The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1917-08-03
OxFoRD's GREAT EVENT

US for not being at the Oxford pic
mic. We told her we considered that
she adequately represented the Star
on that occasion, and to write an &C
count of it. This she did, immediate
ly and at once, probably sitting up as
late as her chief at his desk in Ocala
The story was in the Star Office at
$3.50 this morning. 1t follows:
By the way, that Oxford barbecue
was some affair. Several months ago
| promised myself the pleasure of at
tending. At the same time l made up
my mind that | would attend and
make perfunctory report of same
with as few words as possible. But
when we arrived on the grounds |
speedily changed my mind, for l saw
that this was no usual event. 1t was
wonderful affair is more ways than
one
To begin with, it was wonderful for
a little town like Oxford that is hard
| Iy known outside of this immediate
section of the state, to draw three
thousand people from all parts of the
state. 1t was wonderful on account
of the number of people of note who
saw fit to honor this gathering with
their presence. 1t was wonderful to
see an aggregation of over three
hundred automobiles gathered within
the precincts of a little country town
of about two hundred population. It
was wonderful to see the amount OF
meat that these people had gathered
together for the delectation of the
gathered multitude. 1t was wonder
full to see the widespread feeling of
friendship and harmony that prevail
ed among so many thousands of
strangers, and again it was wonder
full and inspiring to see the noblest
young men of our county there in the
uniform of soldier-the uniform of
fighting man which is the badge of
a protector of our country. They were
there, free and careless, ight-hearted
and gay, absolutely Indifferent to the
trials and dangers that lie before
them at no distant date. Top Ser
geant c. E. Harris was there with a
little knapsack filled with literature
of very binding nature. Sergeant
Harris was very seductive in his little
talks with the young men he came in
contact with-and after a brief talk
he would draw little slip of paper,
DO a--little writing with his fountain
pen; "sign here, please" and thus he
fitted from flower to flower.
But the most wonderful thing of all
was my prophecy of two years ago
last June, when | wrote a little des-
cription of my journey to Live Oak
and my experiences with the differ
ent men of note that / met there at
the convention and banquet. / met a
number of notable men that day and
night and one who commanded my
attention was Cary A. Hardee, the
| speaker of the Florida house of rep
resentatives. His talk at the banquet
impressed me and l recognized in
him leader of men and in my COM
ments at that time stated that Cary
A. Hardee would one day be governor
| of the state of Florida. One of the
first faces that met my view as we
arrived on the grounds was that of
Mr.. Hardee, and my expression of
two years ago came rapidly to mind.
l was surprised to see him there, and
guess he was surprised to see me,
too, for the chances are he had for
gotten all about me. Nevertheless,
we renewed our former acquaintance
ship. Mr.. Hardee made the principal
address of the day, and from the re-
marks of the gentleman who intro
duced him and from others of his
friends that / heard from time to
time, gathered that it is the inten-
ton of his legions of friends to run
him for governor the next turn about,
and if he consents to run, and | feel
pretty certain that he will, he will be
| elected
Mr.. Crosby and Mr.. Light were
there. Mr.. Light talked to those peo-
pie just like he knew them. 1t was a
heart to heart, sound, honest talk,
just the same as has endeared him to
the people of this county. Mr.. Crosby
spoke from the standpoint of a sound
conservative business man and legis-
lator, that will go long ways to-
wards placing him in his proper
sphere two years hence.
Mr.. Kilgore, who is known to ev-
cry man, woman and child in Sumter
county, and who has taken an active
part in the politics of that county,
acted as chairman of the meeting and
his bright, terse introductions were a
matter of comment.
Our old friend, John T. Lewis, one
of the few remaining of the pure and
unterrifed democracy of years ago,
was there, mingling with his friends.
Mr.. Lewis agrees with me that Cary
A. Hardee will be our next governor.
Judge Gober was there to see and
eat. He knows lots of people. Mr..
d. E. McIver never lets a good thing
go by and he was there, chaperoned
by Mr. Hugo Mcintosh. l saw Mr..
4