The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1919-11-28
BACK FROM THE FIELDS

BACK FROM THE FIELDS
(From the Weekly Star. Nov. 27)
Editor Star: AS most of my talks
through the Star have been based on
must have had the apple and gave it
to "a" regardless of its state of pres
ervation. Your argument is good con-
sidering the side you are on, but you
get out int the "fields and valleys" too
often. You argue that interest is low
enough at 8 per cent. in answer to the
mere statement that the rate is 8 per
cent in small amounts and so on.
(Wrong, Brother Stuart; we think it
entirely too high; would borrow it at
0 per cent if we could.-Editor). Then
it is so hard to get you to catch a
point that l sometimes fear the cleo
ton will come off before l get you
converted. Ut surely will.-Editor).
Now take your Coin Harvey injection.
stated silver was quoted last week
at $1.30 and it was true, and you
wanted me to go buy some silver dol
lars. eve notice you haven't bought
them yet.-Editor). Cotton was quot
ed this week at 35c. If you'll buy me a
hundred suits of cotton pajamas for
$35 I'll give you $40 for 'em. Same
thing. (That would not get US any
where-we don't use pajamas; we
sleep in our bvds.-Editor) Cotton is
rot quoted per pajamas but per pound.
Silver is quoted per ounce. About Coin
Harvey time it fluctuated between 60
and 70 cents. (Yes, Brother Stuart;
the darn stuff has fiuctuated since
Methuselah was in primary school;
that's why civilized nations use the
gold standard.-Editor) You say
when one attempts to measure finan-
cial affairs by his own it is different
from measuring it in seven figures
since property owners contribute their
own affairs to make up the seven
figures it is pretty safe proposition
for them to learn how to measure the
connection of the seven figures with
their own affairs before undertaking
to bond for seven figures. Chats
what we have been trying to get you
to do, Brother Stuart, but we are
afraid you are what the boys back
from the war call "dud." -Editor)
In this you spoke the truth: eve don't
know Friend Stuart, what the cost of
maintaining the new roads will be;
neither do you" Suppose we try
working it out by algebra. Dieter
try to work it out with road machin
ery.-Editor). Let x equal the un-
known quantity. mot US; we would as
soon try to saw a rainbow into stove
wood.-Editor). If our present rock
roads are going to the bow-wows on
$65 900 a year and it takes bond is
sue to save them, what would it cost
to maintain these roads and the addi-
tional rock. gravel and clay roads pro-
posed and keep them from going to.
smash too? I figure it $4,000 and
more bonds. what do you get? Owe
haven't got anything up to date but a
headache, trying to follow your line
Of easoning.-Editor).
Your last paragraph: Marion coun-
ty must pay her share of state and
federal taxes that will go to build bet
ter roads, and unless she bonds for
roads she will not receive one cent in
return, did you ever think of that,
Friend Stuart?" Yes. Friend Editor,
and expressed the thoughts in the be-
ginning of these articles. Since then
my attention has been called to the
following, page 90. Acts of the Florida
Legislature, 1918:
Section l. From and after the
passage of this act it shall be lawful
for the board of county commission
ers of Marion county, Florida. to bor-
row a sum or sums of money equal to
the total amount of state aid received
by said county from the state of Flor
ida or the United States during the
calendar years of 1919 and 1920 un-
der the provisions of Chapter 1928,
Laws of Florida, approved May 18th,
1917.
"Sec. 2. Said board of county COM
missioners for the purpose set out in
Section are hereby authorized to is
sue warrants or scrip of said county
payable not more than four years
from date, bearing not more than 6
per cent. interest"
(You can't get away from the fact
that Marion county must pay her
share of taxes, bonds or no bonds,
roads or no roads. The Lord deliver
US from scrip-we've seen it tried. 1t
fuctuates worse than silver.-Editor)
1 don't believe in making the tail
wag an overgrown dog. Each PROPOSE
ton, state roads and county roads,
should be decided upon its own merits.
I don't think either should be hedged
with "riders" to make it go through.
I'll tell you another thing. I'm foolish
enough to believe in the submission of
local legislative enactments to ratifi-
cation. / believe in putting things up
to the voters fair and square and not