The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1894-03-23
ORANGE GROWERS ATTENTIONS
A Ringing Letter from F. O. Buffum
Get Together then Pull Together.
c.r.,-ro.r ErA March % 1904

STANTON, FLA, March 20, 1894.
TO the Editor Of the Banner.
In the Times Union Of the 18th APP
peartd an article from Pomona signed
"G. w. H." which contains good
points, AMI in my judgment is worthy
Of the consideration II orange growers
at large. The question: however, of
marketing our fruit is tie most serious
one Which now confronls us. Some of
IA have ideas as To how II should he
done, but the vital necessity is TO hit
upon n plan which all will be satisfied
to try. The new movement must
have the united support of tho grow
ers. A plan which might appear to
some Of as to be the only one through
which We could secure relief, might
have TO be laid aside for time-at
least, until the majority should be
willing 10 adopt il.
The first step is to form local unions
all over The orange belt Of Florida for
the purpose Of selecting delegates TO
state convention, which shall consider
plans there offered fJi tile improve
ment Of our condition.. When suf
ficient number Of unions have been
formed 10 well represent the orange
and vegetable interest lnevery county,
then we will elect our repre- sentatives
and meet for business. When we
have assembled, anu show, as we are
nov able 10 DO, a saving 10 the grow
Crs over present methods of twenty
five cents per box. we shall nave their
support. And when they learn that
the machinery by which this benefit is
TO be secured, can be put in motion
and kept ia motion, for the inslgnifl-
cant tax Of one 10 two cents per Lox
on all fruit shipped, they viii, un-
doubtedIs be sa isiied with the plan.
Up TO this point there will be harmony
and unity Of action. When, however,
the question of marketing comes up,
there will be ro0m for disagreement.
1t is the purpose of The promoters
Of the new movement to try 10 build
q platform upon which the fruit and
vegetable growers can all stand. 1t
will be mistake 10 try TO force
through measures lot agreeable TO oil.
There are certain advantages which
we are sure Of at once securing, about
which there can be Il0 doubt, aud over
which there can he no controversy.
Some things must be tested before we
can decide upon their practicabiliiy.
Having MI sections formed into local
unions Il will require less than n week
for the growers to unitedIy consider
any plan which may be suggested for
their benefit, and either adopt or re-
jet It. So far as we can all agree we
shall settle upon aud fix plans and
methods, but when there Is differ
ence Of opinion we shall first tiy to
get The consent and support of the
growers for testing plans, and accept
Them only after they have been found
to be gOod.
Let me urge upon all sections the
importance Of forming local unions.
Five counties are now pretty well rep
resented, and in ten days there will
probably be az many more in line.
Printed instructions and full inrorma-
ton for the formation of unions will
be furnished upon application to NJ
+. Gillelt, WeiTsdale, Fla.
ORANGE and vegetable growers, we
earnestly appeal to you 10 embrace
This opportunity TO life from our Ian
gushing industry the burdens which
threaten TO destroy it. let us immc-
dlalely, as one man, correct existing
r evils l.y handling our business in
brsints s. may. Do not tell us it cannot
he done. 1t only needs n strong pull
altogether. The opportunity to break
the chains by Nbhh We are bound to
transpurtaiions line and commission
men is offered to us.
Let US sign our declaration Of inde-
pendenee and receive the justice which
is our own.
F. c. BUFFuM.