The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1918-05-24
BIG GATHERING AT FAIRFIELD

o%AAOAC0 ot Il oAk AtClN w llC1A
the political and patriotic speaking
1t was decided that the speaking be
held in the school house but it. was
soon ascertatned that the building
would not begin to hold the crowd,
so it was finally decided chat the
speaking would be from the little
platform on the grounds near the
building.
The crowd accommodated them5et.
yes to soft places on the leaves and
grass under the shade Of the trees
and in friendly automobiles which
we're stacked on the grounds ia hear.
ing distance of the little platform
Mr. J. Arthur Jones acted AZ master
OF ceremonies and as It was noon be-
fore the speaking began he was very
brief in his Introductory remarks and
said that he would donate his time 70
the speakers
The legislative candidates we're
first put On the firing Zine" and Mr..
n. A. Fort started the bombardment
He said that his platform could be
summed up IN three words Re.
Ftrenchment. economy and reform,
Fou- zen years on the board Of coun.
ty commissioners lad given him =
fairly good insight into the financial
affairs of the state and ne believed
that ne was IN a position 70 give the
people some relief from excessive tax.
alton Thar within twelve years tax.
eS had increased three hundred per
cent and he would expunge from the
records all supertluous offices Re
would vote to abolish The state good
roads commission the hotel inspector
the state tax commission for the con
rinuance Of the war Said the board
0e county commissioners had been
trying 70 have the state good roads
commission meet IN Ocala FOR three
years and Up 70 this time had failed
In their efforts Mr. Fort is for
more rigid vagrancy Law
Mr. Jack McCuIIy said that it was
somewhat unfortunate that Mr. Fort
ami himself we're running IN the same
group as they stood on practically the,
same platform That as their plat
forms were 50 nearly alike the voters
would have to Judge between them asI
men That he was not as tall as Mr.
Fort but that he was just as bigI
around He was like Herbert Ander
sons railroad It was not as long aa
the c. L when ne wrote TO chez
superintendent Of that road for thel
exchange Of complimentary passes,
but was Just as wide
NJ McCully Is tor aboiishtng all
the commissions named by Mr. Fort.
lie said that if elected ne would go
to TaIIahasse wearing no man col,
lar and with his hands united
Uncle Billy" Folks said that he
vas in the race because his people |
had risen in their majesty and might
aud told him that be had been preach I
ing for them and d01ng SO many things
for them ali these years and he just
had to end his usefulness by serving
them in tda legislature
That his section Of the
county had had no political recognt |
ton in fifty years and the clock had
now struck for d new roll call He
said that he had served as captain Of
the little band that had opposed the
creation of Bloxham county and i'll
elected to go TO Tallahassee he would
go there with no AK to grind and no
razors to sharpen
Mt Light said that ae was q candi-
date principally for the reason be-
cause he did not want to be known
as a duitter II elected he would in
tr0duced d resolution that the date of
adjournment be fixed limiting the SEES
sion to a single week That bush
Ell OF foodstuffs was Just now worth
4 barrel of speeches and we already
had a multiplicity of laws. He could
produce Axs and 6ggers to prove
that he helped save the state several
hundred thousand dollars last ses
sion and perhaps could save as many
more il elected to adorn i seat I'M
the next body. but whether elected tol
go to Tallahassee or stay at home.
Light would be happy for he could
make more money by staying at home,
and the nation was needing farmers
Just now more than statesmen
Mr. Ben & RaysOr made very
graceful speech Said he was ma
tive producs and would appreciate a
vote Of confdevce That it would be
an encouragement and inspiration for
other cracker boys. He would favor