The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1921-12-12
ToMoRRow's ELECTION

viii be glad when the contest is over.
The issues are the two candidates
for mayor, and the two sets of candi-
dates for councilmen. For mayor we
have to decide between DR.. E. G..
Peek and Mr.. A. T. Thomas. DIR. Peek
is skilled physician and one of our
leading citizens. His circumstances
and his personality eminently fit him
for the Office of mayor. Ever since,
by hard work and professional skill,
he gained foothold in Ocala, he has
been among the leaders in the affairs
pertaining to the city's welfare, par
ticllarly its health and education. He
stands for improvement, education
and morality, and no man is better
qualified to see that measures tending
to such results are carried out.
His opponent, Mr.. Thomas, is also
a progressive citizen, good business
man and with the welfare of Ocala en-
tirely at heart. The principal objec-
ton to Mr.. Thomas as a public official
is his impotence of opposition. This
failing of his seriously impairs his
good qualities and might make him,
as mayor, very unpleasant to any
person who ventured to disagree with
him.
For councilmen, the question be-
tween Mr.. McIver and Mr.. Winer on
the one hand and DR.. Henry and Mr..
Pedrick on the other, is the charter.
The two first, during the nearly four
years the charter has been in effect,
have aided in multiplying it. Mr.. Nc
Iver says he has been in favor of en-
forcing the charter, but has not been
able to do so because of the opposition
OF Mr.. Winer and Mr.. Thomas. Mr.
Winer does not deny his opposition to
the charter. He says, open and above
hoard, that he doesn't believe in put
ting the affairs of the city in the
hands of one man as manager. This
is honest enough in Andy, but for
some reason he has not been able to
see that after taking an oath to serve
as alderman under the charter he has
not lived up to his obligation when he
advocates or consents to measures
that set the charter aside. Now, the
Star and the element of the people
that it speaks for in this matter are
not inclined to regard the charter as
a faultless instrument. They want to
see it put in effect, so they can de-
eide what are its faults and what are
its virtues, and so they can remove or
amend the one and retain the other.
They cannot do this as long as the
present anomalous condition con-
tlnues, and if Mr.. McIver and Mr. Wi
ner are reelected there is not likely
to be any change for the next two
years.
DR.. Henry, Mr.. Pedrick and Mr..
Martin, if elected, will try to put the
charter into effect, and viii have the
support of at least one of the hold
overs in this policy. This doesn't mean
that Messrs. Henry, Pedrick and Mar
tin are determined TO fasten the
charter on the city. They are prac-
tically certain to recommend some
changes in it, if rot its adjustment.
But they stand for a bona fide city
manager and if elected they will see
TO it that that part of the charter is
put in speedy effect.
Mr.. McIver has been nearer than
any other official the real city man
ager for the last three years, and it is
the opinion of many that he is so well
satisfied with that condition of af-
fairs that he will, If reelected, be re-
luctant to see it changed. 1t must be
admitted that "Mr. Mac" has managed
some things very well, and that un-
der his guidance 0cala is better off
than many other cities that have a
more elaborate government. But we
can't have Mr.. Mac with US always
and it might be wise to establish
something solid to take his place be-
fore he gets tired of being a benevo-
lent autocrat.
DIR. Henry and Mr.. Pedrick are
fully competent to make good alder
men, and if they are elected they will
enable the city government to find out
where it is. They will comply with
the law and put an end to the fashion
of the various departments rambling
along like bunch of cows going to
water. Mr.. E. H. Martin, candidate
for alderman at large, champions this
policy, and it will be entirely to the
interest of the voters to give him aid.
Mr. a TT TbouaaS laws oroat S+rocS