Panama City pilot., 1908-11-12
The Naval Stores Situation.

The Naval Stores Situation.
In the Times-Union of yesterday
editorial attention was called to the
meeting in New Orleans looking to
the establishment of a new sellinl
agency for naval stores products and
the incidental advancement of the
price of those products since the be-
ginning of that Ii ovement, which was
started by the Jacksonville Board of
Trade.
In this connection the letter of
Senator Taliaferro in our news
columns ftoday furnishes interesting
reading to the naval stores producers
and others in Florida connected with
that industry.
This letter is in reply to attacks
made upon that gentleman by the
naval stores factors or exporters of
Savannah and widely circulated
through the turpentine belt.
1t will strike the citizens of Florida
very significantly that these attacks
! appear at a time when the Jackson
vile gentlemen who are the object of
them begin an effort to organize a
competing selling agency for the
protection of the producers and the
industry generally. Significant, too,
that of manN stockholders in the
Atlantic Invss sent Company, sena-
tor Taliaferroy yWho has been asked
to pass Legislation for the publication
of the industry, is singled out for the
brunt of the attack.
1t is fact that the naval stores in
dustry in Florida was never so profit
less as now. 1t is also a fact that,
during the term of the contract made
by the Florida interests with the Sa-
vannah selling agencies-a contract
which expired in the spring of 1905
the business was never so profitable
or prosperous unless, perhaps, dur
ing the very short period Of the exis-
tence ofthe Naval Stores Export Con
pany. The purpOrt Of that contract
against which no complaint was
made by the law was that the Savan-
nah agencies should take the Florida
products at Florida markets upon tho
basis of Savannah prices. The Flo,
rida interests endeavOred to renew
that contract, but the Savannah agen-
cies refused, and in the spring of 1870;
the Naval Stores Export Company
of Jacksonville was org glnized as {
competitor of the Savannah cOmpan
les, but was soon crushed.
The articles in the Savannah pa
+ pers referred to heretofore seem tC
seek to convey the impression thai
the Florida stockholders of the Allan
, tic Investment Company Savan
|, nah cOncern-were a part of the so
called trust, because this company
had been indicted, along with othel
corporations, companies and persons
: for violating the antitrust law. Il
is true that this company was indict
ed, but the case against it was nollt
pressed and consequently it was never
convicted. More important, however
is the fact that the Indictment wa.
for, not any Independent acts of it:
own, but for entering into ''joint con
tract" with other companies in re
straint of trade
This was an act, not of its stock
holders, but of its management,
D without the knowledge of its stock
holders. This ''joint contract" wa
D made practically coincident with tn,
. elimination of the Florida stock
holders, Messrs, Taliaferro, Coach
q man and Rogers among them, anC
=. the contract did not actually go int
effect until after the Florida stock
: holders had sold their holdings ant
0 begun active competition against th
Savannah combination.
. Narrowed down, the whole thing i
a fight between the industry of FlOrid
!, and the combination. Our heart
support, of course, shall be wit
: Florida, not because we are @
4 Flor Ia, but because right and justic
" and fair dealing are on her side.-