The St. Lucie County tribune. (Fort Pierce, St. Lucie County, Fla.) 1905-1920, 1911-09-29
SLANDEROUS
SCOUNDREL
Self Confessed SIanderer Writes
Concerning Florida for Pay
ATTEMPTED BLACKMAIL
Now Offers his Services to Board Of Trade
to Write OF the Beauties, GlOries
and Advantages Of Florida

The press of the State of Florida has
had much to say concerning an illus
trated article on Florida which appear
ed in the Farm and Firesde of Aug. TO-,
1911. This is a reputable farm paper
of wide circulation, and the publication
of the article has done inestimable
damage to the State of Florida as a
whole. The article was written by
Frank l.. Barber, of Watertown. N. Y,
who has accepted similar articles by
papers in Syracuse and Utica, and who,
for the past two years has written VOL
umes to land companies, newspapers
and business men of Tampa. His lat
est is a letter wherein he brags about
receiving the munifcent sum of SIG
from Farm and Fireside for an article
which has cost the state many thOus-
ands of dollars.
The following letter shows that Bar
Der is a scoundrel of the most malig-
nant type, and the pity of it that there
are newspapers so anxious to do Flori-
da an injury that they accept his writ
ings:
Watertown, N. Y, Sept. ID, 1911.
Mr.. w. B. Powell, Secretary Board of
Trade, Tampa, Fla:
Since my writings in regard to the
drawbacks of Florida were published
in Northern papers, | have wished to
explain matters to you, as is may be Of
interest to US BOTH am expecting to
return to Florida soon, but not for the
purpose of showing up the bad side OF
that state, and If you or the land com.
panies can make it an object for me, |
will write up the bright side of Florida
for northern papers and do all in my
power to undo the harm caused by my
previous writings. .
| also wish to explain that | was hired
to write about the drawbacks of that
state, but will not divulge the name of
the person that engaged my services.
Bet will tell you this much. 1t was
a person who purchased some land in
Florida and bought "pig in a bag,
according to an old saying, and know
ing that | was newspaper correspon-
dent, he engaged me to even up mat
ters for him. / have been all over
your state and know conditions there
pretty we'll, consequently | was sought
out by the above mentioned party to
square things for him. | do not mean
that by this that | did not tell the
truth in describing Florida's drawbacks,
as believe | did, still it must be ad-
mitted that person can tell very
bad story about conditions in any state
and yet be telling the truth. | don't
deny that | have done your state some
harm, although you may claim other
wise, as can forward you letters from
pros pective settlers in Florida who
failed to locate there after reading my
letters published in the Utica Saturday
Globe, Syracuse Herald and other pa
pers. and thanking me for my efforts
in showing up the dark side of Florida.
Still | readily see that was not fully
paid for my services as my name has
been sent out broadcast over your
state by the Florida press as an enemy
to your state. which | did not reckon
with in the start. ! have nothing
against Florida in particular, but made
the great mistake of Selling out. but
then money will buy most anything IN
this age, and | was no exception to the
rule. 1t has learned me lesson also
admit. and hereafter | will boost in,
stead of knocking. no matter where: !
turn up, as | believe it is the best poll
CIV. Now | propose to return to tlorl-
da soon if the coast is clear, and II you
and the land companies have any use
for nv services in any way to pay my
expenses, etc, | will write from Tam
pa. Florida, to the Utica Saturday
Globe and other papers exposing the
reasons for Knocking Florida and pic
ture the brigh. side of that state in
glowing terms. l can make just as
good a hit" in the eyes of the public
in describing the beauties Of your state,
but it is worth something to DO It. l
desire to locate permanently in Florl-
da and hope you will regard me some
continued on page 4)