The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1922-07-26
THE oCALA PosToFFICE

The scramble for the office of post
master in Ocala is nearly always
funny. 1t is more funny this year
than ever.
Postmaster Rogers, with Congress
man Clark's influence behind him, and
by no means the i'll will of many re-
publicans, might hold on to the office
longer, if he so desired. But Colonel
Bob" is a democrat and will take pot
luck with his party.
What makes the appointment funny
is, that of the republicans that have
held the Office since 1893, and those
who are applying for it now, not one
has ever been noted as worker for
his party, and his affiliation with his
party has not been known by any but
his intimate friends as republican
until he became candidate for the
Office.
When the writer came to Ocala in
1892, Geo. K. Robinson, republican,
was postmaster Mr. Robinson was
appointed before we came, but we un-l
derstood he was prominent in the
work for his party and didn't hide his
political light under any such article
as an inverted 32-quart measure.
Cleveland was elected, and Col.
John Martin was appointed postmas-
ter. Col. Martins democracy had al
ways stood up like lighthouse, and
everybody in Marion and many other
counties had seen it.
Then Mckinley was elected and the
Markhanna republicans slated Henry
w. Chandler, a prominent colored
politician, for the Office. Then Henry
c. Groves stepped in and raked off
the job. 1t was understood there was
some kind of a bargain. If there was,
Groves did Ocaia a service. If Chand-
Ter had taken the office, he would have
been killed or run out of the town,
and then, in all probability, the Office
would have been closed and the peo-
pie would have had to go to Kendrick
or Spring Park for their mail. That
is what happened to Lake City, S. c.,
the people of which town resented q
negro postmaster. Few people knew
Mr.. Groves was a republican until
they heard he had received the APP
pointment. He made a good post
master, but after one term was sud-
denly succeeded by George G.. Crom
Mr.. Crom came here from Gainesville
to serve as agent of the Plant Sys.
tenn. Pleasant gentleman, made
friends, most of them democrats,
never did anything, SO far as the
public knew, for his party. Lost his
official head one day, it being taken
from him by Frank J, Huber. Mr.
Huber had been Atlantic Coast Line
agent; was quiet, efficient man and
made a good postmaster, but few
people in Ocala had any idea that he
was republican until they heard he
was going to be their p. m.
If the republican party in Florida
had ever been anything but closed
corporation, acting behind closed
doors, Judge David S. Williams would
have been postmaster from the time
Cleveland went out until Wilson came
in. Judge Williams was a well.
known republican and very consist
ent one. He was good business man,
and well posted on law and postal
affairs, having served in the postoffice
with Mr.. Robinson. He was also
popular with the people. esteemed by
democrats as well as republicans. But
he didn't suit the cold guard" so he
was left out in the cold.
Wilson was elected, and Mr.. Robert |
F. Rogers, one of the best known
democrats in Florida, took the office
Now the republicans are in power .
again, and a successor to Mr.. Rogers |
has probably been chosen. The candi-
dates have to pass civil service ex-
animation, but that cuts no ice. The |
big man in Florida republican circles
is ID. 7. Gerow, collector of internal |
revenue. Whether his will or that of :