The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-06-17
EXISTENCE Of THE
CITRUS EXCHANGE
5 NOW At STAKE
TIME HERE WHEN IT IS UP TO
CITRUS GROWERS OF STATE
TO DECLARE THEMSELVES.
Meeting ON APRIL 10
Convention at Tampa viii Decide
Whether the Florida Citrus Ex.
change Is to Continue.

state TO determine whether or not lie
Florida Citrus Exchange shall con
tinue in existence and shall continue
in its work for the general improve
ment of the citrus fruit industry Of
this state, the opening up of better
and broader market facilities and the
establishment OF the industry on q
solid footing. where il will fear no
competition from any other section Of
the state. is the statement of X. t.
Burton, sales manager of the Florida
Citrus Exchange, speaking III behalf
of General Manager W. {. Temple,
who has temporarily. if not perma
nently, withdrawn from the active
management Of the Exchange, and IS
now at his Residence in Winter PARK,
Alabama Grove
In an interview granted The Times
Mr. Bur,cn outlined the situation very
briefly by stating that there has been
a growing feeling among the officers
OF the Exchange that the growers Ct
the state have not been granting the
Florida Citrus Exchange the amount
of support thai is necessary for lis
continuance. and that the growers
generally have permitted the EN-
change TO go ahead with its work
and build up the market and boost
the prices while they have remained
outside and rcaped the benefits there
from without selling through the tx
change Without the financial sup
port of the growers of the state the
Exchange cannot continue to exist
and the time has come when the is
sue must be squarcly faced and set
tied If the Exchange is to continue
in its work, il mus, have the support
of the citrus fruit growers az the
state. i: it has not that support, II Is
doomed to financial failure and disso
luton.
Speaking on this matter. Mr.. Bur
ton said: THE past three years that
the Exchange has been in existence
have demonstrated its efficiency in
handling the citrus situation In Flor
ida. In the face Of the net results
however, It appears to have been
more of a success in the marketing Oi
fruit and less OF success in getting
growers into the association. Also
there seems to be feeling on tht
part Of the majority of the growers
In the state that the Exchange is az
organization composed OF a small
number OF men with plenty of capital
who have given their time and money
10 the building up Of the Exchange
for the general benefit of the growers
and that the growers are not undel
any obligation TO sustain il by putting
their fruit into il. There seems Il
have hecn a feeling that the Exchange
is a philanthrOpic enterprise fostcret
by these men and that il is only ne
cessary for the growers themselves Il
wish il well and avail themselves o
the markc, conditions brought abon
/ hv the Exchange in disposing of 'hcil
! fruit TO the outside operators.
with this view Of the case III" ncf
who put their heart, soul and purse
into the fight are getting som'wila
weary of this spirit and somewhat IN
clincd to feel that the EXchanFc ha!
been success in marketing fruit, bu
has been a failure in convincine IN
growers outside the Exchange That !
il good enough for them to marke
through. While | do not know VIVA
Temple Is going to do, do know ina
he has participated in this feeling ant
that the convention that has been call
ed for the 18th of April is 10 give thu
growers OF Florida the opportunity U
determine whether the Florida Citrus
Exchanfie is justified in It's existence
and, II 20, whether or not they pro
pose to let It live or die. If they pro
pose to let II live they will manifest I
by signing up their fruit.
1T is q case where the grower mus
cast his lot one way or the other and
upon his decision will depend The fu
ture success or failure Of the ci'ru!
| industry Of the state. The enterprise
has been carried out TO a successful
issue. The record will be presented
at this convention showing a success
ful operation OF the Exchange and The
management will have no apologies IL
make in Offering this record i VII
be so clear and convincing thai very
grower who will listen 10 ii" r"rord
and read the statements i c'n'alns
NAV arrive al rational cDif on
| II is a case OF fish, cut ba' ar 20
/ ashore.
To men who have follow go op
erations Of the Florida C.fas TX
change during the three .eat- - rs
existence. there is but one -9'.'ta oi
the situation. and that is TIC les
toned support of all the g-o2''7 OIL
the state and their cooper ~ Nth
the Exchange in handling =" rfrus
fruit industry of Florida AID y, ING
it on a substantial AMI firm 'asls'
The expression Tin union 'her" is
strength" is expressly illIs'Ta's1 IN
the working of the Exchanse ana me
comparisons of Exchange resaI'7 "ltn
the results Of 'he efforts OF the MI
virtual growers each working f9r I'm
self and regardless OF the other rel
low.
The Florida Citrus Exchange has