The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1891-05-28
THE EDITORS CHAIR.
HOW THINGS LOOK FROM
OUR STAND POINT.
The Opinion Of The Editor and the
Opinion Of Others which we
Can Endorse on the Various
Topics of the Day.
DEFRAUDING TRUCKERS.

Mr.. SwinsOn, editor of the Agri
cultural Bee, of Goldsboro, says
through his paper that he shipped
last week 1G barrels of turnips or
the same day. Eight barrels were
shipped t" Philadelphia and eight tC
New York tOu' barrels to one and
four to another in each place. The
following are the results One Ol
the Philadelphia firms reported that
they sold the four barrels for S2 90 at
30 cents barrel. The other report
ed that the four barrels were sold fol
5000. These two firms are on the
same block and within a few doors
Of each other. One of the New
York firms lepOl that they sold the
four barrels for $500 at 81 20 pei
barrel. The other reported that they
sold the four barrels for $500.
Mr.. SWinsOn states that he pack ed
the turnips himself and that there
was no difference in the barrels and
that the reports show that all the
sales were made OH the same day.
These facts contain food for refec-
ton. For some of his turnips (all
just allke) he got 1925 Il barrel and
for some as low as so cents barrel,
while i'll the same market on the
same day day there was S1.OC differ
ence in the sale as reported. What
does this mean" While there is no
doubt that some commission houses,
by greater care, diligence and atten-
tiOn to business, are able to and to sell
truck for more than others, yet this
great difference cannot be explain
ed on any such grounds. Did one
tirE send AIr. Swinson S4.OO more
than they got for his turnips, or q id
the other firm pocket S4.OO of his
money, or did DOtn firms pocKeI
some of his money, one being little
greedier than the other? There is
something crooked, evidently one of
these things happened.
Is there no way for the trucker to
protect himself against such whole
sale robbery? We Lave reflected,
now let us act. 1t will do no good
to cuss the commission merchant,
i'll fact it is all our fault. BY ou1
credulity and professed helplessness
we put the temptations before these
men, and like the majority (:) 1--WE
fear it is too true) of men they sim
ply give way To the temptations. A
northern man would not suffer Sucl
impositions at all. He would no
cuss about it probably rs much as We
do, he would take some intelligen
and busiEess-like action to prOtec
himself. What can we do: Let u:
see. The truckers of Eastern Caro-
lima and in fact all along the Allan
tic Coast, are along the various line
of railroad and therefore in clos
communication with each other b,
mail and within Il few hours at leas
by telegraph. TheIe is no othe
class of wealth producers in Ameri
ca who could more easily and effect
ually organize for self-prOtectiOn an
mutual be Iefit. The Eastern Caro-
lima Truckers Association which wa
organized in Clinton, 1889, was ste
i'll the right direction, but it does nc
go far enough. Wen need not simpl
, an organization for instruction an
discussions, but business organic;
tion with its machinery at work 6
every shipping point every day dl
ring the season. We need centr:
bureau. say at Goldsboro or Wilmin!
ton. This bureau should contra,
with several Of the most reliab
commission houses III Boston, Ne
York, Philadelphia, Baltimore an
Washington to give them the han'
ling of the shipments of the men
bers of the Association as long as r
, turns were satisfactory. There shou
} be an officer of the Association
every shipping point. He shou
telegraph each train to the centr
= bureau how much and what kind
truck shipped and to whom cnnsig
ed. The central bureau should no
e ty the commission men how mu
O. and what kind of truck they wou
receive at a certain hour. This wOu
Il be of great value to the commissi'
merchants in disposing of the true
- Let the members Of the Associate
e report their returns 20 the local Off
Il and let him repOrta summary of
same to the central bureau. Tn
compare results frUm the differe
l. markets and commission merchan
This would cost something it is trl
but would it not be a good inve
ment. Instead of costing S1.OO
each barrel of turnips, it would n
y cost as much as five cents on ca
j. package shipped. If this plan shou