The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1914-06-08
TO THE DEMOCRATIC VOTERS
OF MARION COUNTY

counted l desire to express to those
who supported me for the Office of
tax collector my sincere thanks, and
to those who supported my oppon-
ent 1 desire to say that have only
the best of feeling While / met de-
feat, I accept it as the voice of the
voters, 20 which 1 am willing at all
times 80 submit.
l entered the primary as a candi-
date with two fixed determinations,
to conduct an upright, honest and
gentlemanly campaign, and to accept
the result manfully and without re-
sentiment, and from these determine
tons l have not varied in the least
have no regrets from the manner
in which l conducted my campaign,
and to no one do feel that i owe
an apology, for 1 went before the
people asking their support without
resorting to mud Singing or any
line of conduct that could be distaste-
full to a gentleman, and feel that
by having conducted myself in this
manner l have made many friends.
I became a candidate for the of
flee of tax collector for two reasons,
ii. e.; because 4 desired and needed
the Office, and second, for the reason
that l believed the office should be
kept open for the payment of taxes
until the delinquent list was ready for
publication. In support of the first
reason as to why I became a candi-
date, felt that my struggles in life
until middle age entitled me to po-
sition of more remuneration, and
would enable me to accumulate some
thing for later years. In support of
came a candidate, Mr.. E. L. Carney
while tax collector had established a
custom which has since been follow
ed by his successor, Mr.. Colbert, of
closing the tax collectors Office the
first Monday in April of each year,
which if authorized by law, was GER
tainly not required by law, and
which l believed and still 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
tax collector. was such custom prac-
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 3
per cent. of the amount due instead
of " per cent which he receives
If paid before sale. which amounts to
several hundred dollars each year,
which would be saved to those pay
| ing taxes after the first Monday in
| April. if the tax collector would ex-
itend to them the consideration which
II believe they are entitled to. In the
county of Alachua adjoining us, the
tax delinquent list was reduced sew
/ eral hundred items in 1913 from
1912 by reason of the tax collector
/ following taxes to be paid at any time
before publication of the delinquent
list: in Marion county the delinquent
list was increased 81 in 1913, over
| f912. which / hold was due to the re-
fusal of the tax collector to accept
payment OF taxes during the time
the delinquent list was being made
up. / believe that the poor man who
IS unable 20 pay his taxes on or be-
fore 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 col
Iector will receive more renumera-
ton for the collection. The law
does not require it, the tax collectors
Of other counties do not require 1t,
the lax collectors of Marion county
did not require il until Mr.. Carney
and Mr.. Colbert obtained the office
The above sets forth fully why
became a candidate for the office OF
tax collector, reports to the contrary
notwithstanding, and / 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