The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1920-05-28

LC IIL4GSL anu IuOSl animated QG'
bate Of the local campaign was that
pulled of at the band stand last
night between Hon. L. s. Light of
Reddick and Hon. ". J. Folks of Ro-
ime0.
Col. Robt. ?. Rogers acted as the
chairman Of the meeting and an
bounced the terms of the debate
To start the ball rolling Mr.. Light
was to have 20 minutes, Mr.. Folks
was to have 80 minutes in which to
Ireply, and Mr.. Light 10 minutes in
!rejOinder.
Mr. Light paid high tribute to Bro
Folks integrity and moral attributes
as a citizen, and made war only on
Iris record as a member OF the Flor.
ida legislature.
He said that he had proven recre-
ant to the trust reposed in him and
had failed to keep promises he had
made TO the voters, in that rather
than making efforts TO reduce expend-
itures, and thus reduce taxes. he had
voted for any number of useless com
missions and valueless appropria-
tiOns, all Of which he said he had
the record behind him TO vindicate
every charge he made, and referred
to the numbers of the bills and pages
OF the journal
Mr. Light said that when Uncle
Billy entered the halls OF legislation
he found the state taxes were eight
mills, and when he bade farewell to
the capital he left taxes totaling
twelve mills; that many of the bills
he fathered failed TO receive a favor
able report at the hands Of the com
1littees to which they had been re-
ferred
IN conclusion he dwelt upon his
own record while a member of the
| Legislature, and contrasted. it with
i"Uncle Billy's." He said he never
|missed roll call, and was so alert
that he was called the watchdog of
the treasury"
In the course OF his remarks Mr..
Liiht was several times applauded
In his reply Uncle Billy" said that
he had been a citizen of Marion cOun-
ty for more than fifty years, lad been
consistent member of the church
and a number Of fraternal orders,
and that this was the first time that
he was ever called upon TO face a
charge Of being an unfaithful and un-
worthy servant.
That Mr.. Light hesitated for some
time whether he would offer for rail
road commissioner or for a member
of the legislature, when he finally Sc
lected the latter and announced that
he would run in group one, but think
| ing that Wesley Hunter was easier to
defeat than Nat Mayo, he switched
over into group two.
Meeting Uncle Billy at Fort Nc
Coy, in a heart-tO-heart talk he tol(
him that ne would feel hOnOred Il
have him for a colleague in the les
islature and endeavored to persuad
him TO tackle Nathan Mayo and leav
the field in group two open betwee
fim and Hunter as he thought tb.
gentleman would be easy picking, but
when he told him that mis- flag was
nOisted in group two, and there il
should remain until il was flushed
with victory or went down in honor.
able defeat, Immediately he became
IN unworthy servant in the eyes O.
Mr.. Light. and an unfit colleague.
Uncle Billy" then produced a Iet
er from Comptroller Amos in which
was shown that during Mr.. Light
V1Dderful record IN the Iegislature
axes had been increased two mills
when z dollar was one- hundred
e2ts dollar when the state receiey(
several hundred thousand dollars for
he fire OF the convicts and seyera
hundred more thousand dollars from
liquor licenses. and when there was
mo citrus canker to contend againe
and no appropriations for good roads:
Inow with everything advanced NOR
than one hundred per cent, with no
money coming in from state convicts
or liquor licenses, and a dollar only
commanding fOrty-six cents the mill
age had been increased only half
mill more when the watchdog of the
treasury" was member and domi-
Iant figure in the legislature. That
Mr.. Lights 'figgers' were not based
On ''faxs" nor his "faxs'' on "fggers"
Uncle Billy" received very hearty
applause when the chairman announc-
ed that his time had expired.
In his reioinder Pr. Light said that
it was true that he Rad been defeated
number of times far the legislature
but that he had bs elected three
times, and had rec ed every vote
IN the precinct in vine he lived and
he thought that wa fairly goou
Iment that invites study In industrial
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