The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1906-09-21
A RAILWAY TO BE BUILT
ACROSS THE EVERGL AIDES
MAJOR TOM HALLS
SPEECH AT TURPENTINE
OPERATORS CONVENTION

T. c. Halls speech before the Tur-
pentine Operators Convention at its
recent session in Jacksonville.
II has been referred to as such a
gem that we do not believe we can
please our readers better than by
publishing it in full.
Mai Hall said:
ct seems that I have been called
upon to answer the most gracious ad-
dress Of w. r. Carter, of the board Of
trade sent US by that great organ
ization with welcome and expressions
of friendship; and on behalf of the
Turpentine Operators Association of
the naval stores belt, most heartily
accept the courtesies in the same
spirit in which they are sent us, now
propose further in behalf of this as
sOciation TO load this messenger of
great Jacksonville's board of trade
on his return journey with our most
profound respect, love for. and heart
felt appreciation of the kindness of
that organization.
"Mr. Carter. of the board of trade,
it needed not your welcome address
to assure us OF the place we had in
your great hearts; from that day long
ago, when your beautiful city lay in
ashes-the day of the first meeting
of this Turpentine Operators Asso-
ciation-we felt ourselves your bro
theirs. We have been made to feel the
common ties that bind us, not only
by your collective organization, but
by the individuals composing it, But
once again / thank you for the reit-
Grafton of your friendship.
This Thrpentine Operators ASA
citation does not come to your city,
this time as in the past, proud of its
strength, assured of its position, and
asking favors of no man; when we
have assembled here before we have
substantially showed our apprecia-
ton of the welcome showed us by
aiding in the erection of some of your
magnificent business blocks and en-
terprises. We have cheerfully help
ed you in your efforts to create the
worlds greatest naval stores market
in Jacksonville, and in all things we
have endeavored in our best way to
establish your undisputed prestige
before all the world. Thus have we
and in other ways shown our love for
you and our interest in your city. But
now you see us entirely different,
and while we are just as ready to aid
you, while our interest in your city
and its enterprises remain the same.
while our love for you is unbroken,
we are not the same. for now we
come to your as supplicants. This
time We are seeking your aid to help
in an effort to relieve ourselves of
conditions that at times seem almost
uncomfortable
You will find in this assemblage
men who have been all but ruined I'm
the great war of naval stores suprem-
acy. You will find men among us who
have been thrown into prison through
the operation of the ubiquitous peon-
age Federal laws, originally intended
TO relieve the conditions of the white
poems, of Louisiana and Texas, but
now sectionally applied to the whole
south. Men who through treacherous
matchmaking, so-called labor bureaus
now bear the brand Of felon. And you
will find here, almost without excep-
ton, that each one of us is being sys-
tematically robbed and ruined by the
very labor we give life to, and alto
gether an organization that in many
ways is in need of help.
Now. Mr.. Carter, of the jackson
vile board of trade, we will call
upon your great organization to give
us your best efforts, your brains in
helping us out in these matters. We
ask that all the machinery at your
command be placed in motion, not
only in Florida. but clear to the ma
tons capital. We expect your aid.
Il again assure you of our appre.
citation of your welcome. and if have
failed to so express myself l trust
that you will put it down to the fact
that | have this time been co''~'
to assume new role ON the stage of
life-that of public speaker"