis change come about 1t did no
Rng me through me or by me. have
ssd Il, my countrymen, like one gropins
atI the dark.
md II know suffering and sorrow. and
q i've pitied it in others. / have fel
b " weakness and insecurity and neeC
d help. l could not find it in cole
e. kgic or reason. l looked for it il
~ d. own mind and conscience, anC
err build not discover it.
r. Il then cast aside all pride of opin
Be N, all thought of what the worlC
~ Gould think or say, and bowed my
az bad before the throne of Almighty
Az Od and asked for strength and light
last found it there-my doubt:
he EFe dispelled-the curtain of the nigh
"a as parted and the way is clear.
u From now as long as life lasts,
IN IN the uncompromising foe of the Ii
e uor traffic. It's ugly and venomou:
cs lead should be struck wherever it il
n khised.
60 Failures have been recorded anC
il lures will be recorded in the at
reg mpt by the states alone to contro
CT destroy this evil.
The great battle to be fought is Il
iSsolve the connection of the United
a tates government with the manufac
IA pre- and sale of liquor and interdict i
nd n constitutional amendment. Thi:
be Hnd this alone viii strike the last anC
y ecisive blow for redemption.
re in this mighty effort the friend!
n q law and order everywhere from
a tean TO ocean will be enlisted, ant
nt very patriotic heart. When the vic
q pry is won its fruits will be the rich
It Nst and most stupendous ever VOL
any contest since time began"