The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1912-06-14

culture. Hon. b. Z. McLirs referrtnE
particularly to the Florida Grower q
March 20 and April 8.
In the Florida Grower OF March %
was printed a bulletin sent by the
Florida Citrus Exchange 20 all sub
exchanges and associations and spe-
ciaT shippers and citrus growers of
the state, which bulletin stated. IN
part: 1T is a matter OF history. the
attitude assumed by the lncumbentn
of these two Offices last fall towards
| the enforcement OF the immature
fruit law. and IL Is well remembered
that the laxity shown by their de-
partments worked toward nuilifyins
the act passed by the legislature
against the shipment OF immature OF
unripe fruit. commonly known as the
green fruit law We regard Il a.
unfortunate for the industry that the
present incumbent OF the office %
state chemist is again asking for the
suffrage OF the voters. as he has plae-
ed himself on record as stating that
the law is a foolish one. and that hs
would not care 20 make a fool &C
himself trying 70 enforce a nullity.~
have scanned the columns % the
Florida Grower OF April and faia
to find any reference therein % tho
late commissioner OF agriculture or
the state chemist from the Florida
Citrus Exchange.
Last September. had the pleasure
of spending several hours with Mr..
B. z. McLin on the train between
Tallahassee and Jacksonville. NJ ae-
quaintance with Mr.. McIAn covers q
period OF twenty-six years In the
early nineties. IL was my pleasure %
assist in the election OF Mr.. McIAm
to the Florida senate In Lake county.
His opponent az that time was MAJ
Alexander 81. Clair Abrams.
have always held Mr. MciAn IN
the highest esteem. believing him %
be an honest man. true 20 bic convic-
tions and ready TO do his duty. When
he was convinced that ~ was hts duty.
discussed this immature fruit Law
with him, and he was very emphatic
in his view that II was no part &C
his duty nor that OF the pure food
department. which was under his con-
troll as commissioner OF agricultare.
to enforce or 10 attempt 20 enforce
this law.
Prior to the publishing OF the bul.
letin quoted above, state Chemist
Rose visited the Florida Citrus -
change and assured me that he would
have been more disposed TO have en-
O. L.
more active in It's enforcement but
for the aggressive letters and tele-
grams from this office. lie further
stated that all of those letters passed
over his desk and under hls snperxisr
ion. In this conversation with Nh
McLin. he dwelt upon the fact that
he was overworked: that there we're
three departments OF which be was
the head. which In every other state
had a head Of their own. independ-
emily OF the other departments. After
the interview with State Chemist
Rose, the Florida Citrus exchanges
dismissed Mr.. MclAn from thought or
connection with the matter. Il has
no fight 10 make upon dead people.
The state chemist. however. waa very
much alive. and entertaining the
views that he expressed then-and 80
far as I know. continues 20 hold
the Florida Citrus Exchange believed.
and believes, now. that be- was re-
sponsible for the non-enforcement of
that law. and that n he vas Fe-eieef-
ed or appointed by the governor -
be elected. that he should be- pat on
record as 90 the course he wuul1
pursue in the state In this matter.
assume that having stated that
these matters were al referFsd %
him. and coupling this statement wifh
Mr. McLin's statement that be was
overworked. and the further state
ment in the paper read ~ stats
Chemist Rose before the 0rouefs'
Convention. that the FLORIDA Ciffus
Exchange has criticised Nj Meitn.
and finding nothing In THE bulielin
of March "a that could - constFued
as an attack upon Mr. Mciin. Sc ara
left TO the conclusion that Mr. hoae.
while euloglzlng the deceased eum.
missioner Of agriculture. vas really
eulogizing Rose and taking - himself
fancied attack which h. thoashf
had been made.
Being a. the head Of the pafe iced
department. which was under ne 80
pervlsiOn OF the commissioner ~ a.
riculture. there was nothinF more nafs
ural than that the Commisslauer
should have followed TIE advice and
abided BY the decision ~ ne state
chemist ia all matters periainins -
his department II was aino nafafal
that the head ~ the pure feed g.
partment should avoid psffoFmlnR
this disagreea5le function Il BE- eoui4
do 80.
In this interview with NJ Reae. ~
emphasized the fact that ne FioFids
Citrus Exchange handled but twsufT
per cent. Of the citrus fruit shlppe9