The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1911-12-08

duction of alfalfa alone has been a
most potent factor in the general well
fare. Tributary to the towns is a
prosperous agricultural constituency.
The history of Florida will record a
similar experience, a great part of
which is already undergone. The cry
Ing question here is transportation
Railroads are not in politics for their
health. Under the present admins
tration of affairs railroads can make
or unmake cities at their discretion.
| The public assists at it's own tuner
al by paying full value for it's rail
roads in land grants, ETC., and then
handing them over to corporations for
the exploitation of the public inter-
ests. Instead of the modern public
ownership of public utilities our cities
are granting long term franchises to
corporations who soon become insolv-
ent and autocratic in the performance
CT mediocre service at an extortion-
ate rate.
Luckily, the topography of Florida
lends itself admirably to a solution Of
the rate discrimination problem, and
that solution, | believe, is the intro
duction Of the inter-urban trolley line
system. They cost little to build and
equip, and are very efficient in both
freight and passenger service, and, in
my opinion, the state Of Florida
should build and own the lines.
On my premises in Michigan are
three good apple orchards, and when
came away a few days ago drove
of hogs We're calmly munching great
big Rhode Island Greetings and Spies,
and the only reason why my hogs can
afford fruit which Ocalans cannot is
that the railroads are cheating.
On the other hand I found that
could buy, for less money, better ba-
nanas in Detroit than in Ocala, and
the cost of living generally is less in
Detroit than in Ocala, but in Michi-
gan. if railroad rates don't suit the
people somebody starts something,
and in a few weeks there is a compel
ing trolley line.
Over in Des Moines the people
made up their minds that it was cost
ing too much to live, and, in fact,
wasn't worth while, so the city dads
got busy and established a municipal
market for produce. The middle-man
was eliminated, the producer of meat,
stuff While the consumer could BUY
vegetables, etc, received more for his
better stuff for one-third less. 1t
costs too much now 10 live. end manv
OF us lose money by living We think
We have a representative democratic
government, while in fact We have
only misrepresentation. undem0crat-
ic irresponsible oligarchy, and our
real rulers are the respective heads
Of The sugar, coal, tobacco and rail
road confidence gamos. Perhaps in
time our conception Of patriotism viii
undergo a change. and instead Of
seeking it in the clamorous Tlanifesta
tons OF the game of politics, or in the
exploits of those whose bushes it IS
to MAIN and kill, we will come to
look for it, rather, in the realm of
pure reason, when men set them
selves honestly at work TO correct
those social and economic wrongs,
the existence of which threaten the
life OF the American republic, and
make our great experiment (for it is
yet only an experiment. the laughing
stock of the world.
Patriotism is a magic word. Under
it's influence we stand dumb and I'M
resisting, with our eyes fixed on the
stars while plutocrats pick our peck
cts. LESTER WARMER.