The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-08-13
MR.. SMITH PUTS KNOCKERS
IN PROPER CLASSIFICATION

have noticed in the last few day.
several editorials in reference Il
some sO-called real estate dealers il
Lakeland, and, as dealing in real es
tate is my sole business. felt some
interest in finding out who the par
ties referred to were. | went to tn,
secretary Of the Board of Trade and
secured the letter written to the in
quirer by the first party YOU referred
to and | am free to confess that
was somewhat surprised at its con
tents. The writer of this letter has
lived in Lakeland perhaps two
months and knows practically moth
ing OF the country surrounding Lake
land, lis opportunities, etc. lie Is
not member OF the Board OF Trade
nor even a Polk county taxpayer. II
secured from the files of the secre
tary of the Board of Trade the nam
o. this inquirer and then wrote hin
that he was writing him all this stun
~ the request OF the Board OF Trad,
ms statement WAS rs untrue as his
description Of Lakeland. its climate
and territory was We as member
on the Board OF Trad. feel that ii is
presumption and an imposition Oh
the Board OF Trade Tor this or am
other party 10 seek to obtain thu
benefits from the Beard OF Trad
without spending one penny to kccp
il up. We are anxious to have all
good men join the Board OF Trad
and help us to advertise to the world
Lakcland's wonderful advantages
and opportunities. But we must in
sist on at least reasonable degree
o. veracity.
IT is not necessary To cxaggcrate
i. advertising Lakeland The tru,a
Is all that is necessary To bring re
suits, and do not believe that The
Board OF Trade or lhc LOYAL citizrG
will feel that They have sustained
amy great loss when The writer o..
TIE abo>" mentioned lctlrr shall hike
away, and take up HIS abode in NJ
;llll as h" states he viii dom the ncar
future We are in this fight to wiz
To max" Lakeland ,hr biggest milan +
town IN he state within the ncNt
twelve months. We are ollrsrlye,
here rom the simple fact that We r.
SSrd Lakeland is the best location in
The state of Florida We have lived
hrfc eight Years and during thai
llln" We have searched every section
and corner of the state for Il better
place; we cannot find ii. We have
cast our lot for all time in Lake
land, and We will thank the boosters
Tor Miami or any other section of he
state 10 remain ON their own native
heath, to hOost the location of his
choice, or he may come here to carry
OF his boosting of his far-away town,
but he must not attempt to climb to
success by disappointing our own
beloved Lakeland
In regard to the second party you
as being Il real estate
dealer who showed the newcomer
the snakes crawling ont Of the lakes,
and other such stuff. beg to say that
If the development of Lakeland and
its surrounding country is dependent
upon a class of real estate dealers,
such as this fellow is, the streets of
Lakeland would very soon be grown
M in tall, longlcaf yellow pine This
s0-callcd real estate dealer is what
reputable real estate dcalcrs cali
curb s'oners; they are in the bust
ness for all they can get cut # it,
by short cuts, cvading. taxation. mis-
representation The hOmnecokrr is
not looking for them; he would not
know whore To !. Ok But Tho are
after the homcscekor with tlfa ame
that The eat is after he rat
And when they get him. h fares
about the san as The raj ' the
claws Of the cat Their cniir ZAP
ital invested in their huSines the
abuse they are able 10 heap upon rep
Gtablc real estate men. who ai, de-
voting all their time and cap.' adj
vertising and boosting this ion,
and this class of dealers j one of
the greatest dctriments TO H. d! vel |
Dpments Of this or any Other lion
There is not a city i'm Tia nited |
states who can boast clcanar more !
and honest. SET Of r. es-
ate men than the city of L. md. |
AEd we are still doing busine and |
will do more, regardlcss q, the |
knocks OF the curb stoncr. i tine
rant, or temporary real csfa man.
We are in the fight To win. re in