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

some pollElclan at washington SHAH
prevail, the people of Ocala do not
know They only know they have no
more choice in deciding who shall fill
this of all Offices the nearest to them
than they have in deciding who shall
be the next president of France.
Five candidates we know of, and
probably others, have taken the ex-
animation that the law requires and
the politicians disregard.
If merit, seniority, business rules
and the will of the people of lOcala
counted, B. F. Borden, assistant post
master, would be promoted to the of
fee. Mr.. Borden has been in the
0cala postoffice twenty years and he
has been a good and well-liked citizen
of Ocala the same length of time. Mr..
Borden does not expect the office. He
is a democrat.
Next in line is Mr.. 7. NJ. Moore,
also a postoffice employe. He has
been in the office about eighteen
years, and has also been good elti-
zen. He is republican, but this was
not generally known until compare
lively a short time ago. His position
as a postal employee has, however,
forbidden his making any display of
his political tendencies. Next to Mr..
Borden, Mr.. Moore has length of serv-
ice and the good will of the people. 1t
looks like his party should give him
the office-but will it
It may be best for Mr.. Moore if he
does not receive the appointment, for
if he does he will probably be fired
with the next change of administra-
ton, while now he has a steady job,
which will stay with him as long as
he can stay with it, and then retire
him on pension.
To a man up a tree, it looks like
Lester Lucas is most likely to pull
down the persimmon. Lester is one
of Ocala's most popular young men,
and no doubt he would make an ac-
eeptable official. He also has the
backing of the local republican ma
chine. We don't know how much
power that machine has. 1t wouldn't
have any with us il we were president,
because it works in the dark. Its
handspring is an attorney of consld-
cradle ability, but who has never, to
our knowledge, got up on his hind feet
and announced his republicanism. He
passes with the majority as demo-
crat, and does nothing to dispel the
illusion. Most of the other members
of the machine follow the same line
of policy-some Of them, in fact, have
been known to vote in democratic pri-
maries. Mr.. Lucas has never tried to
conceal his political faith, neither has
he obtruded it on the public, which
will learn from this printed page that
he is not democrat. However, no
body will be sore on him for that, nor
blame him for the gumshooity of the
machine, which, if he obtains the of
fee, isn't going to find him a tool.
Philip G. Murphy may be excused
for not playing up his politics. He
came to Ocala three years ago, i'm
mediately after his return from
France, where he served with the A.
E. F., went into business and had no
opportunity to work for his party,
which in this county in 1920 did no
campaign work except qualify colored
women to vote. Mr.. Murphy has been
a ready helper in all things he was
called on to aid for the advancement
of the city and county, and very few
men have made more friends for the
length of time he has been in Ocala.
He hasn't the backing of the "local
machine" but that may be an ad-
vantage. He is well equipped to fill
the office and there will be no kicking
from the people at large If he obtains
L.
Lastly is Mr.. N. u. Kindt, the music
merchant. Mr.. Kindt is a very quiet
man, attending strictly to his home
and business affairs, and it has prob
ably never occurred to anybody to ask
his brand of politics. He has built up
quite a good business, in the face of
very .discouraging circumstances,
which is one proof of his merit. 1t
looks like he has the least chance of
the candidates, but no one can judge
by that.
Several others-some of whom have
always passed for democrats-have
applied, but to the best of our knowl-
edge, have not taken the said to be
necessary examination. That, how
ever, can be evaded if the powers that
be desire to give one of them the job.