The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1914-06-12
TO THE DEMOCRATIC VOTERS OF
MARION COUNTY

10 InoSe VINO supported my opponent
| desire tc say that / have only the
best of feeling. While l met defeat,
| accept it as the voice of the voters,
to which l am willing at all times to
submit
| entered the primary as a candi-
date with two fixed determinations.
to conduct an upright, honest and
gentlemaniy campaign, and to accept
the result manfully and without re-
sentiment, and from these determine
lions l have not varied in the least.
| have no regrets from the manner
in which | conducted my campaign,
and to no one do / feel that | owe
an apology, for | went before the
people asking their support without
resorting to mud Singing or any
line of conduct that could be distaste-
full to gentleman, and feel that by
having conducted myself in this man
ner l have made many friends.
became a candidate for the office
of tax collector for two reasons, i. e.:
because / desire and needed the of
fee, and second. for the reason that
/ believed the office should be kept
open for the payment of taxes until
the delinquent list was ready for pub
IN &c
on as to why l became a candidate
felt that my struggles in life until
middle age entitled me to a position
of more remuneration, and would en-
able me to accumulate something for
later yea4s. In support of the second
reason as to why l became a candi-
date, Mr.. e. L. Carney while tax col
lector had established a custom
which has since been followed by his
successor, Mr.. Colbert, of closing the
tax collectors office the first Mon
day in April of each year, which if
authorized by law, was certainly not
required by law, and which | believe
was an injustice to those who failed
or were unable to pay their taxes be
fore the first Monday in April, and
which l believed and still believe
was done for the purpose of person
al gain to the tax collector.
Not until Mr.. Carney was elected
tov co1Ionfor woc Suob cuct0pa nroo-
ticed in Marion county. Prior to his
election any person desiring to pay
his taxes before the delinquent list
was given to the publisher could do
so. BY refusing to accept payment
of taxes after the first Monday in
April, the tax collector receives per
cent of the amount due instead of
1 IL per cent which he receives If
paid before sale, which amounts to
several hundred dollars each year.
which would be saved to those paying
taxes after the first Monday in April,
if the tax collector would extend to
them the consideration which l be-
lieve they are entitled to. In the
county of Alachua adjoining us, the
tax delinquent was reduced several
hundred items in 1913 from 1912 by
reason of the tax collector allowing
taxes to be paid at any time before
publication of the delinquent list; IN
No hn
was increased 571 in 1913, over 1912,
which | hold was due to the refusal
of the tax collector to accept pay
ment of taxes during the time the
delinquent list was being made up.
1 believe that the poor man who is
unable to pay his taxes on or before
the first Monday in April has the
right to pay his taxes until the very
last minute before the tax sale and
that he should not be deprived of
this right simply because the collect
or will receive more remuneration
for the collection. The law does not
require it, the tax collectors of other
counties do not require it, the tax
collectors of Marion county did not
require it until Mr.. Carney and Mr..
Colbert obtained the office.
The above sets forth fully why 1
became a candidate for the office of
tax collector, reports to the contrary
notwithstanding. and I DID NOT be-
come a candidate at the solicitation
of any man or any set of men.
Again thanking the voters who
supported me, and assuring those
who did not that hold only the ut
most good feelings towards them,
l am, respectfully,
w. w. STRIPPING.
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