The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1912-09-27
BANNER EDITORIALS "RoTTEM'
Anthony, Fla, Sept IS, 1912.

U Tie EulCOI OCdid
Your editorial last week, entitled,
Look On This Picture-Then On
That" is rotten, and I, as a small
farmer take the risk and tell you the
truth about it, You say the door Of
opportunity opens alike to all" and
that the poor man of today becomes
the rich man of tomorrow" Well,
let US see. I don't know of a single
man who ever got rich by working
and making an honest living, but do
know some who have become rich by
'skinning" their brother wOrkmen in
one way or another In regard %
Carnegie, Rockefeller, etc, look up
Gustav Meyers History Of American
Fortunes" and if you don't get next
to their game let me know, and III
tell YOU
You say. where every man enjoys
the liberty OF speech" Don't you
look up things in the papers? What
about Philadelphia, Pa. Los Angeles,
Cal. and Tampa, Fla? Why do they
Jail their speakers? Let me know
about it,
You say, where the laboring man
fixes the hours Of his labor" etc You
must think the poor farmers get no
news except from your great Banner.
Now. how about the hundreds OF
strikes where laborers We're shot
down like dogs Look at West Vir
ginia. at Lawrence, Mass, at the Ium-
Der camps at the south. etc. Don't
the working man get shot down or
beaten to DEATH | have seen it with
my own eyes at Westmoreland coun-
ty, Pa We have not forgotten Gold
field, Homestead, Butler. etc Why
don't you tell US about that?
You say, where the farms are own
ed by the farmers, etc Look what
the San Antonio Light, in its issue OF
September 20, 1909. has to say re-
garding the big farm of Charles p
Taft civilian Taft's beloved broth
err, containing $4,000 acres It says
that the Coleman. Fulton Produce Co,
Charles Taft, president. owns the
Taft packing house and the two Tex
as ranches, La Quita and the Enci-
nal The former consists OF 10000
and the latter of 100000 acres. On
the two ranches are now 1000 head
of cattle. There are also 10000 sheep
and 10000 hogs All these Will be
utilized by the Taft packing house.
The figures from the census report
of 1900 volume ). page 4, viii give
us an idea of farming. 1t says that
1,774,296 farmers, or 319 per cent,
have an income of less than $3.50;
1902 ,S54 farmers, or 279 per cent,
have an income under $500 It goes
on any says that out Of this $3.50
must be paid taxes, insurance, fertiliz-
er bills, help. farm machinery. re
pairs, grocery, clothing and doctor
bills, etc
Now. how long will it take the cap
italist to get mortgage on this farm
and then own it?
The census report shows that the
small farm owners are getting less
every year. How does that figure with
your statement?
You say where the press is I'M
shackled." How about the Appeal to
another picture, and then go on about
Tampa. Lakeland, Jacksonville, etc.
Well, why don't you tell us something
about the newcomers who are getting
skinned" down here, and who, after
they have spent their money trying
to make an honest living, fail aud are
compelled to go back again?
Mr.. Editor why don't you tell us
something about the vacant farms
around in Marion county
l recently received a letter from 4
friend in Findlay, Ohio, who had
bought so acres of land in Fort Nc
Coy, tried to farm for two years, and
then went back to Ohio He states
that he lost $4,000 on that place. Now,
it is the same all around The new
corners are the ones who make what
YOU call good times.
You further give a report from the
Rural Home which saws rho crODc
this year are bumper ones, etc. How
about US down here? Most of the
farmers around here could not make
expenses. am just informed that
Idaho has crop failure on alfalfa
seed. The frost killed it, and so it
goes.
Mr.. Editor, has the working man
ever gained anything from your par