The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1914-01-21
HAVE BURIED THE RATCHET
ALSO THE HAMMER

Speak unto the children of Israel
that they go forward. ''-Ex. xiv: 5.
Some of the leading men of Ocala
spoke Tuesday evening to the people
of the city, that they go forward in
unity as well as in progress.
The occasion was a .get together"
banquet given by Secretary j. D.
Rooney of the Marion County Board
of Trade to the mayor and council,
board of governors of the Board of
Trade and members of the fourth
estate
The banquet was given at the
Merchants Cafe and followed the
meeting of the board of governors
and the city council.
John Dewey laid his longest table
with snowy napery, shining metal
and sparkling crystal about 8
O'Clock, and shortly after the guests
arrived. They were appropriately
seated: the mayor and his cabinet at
one end of the table; the president
of the Board of Trade and his cab
met at the other, and the newspa-
per men, as usual, serving as a
buffer between. The list of the
guests is as follows:
f. e. Harris. John D. Robertson,
c. w. Hunter, H. A. Fausett, w. A.
knight, J. G. Smith, E. E. Robinson,
George MacKay, J. E. Chace, ]. l..
Edwards, r. S. Rogers, A. G. Cobb,
j. NJ. Meffert, Geo. ]. Bitch, Jake
Brown, H. C.. Sistrunk, Edwin Spen-
Ger, R. R. Carroll and j. H. Benja-
min
After seeing that his guests were
seated, and before taking his own
place, Secretary Rooney set in the
middle of the table a mysterious
looking urn, filled with sand, which
seemed to be devoted to the culture
of a robust vegetable of some un-
known species. On being asked as
to what this was, Mr.. Rooney said,
<@AH in good time" and took his
seat.
Supper was served, consisting
principally of oysters in all styles
and most deliciously prepared. After
the bivalves and their accompani-
ments had been disposed of, cigars
were lit, and with Mr.. MacKay as
master of ceremonies, some excellent
speeches were made.
Mr.. Rooney was the first speaker,
and his address is what might have
been expected of an enterprising
and broadminded man, who has
cast his lot among us and is devoting
his best efforts to building up our
city and section. The purpose of
the banquet, he said, was to bring
together the two great forces for
advancement-the Board of Trade
which made plans; the mayor and
council, which could execute them.
We have all made mistakes in the
past, but we all want our city to
prosper it is our duty to forget the
past, except as we may profit by it;
to forgive the errors of others, as
we would be forgiven; to Danish
bitterness and factionalism, and con-
cede that others may be as earnest
as ourselves in attaining the ends
for which we may desire to use diff
ferent means.
Buried Them Deep
At the end of his speech, for
which he was heartily applauded,
Mr.. Rooney turned to the myster-
ious urn and pushing aside the lux
uriant vegetable, which might aptly
be considered to represent the spirit
of discord that is sometimes mani
fest in Ocala affairs he brought to
view a Ratchet and a hammer. The
first he buried, symbolizing by his
action the peace and good will that
henceforth will prevail in all our af-
fairs. Then he buried alongside the
hatchet the hammer, signifying
that We want no more knocking
no further disparagement of our
city and section or unjust criticism
of the men who are doing their best
Tn enhance their prosperity.
He buried them deep, and left not
the least vestige of the handle Of
either sticking out. This entirely
apt and much needed illustration
went straight to the hearts of all
present. The Star hopes that it win
appeal with the force it merits to all
who read these lines or hear of the
incident.
Mr.. c. w. Hunter