The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1911-11-10
VOICE OF ABRAMS
But HAND OF CHASE
Guide DisgruntIed Green Fruit
Shippers at Orlando.


tlemen in an interview in the Orlando
Citizen said they were not guilty of be-
ing parties to the call.
They expressed themselves as against
the shipment OF green fruit.
The meeting was called to order at
10 O'Clock by J. c. Chase, who ex-
planned that President +. d. Warner, of
the Fruit and Vegetable Growers Pro-
tective Association, who was TO have
been present, had been prevented from
attending.
Col. J. De V. Hazard, of Eastis, Fla.
was elected chairman of the meeting.
The Colonel took the chair, remarking
that he was little green at this class OF
work
Voice from the floor: "But you are
not poisonous, are your"
Henry Yowell was elected secretary.
A resolution which practically favored
the shipment of green fruit was rail
roaded through, and several qualified
members of the convention were dis
guSted. Among these were Hon. Fred
Fee, Hon. Braxton Beacham, Dr. Chas.
| brennan, Walter brennan, James l..
Giles. Tip Barlow, w. l.. Vanduzor,
and Capt. B. NJ. Sims. 1t was on Mr..
Barlow's motion that Col. Palmer was
given the privileges of the floor.
Referring to the now noted telegram
that President Temple of the Exchange
sent out Major Abrams said: "The on
ly poison was the poison in that tcle-
gram; il was poison 10 prosperity, and !
characterize the action of men who
would pcrpctratc such an act as damna-
bic and not only damnable but infa-
mouSly damnable."
When he had finished Hon. w. l..
Palmer got up from one of the seats in
the front part of the gathering and asked
permission 10 be heard. He said that
he owned partnership in some fruit
which was not in the exchange, and
owned fruit which was in the exchage |
lie asked the chair if the other side of
the question could be heard. There
was some commotion in the meeting
orderly, Tip Barlow here jumped up |
and demanded that Mr.. Palmer be
heard The motion was put, and car
ried. Major Abrams tried to interrupt,
but Mr. Palmer walked over almost to
the Majors chair, and said:
''Major, ! have a statement TO make
and when am through you can ask any
questions you desire"
Major Abrams subsidized. The excite
mcnt incident TO Mr.. Palmcr'S attempt
ing TO give the Exchanges side of the
case was kept pretty we'll under until
the attorney had gotten about half
through. Then calls and interruptions
became frequent.
''If this meeting" said the speaker, "iS
called TO condemn the Exchange, and
for no other purpose then Pm not OF
court, and ought not TO be heard; but if
this gathering has assembled 10 further
the interests of the citrus growers, then
| say TO you let's get together. It's a
common fight"
In the course of his speech Mr.. Palm
cr resented Major Abrams attack upon
the Florida Legislature of 1911.
The Major had Stigmatizcr the mem
bcrS OF the legislature as body of i'm
beetles, and hirclingS OF the Citrus Ex-
change, and the green fruit law as in
violation of the Sherman interstate com
mcrCc act. 81 served in the legislature
two TERMS" said Mr.. Palmer, looking
the Major directly in the face, and
know number of the last legislature
and | wish TO say that con
slider them 10 be equally as good as the
Major"
81 never saw the Major" went on the
speaker, "when he didn't sight a con
spiracy. Always when he looks into
the eyes of the opposition he secs sci
of raSCaIs and thieves.
"Hc is, take it, the father of this
1t is his meeting. He was
opposed to the Exchange from the be
ginning, and he is the type of man who
never changes his mind.
81 charge that this meeting is not
called TO condemn that telegram half as
much as it is to throttle the ship-the
There were interruptions. Mr.. Pal
ncr shot his finger al a turbulent one,
md said: I
81 could put tag on you in just five !
minutes, if had The time. But Pvc got .
other things to say"
He continued: "The appointment of
lour committees, and the arrangement t
If your meeting is proof that this is a
ramc up 10 shut out the voices that
would favor the Exchange. You want
o condemn the organization without a
rearing. l
81 am in favor of the Exchange. The /
clcgram which the Major read may /
nave been ill advised, hadn't seen il L
previously, but there is not a man 6
mong you who will deny that the Ex- a
'hangc has rcvolutonized the handling :,
If organgeS in this State, has revolution '
zed the pack. And you, the very men
Who are here 10 condemn it, are reapng
he benefit"
Mr.. Palmer spoke of the green fruit as
he greatest evil we have TO suffer" at
which there was vigorous applause.
Apparently about half the aSScmblage
vas with him.
Referring TO the telegram which Prcsi-
lent Temple sent out warning the health :.
uthOriticS of the various cites against ~
rcen fruit, he said that there was not W
nan in America, unless il was one of h.
n Oriental mind, who would read into \
hat telegram the danger to the indus :,
ry that the Major protested TO see" "
Mr.. Palmer demanded the aSSemblage m
D point out where the Exchange was al
,rong. "lf you can show us a better ~
ray-a better form of organization ~
hen we'll adoptit. The industry can y
OF flourish without some organization. CT
Major Abrams began his address by
cnying that he was opposed to the Ex-
hange because he was professionally 81
Interested on the part of certain of the X
hippcrS who had been arrested. tn
This charge, which has been brought ~
gainSt me, is OF piece with the rest of
ne work of these men who are seeking III
} create n monopoly in Florida, said XII
lC Major m
He dwelt on the monopolistic phase Of
( the Exchange and charged that the y,
rganiZaiiOn is attempting 10 break the
len who are willing 10 become its
lcmberS. Fc
He charged that il was unlawful in an
lis phase, and compared il with the
obaCCo Trust, and other cases which