The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1894-06-22
srILL aRoWIN lI..
Manager eillett Tells Many Things about
the Association.

Manager Gillett Tells Many Things about
the Association.
The Edisor Of the Banner.
Thinking you might wish TO keen
your readers posted as to the work Of
our association, | will say that The
work Of organizing local unions IL pro-
gres'ing satisfactorily, and many new
members are joining the old unions.
was requested by the citizens OF
hawthorn TO attend a meeting there
fer the purpose Of organizing the
grywers on Thursday last, aud / also
attended similar meeting at Rochelle
on Friday for the same purpose.
will say that we had very enthusiasts
tie meeting at both places, aud while
there had been some dissatisfaction
expressed by certain growers as 10
some features of the plan, their obi, G.
lions were entirely removed after it
was explained, and 10 man thew
joined the local unions and each one
seemed enthusiastic and DESTROYS of
securing these benefits for their neigh
'rs as well, and have agreed, voIun.
tarily, to do all they can TO induce
new members to Join the association.
The growers are beginning to realize
the fact there il absolutely no good
reason why any man who is interested
la the welfare of the state should STAY
out Of our local unions, as the absolute
necessity for an organization of some
kind Is TOO apparent TO require discus
sion.
In my travels about. the state / find
that II is almost Invariably the case
that wherever there is opposition to
the plan or work or the association
there is some motive behind it all,
which aetuates the opposition. In
many eases local buyers who are de-
cidedly narrow-minded in their views
oppose our work and are doing all Tia.
can TO induce the growers to STAY out
Of the association, or to withdraw If
they have already Joined. Many of
the local buyers are broad enough in
their views to see that il will be for the
benefit Of all to have the grower Sc
cure the best results possible, aud they
are willing to enter the field with the
other bnyerand compete with them for
the fruit. They realize that If they
are thus forced to pay larger prices to
the growers il will make but very lit
lie difference to them in the markets,
as the market price will be higher and
their efforts will be as great as though
the growers were compelled to sell at
ruinously low price. These men are
not grumbling at all, but are actually
joining our association
The narrow-minded buyer, however,
who - selfish enough to desire success
ia this business for himself only, feels
intuitively that If the work of this as
ISOLATION succeeds, as we are confident
II will, that he will be compelled to
enter the field with competitors, and
and that he could not be able TO secui e
The advantages he has hitherto had y
using his knowledge of the necessities
OF the growers as means of securing
their fruit at exceedingly low prices.
Another enemy of the association
Is the solicitor for commission houses,
who sees his chance of obtaining fruit
for nothing, as in years past, is rapidly
slipping away. OF course he does not
enjoy the situation but expects to
work upon the prejudices and selfish
interests fthose who are weak enough
20 be influenced by his seductive arr
guments aud induce them to stay out
ofany organization which has been
launched for their benefit and that of
their neighbors and the state at large
have information from many Sec
lions Of the state that these influences
are at work, but / have confiden e
enough In tile growers TO believe that
their good co nm0n horse sense will
prevail and that they will not allow
these elements to seduce them In any
way. They understand, ofcourse, that
these are the people against whom we
are organized. and / cannot believe
that they will capitulate TO the
enemy at this stage Of the game, and
| think that any grower who allows
himself, either through hope of per-
sonal gain or other selfish motives, to
be induced to stay out of the origani-
zation or 10 urge others to withdraw
or 10 put the least obstacle in the path
OF our success is taking upon himself
a tremendous responsibility, as it Is
just such men as these who have in
the past and will In the future attempt
10 bring failure to any organization of
this kind.
am pleased to state that very little
Of this work is going on, as these peo-
pie are being watched and think
they will have very little success in
their efforts to again disorganize the
growers. New unions are being organ
lied every day and most of the old
unions are reorganizations under the
plan adopted by the state convention.
Yours very truly,
NJ. 4. GILLETT,
General Manager.
Wants hartmann and Irvine.