The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1913-11-21
MEETING OF THE COST
CONGRESS
From Fridays Daily,

From Fridays Daily
Owing to the failure of the rail
way COMPANIES to make any reduc-
LIZ. ates the attendance at the
cost ess was not as large as it
wou. we been otherwise.
Abou. thirty-ive arrived on the
Afternoon trains. and it is supposed
thai aSoat the same number will ar
rive on the early morning trains.
The editors were informally vel
coined at the court house last night
Mr.. j. d. Rooney. secretary of the
Marion county board of trade, acted
as master of ceremonies, and extend
ed the visitors a cordial welcome to
Ocala.
Mr.. Rooney was very felicitous in
his remarks and, as is his habit, was
equal to the occasion, and gave pi
quaint flavor to the proceedings.
Hon. Edwin Spencer, Jr.. in behalf
OF Mayor Robertson. delivered the
visiting members of the press the
keys of the city.
Mr.. Spencer,s Address
Mr.. Chairman, Ladies' and Gentle
men:
There is no profession which
stands higher in my respect and esti
nation than the, profession represent
ed by the gentlemen of this conven
ton who have honored 0cala by their
presence.
The newspaper. profession is the
greatest agency in our civilization for
breaking down the hedges and the
barriers of narTowness and provin-
cialism, and for advancing our civil
cation. lettering our morals and aid
ing our education. Holding this to be
true. therefore, 1t was pleasure, keen
er than ordinary, that prompted me
to accept the invitation of the honor
ed mayor of this city to act in his
stead in stating the welcome of our
citizens to this convention.
The degree of hospitality. of any
people is, in my opinion. the test of
their progress. and of their standards
of civilization.
In olden times. before the days of
commerce and printing, every stfang-
er was looked upon as an enemy. Ev-
cry clan and tribe OF people held ev-
cry other clan and, tribe to be their
natural enemy, and every nation
held every other nation who spoke
another language or who lived under
different customs. to be their natural
enemy.
/ believe that it was Darwin that
said that the instructive fear of
stranger by a child was due to the in
stincts of heredity But as ciyiliza-
ton has advanced and commerce has
increased the feeling of hospitality
and brotherhood has increased. and
strangers, instead of being looked
upon as enemies, are invited to come
and are hailed as welcome when they
arrive, and the greatest factor in the
dissipation of this feeling of animos-
ity toward other races. and toward
unknown peoples has been. the. press.
But, Mr.. Chairman. the members of
this convention. even IL they could be
called strangers, would be welcomed
to our CITY, But because of their pro-
fession they cannot be rated as stran-
gers within our gates.
We have read their newspapers
and through that medium have heard
their opinion on public questions, and
Notwithstanding the fact that they
live elsewhere than Ocala, yet they
are not strangers to u.s.
What person is there who has not
heard of Frank Mayes. the next gov
ernor of the state, SO often that he
should seem to know him personally
Who has not heard OF the editor O
the Enstis Lake Region? and so OF
down the line. No, Mr.. Chairman, thu
members of this convention are no
strangers within our gates, but the.
that are our friends have come t
pay us friendly visit.
But in addition to that. Mr. Chair
man, the newspaper men can never b
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