The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1912-10-25

Gated group knew the old man TOO
well to be startled by anything ex-
cept loss. They're wrong, he
continued, they're too small IL Will
cost, roughly, fifty thousand dollars
an acre to put the land under glass.
LIN order to make a return OF ten per
cent. on that investment it will be
necessary to add six and q quarter
cents to each banana above the cost
OF production. And there'll be moth
ing to stop us making it more-Wlth-
in reason, of course"
The head of the Sheet Glass Trust
ratified his copy Of the charter ana
looked over his glasses fussily.
"Six and a quarter cents apiece
for a banana, Mr.. Gorem, is q pretty
high price, even if it is extra hne ana
dollhouse grown. They're six for a
nickel generally around my Office
sometimes less" He was thrifty
man of noted thrifty habits, and
quiet smile went around the group.
The old man cracked his knuckles
cheerfully six and quarter
cents apiece Who said six and a
quarter cents apiece I said six and
a quarter cents above the cost-net
profit probably more. pro-
pose, Mr.. ParkinsOn-and gentlemen
that our first crop shall sell Tor
thirty cents apiece It'll cost twenty
one cents each to grow 'em-cant be
done for less under glass"
A gentleman in white WalStcoat
leaned forward interestedly; he was
the Consolidated Steel Trust.
81 take it," he remarked, that you
have, Mr.. Gorem, of course cons1d-
cred the question and the relation OF
the present supply of bananas from
the tropical countries They are
quite ample, and quite cheap, L be-
lieve ?"
Eyes, I've considered it," returned
the old man, "and I don't propose
that another banana shall be landed
on these shores. What's a tariff for
hey Amt it to protect American in
dustry and capital, hey ? I propose
to have it made as dangerous to
bring a banana into the United States
as it il to forge a check, commit
bigamy, or smuggle petticoat !"
1t was the president Of the Consoll-
dated Wooden and Textile Trust who
chuckled dry1y from the lower end OF
the table. "I follow you all right
Gorem, but isn't it trifle, SO to speak
-ah-drastic ?Thirty cents banana
-phew J"
"Well, IL it is retorted the ole
man Indignantly, lit ought to Interest
you good and plenty. It you textile
people can get rubber arctics tariff
taxes as wooden goods and then gel
a duty on them Of forty-four cents &
pound and sixty per cent. additional
this ought to be right In your line
If there's anything more drastic o.
fantastic than that, it amt in my
banana proposition J" He proddet
the table with a big forefnger il
emphasis. "Forty-four cents a. pount
on wooden clothing Is more than II
have the nerve to ask for tariff OF
bananas, let alone that go per cent
additional that you fellows pu
through"
The other leaned back good humor
edly. ooh, that's all right Gorem
II guess. 1t can be fixed for bananas
too probably. Let's hear a little
more Hhis begins to sound pretty
good already"
eff Mr.. Gorem will allow me,
spoke up the gaunt, saturnine chic
consultant at his left, ''I will run ov.
er this scheme briefly as it has beer
worked out and as it relates to oul
common interests"
The old man nodded, and Foote
went on:
Our charter, as you note, is ex-
treme1y broad. 1t will take a large
amount of capital, and Mr.. Goren
agrees to finance the enterprise; il
is also desired that you cooperate
Besides your assistance, there is a
large amount of European capital
that stands ready to come in as soon
as we can secure proper protective
tariff on bananas. Such tariff will
of course settle the question Of COM
petition and make our market IRON
clad. In fact, the foreign banks stand
ready to take up heavily the bonds
of the Consolidated Tropical Fruit
Products Development Company.
. 1--WE propose to place the contracts
for these greenhouses and their
equipment entirely with you repre-
sentative gentlemen. incidentally,
these very profitable orders you will
be enabled to make an extra issue
of stock; to put it bluntly, add a lit
IlS WdLGl.
The little group nodded appreciat-
lively.
"Also, the moment these heavy or
ders become public, your water will
become instantly a good, digested Sc
curity. OF course the success Of this
project depends on the passage of an
adequate tariff act, and / need not
suggest that at first our united eff
forts must be centered in that direc-
ton. Our political party has been
pledged for years to this great prin-
ciple of protection for our American
industry in every line, so that we
can confidently look to it for support
now, as in the past"
The senators and the congressman
nodded an Endorsement. a little
desultory discussion followed, and
then the company was formally or
ganized, it's laws were adopted, the
officers elected, and the little blanks
now filled in with pledged subscrip-
lions, were passed over to Jimmie, in
his official capacity, to file.
After the last magnate had depart
ed, Jimmie turned to his father, who
was standing before the onyx fire
place and rubbing his big-boned
hands together in the way that Jim
mic knew donated perfect satisfac-
ton.
''I say Dad, at thirty cents a banana
lot Of people will have to give UP
eating them, won't they"
WELL" said the old man good