The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1907-09-04
Wants Our Products Protected.

MIR. VIM. t. Neeld is a very inter
esting writer on farming topics. II
fact he is interesting whatever his
subject. However as this is not Z
political paper we have to draw the
line on socialistic articles. But he has
new scheme which he sent to the
Tampa Times. 1t has some gooC
points, though we do not endorse il
as practicable:
The State Horticultural society
ing at Gainesville to the subject Of
marketing the fruit and truck of the
groves. We must adopt intelligent
methods, /. e., we must combine anC
cooperate; in union is strength
Well hang together or separately (and
we'll hang anyway, but you don't know
tha) At this late date we find our
selves about completely circumventec
and surrounded with forces organized
to exploit us. These have perfected
their methods. We will be new and
green when we enter the game. We
will find ourselves up against the
system" A system Of exploitation
and robbery, with master hands at the
helm. We might invoke the govern
ment to help us out, but that would be
paternalism, and that is just what has
brought about the trust, and enabled
the favored few to amass the wealth
Of the country in their hands. If we
could get the little father" at Wash
ington to take up his big stick and put
through a bill mean a tariff-that
would keep all other country oranges
and truck and fruit out Of this coun-
try-yes; even California-let her stay
on the other side of the desert
she could ship to Europe just as easy
as to Our eastern markets, and So
there is no reason she should not be
compelled to do SO, in our interests
After we have grown very rich and
powerful we won't need the gov
eminent to help us, we will be re-
CURED to help the government, and
thus the tables will be turned, and
turn about is fair playa game two
can play, a rule that works both ways
Can't you see the trick? We are late
gettin' in the game, but it's the last
and only hope. But you see, We'll never
get hearin' till we form a trust-a
perfect union and parade Our import
ance. 1t takes money, too to form
enc, and to fight those that will be in
our way When we go to present our
claims there will be all those other
Interests" blabbin' in land such hell
abaloo Uncle Sam never heard before
the trouble is to get hearin'!
Couldn't we promote" financial
frenzied, or crazy scheme, to build a
railroad and buy some ships on pur-
pose to carry Our own produce. We
could also carry as much other stuff
as would be necessary to make up a
load, this would bankrupt other lines
of transportation and we could buy
them at half price and scuttle the
ship and tear tip the railroads, put
UP the rates on our lines and make
the idiots who advocate and vote for
the System pay the fiddler" By
controlling the transportation-the
means Of distribution-we could con-
troll and dictate the terms of life to
our peOple-they'd be ours all right!
This may strike you as hard thing
to do, or as being ridiculous, prepos-
ferrous or foolhardy, but you have
heard it said: 1T always has been!
it always will be-" Then let it be
US. We could form a 100000 COM
bine and after water it to $4o,ooo,ooo.
Golly, man, that's the game-its all