The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1914-05-15
HON. JOHN NJ. C. STOCKTON IN
OCALA

OCALA
Ocala enjoyed a visit Monday from
Hon. John N. C. Stockton of Jackson
vile. who is a candidate for United
States senator, to succeed Hon. ID. U.
Fletcher, the present occupant OF the
Office.
Mr.. Stockton was present at the
opening of the spring term OF the cir
cuit court, and when it became known
that he was present and desired to
address those attending the session
Judge w. s. Bullock did the unus-
nal and graceful thing in adjourning
the court in order to give Mr.. Stock
ton the opportunity of carrying out his
desire, and giving those present the
I pleasure of listening to him.
Mr.. Stockton said that 1t afforded
him a great deal of pleasure to ad-
dress the voters of county which
possessed huch a history as clusters
around Marion county. Here the
speaker took the opportunity of pay
/ ing respectful tribute to the Bullocks,
Dickisons, Martins, Owens, Lewises
and others who stand out so promi-
nently in her civic, political and mill
tary annals
The speaker paid eloquent tribute
to that noble band of patriotic Or
ankle Lake women who donated their
silk shawls to be converted into Con-
federate flags at the very outbreak OF
our civil strife.
Mr.. Stockton said that Florida had
five lawyers and one newspaper man
in congress. That the farming and
business class had no representative
there. and he had entered the race for
the purpose of having them represent
ed. So far as he was personally con-
cerned, from a cold matter of busl-
ness. he did not want the office, for
he had always found it an easy thing
to make living. Had he devoted him.
self to the mere making of money he
said tata he did not believe that it
was extravagant for him to say that
he could have been several times
millionaire, but that he had higher
aims in life. He was not after the
mere spoils of office-that he wanted
to be in the United States senate for
the good he could render to the great
body of the common people, whose
friend he was, by occupying a seat in
that body.
AS an item needing correction he
cited the inequalities in freight rates.
Fifty dollars" he said, "on car
load of stuff coming from Chicago to
Jacksonville, and two hundred and
fifty dollars for it's return" He said
that he believed that it was in the
power of congress to right that
wrong, and he promised If elected to
work increasingly towards that end.
Mr.. Stockton cited other gross ine-
qualities along similar lines that need
ed correction, and which he pledged
himself to reform.
Mr.. Stockton attempted to show the
fallacy of Senator Fletcher's rural
credit SYSTEM" and said that he had
better system, one which would do
the farmers immeasurably more good,
and spent some time in its elucioa-
ton.
He repeated lis charges against
Senator Fletcher for voting for the
retention of Senator Lorimer, for his
telegram to the governor of Texas
protesting against his accepting the
resignation of Senator Bailey, and for
his having voted against one of the
best tariff bills ever presented to the
United States senate.
Mr.. Stockton exhibited letter from
an United States senator in Ohio IN
which he made some grave accusa-
tions against Senator Fletcher, but he
said that as he had promised not TO
make use of the letter, so he would
refrain from reading its contents.
Some of his audience were unkind
enough to think that Mr.. Stockton's
inferences were even worse than the
contents of the litter itself.
Mr.. Stockton said that in his speech