The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1913-11-11
(DonneStic)



courthouse Monday night, it was re-
solved TO held a white primary Sat
urday, Nov. -. to nominate candi-
dates for municipal offices.
Over a hundred voters were pres
ent. and they fairly represented the
best element of the city. Mr.. a. c.
Cobb was chairman and Mr. F. W.
Ditto acted as secretary.
There is a sentiment among a
considerable number of the people,
many of whom approve Of the white
primary idea, that the movement
should not be started this year. on
account of lis being so near election
and most OF the candidates having
announced. This would be very
sound reasoning under the usual
circumstances, and the principal rea-
son why it has not prevailed has
been the unusual heavy registration
of negro voters. This has stirred
the white people up in a way that
they have not been stirred for many
years and eliminated in the move
ment that now calls for a white pri-
mary.
Immediately after the meeting
was called to order, Mr.. Edwin
Spencer arose and made a motion
that an organization for the purpose
of nominating white candidates for
city offices be formed on or after
December Il. AS the election will
be held Dec. 9, Mr.. Spencer's motion
would have set the movement back
for a year. Mr.. Spencer as usual
!. argued his case ably. A discussion
followed, taken part in by Messrs.
Chace, George Rentz, Muncaster,
Strauss, Nugent, Ditto, Cobb, Car
ney, Thomas, C. P. Howell, Ballard
Hunter. Murray and others. The
debate was spirited but can't be said
10 have been acrimonious. The
speech of Senator Carney especially
represented the white primary spirit,
and the applause it received showed
that the sentiment of the meeting
was with him.
Mr.. Spencer's motion was lost,
and another, resolving to call a pri-
mary for Saturday, Nov. Is, prevail
ed, after which the meeting adjourn
ed
An executive committee was elect
ed to make arrangements for hold
ing the primary. The committee
consists of ]. NJ. Meffert, w. w.
Ciyatt, w. J. Edwards, Tom Proctor
and ]. H. Benjamin. They are MAX
ing arrangements to hold the pri-
mary and will announce the pro-
gram tomorrow.
There is no doubt but what a
great majority of the voters are in
favor of the white primary. About
the only difference of opinion is that
stated in the beginning of this arti-
Gle, as to whether it is best to start
It now or after the coming election.
Some of the members of the
Young Mems Democratic Club re-
sent the movement as one they con-
slider TO overrun their own Of a few
weeks ago. Quite number of the
young men, however, concur in the
white primary. Mr.. w. A. Knight,
who was endorsed by the club for
alderman from the first ward, sig
nif1es his intention of going into the
primary. Mr.. Emmett Robinson, an
other nominee of the club, Endorsed
the primary move at last week s
meeting, and he and Mr.. J. c. Smith,
another club nominee, both signed
the call for Monday nights meeting.
The Star sees no reason for any
bitterness in the campaign. hopes
that what has cropped out will sub
side and no more will develop.
Some of the opposition, the Star
is informed, threaten to take out an
injunction against the primary. Such
an injunction could not hold. The
people who are calling the primary
and intend TO conduct it. are doing
so with their own private work and
means. They have as much right to
hold primary as they have to hold a
church fair or whist party. and any
attempt to interfere with them will
show that their opponents are afraid
of them and willing to take an IN
fair advantage.
The Star is not going to take any
partisan share in the campaign. It
will report the incidents as &C
curately as possible and hopes both
sides will give it all necessary infor
nation. so it will not be in danger
of disappearing either.