The Palatka news and advertiser., 1915-06-18


erybody engaged in the marketing of
tive except the Exchange. When Ed
itor Goolsby (of the Wauchula Advo-
cate) came to our rescue several
months ago (for which we shall ever
be gratefully, he said what we are now
saying only he said it in his own for
chile and characteristic language. We
| thought at the time that he was a lit
tie too hard on the Grower, and told
| him so, but we are becoming con-
Ivinced now that Goodsby knew his
business and was aware that it would
take hard licks to make any impress
sion.
Listen to what the Grower says: 81
learn that most of the Independents
at Arcadia, people who own opposi-
ton packing houses, etc" What does
the Grower mean by opposition pack
ing houses? Do you mean opposition
to the interests of the Exchange or
Opposition to the interests of the fruit
growers? We confess our inability
to understand your meaning, unless it
be what Editor Goolsby has said,
"That you look. upon everybody with
suspicion who does not agree with
you" We are not trying to cham
pion the cause of the seven packing
houses in Arcadia. They need no
such defense at our hands. They are
honorable men, doing a legitimate
business, and not trying to oppose any
one so far as we are informed These
men, we have no doubt, have been try
ing to market the fruit consigned to
them to the very best possible ad
vantage, knowing that their future
patronage depends on this, if for no
higher motive. We reiterate what
we said some time ago. Our opinion
is that the officers of the Exchange
are honest and capable. Our opinion
also is that the managers of the pack
ing houses of Arcadia are honest and
capable.We have not a single doubt
that all of these have done their best
to get good prices, and rejoiced when
they could report profitable sales to
their customers.
There is crisis now. The grow
ers of the state are losing several
millions of dollars annually because
of the lack of cooperation.
The Exchange says why don't all
of you join US? We don't know why
but they won't. A number of commu-
mites where the Exchange was strong
have abandoned the Exchange. We
don't know why this is, but they have
Oh, that we would be practical enough
to face conditions as they actually are
instead of trying to face them as we
would have them to be. One is q
sensible thing to do, while the Other
lis exceedingly foolish. The DeSotc
County Growers Association is will
ing to face the facts as they exist
We say to all the other organizations
we are not strong enough to tight
these battles alone. Neither are you
strong enough, but in our combined
strength we can conquer. We may
expect enemies to our plan as long
as somebody is getting several millions
of dollars that justly belongs to the
producers.
Today in one of our northern cities
we interviewed the largest wholesale
dealer in fruits. We asked him what
was the minimum price that he hac
paid for oranges this season, which i
recognized as the worst market evel
had on citrus fruits. His prompt ans
wer was that he had bought none fol
less than $500 per box. Bear in mine
that no commission comes off this, fol
he paid 81 per box in cash. This was
not the average price paid, but the
lowest price paid. This price should
net the grower 95 cents on the tree
within fve-cent haul. Compare
this price with the statement of {
prominent packer in Arcadia a few
DAYS ago when he said he did not be
lieve that the average price for th'
oranges shipped from Arcadia woult
equal 25 cents.
The average in Arcadia not 25 cents
when the average should have been 81
cents, even though the calculation b'
made on the basis of the lowest prize
of the season. Gentlemen, will yol
not meet US half way in trying t
remedy this? This article has al
ready become too long, but our in
.digaation knows no bounds when W
think of the many poor fellows VIII
paid for the privilege of shipping
their fruit.
Now in conclusion, we want to dis
avow any unkind feeling toward tn
Florida Grower. Your paper is on
of our most welcome exchanges. Go
seem to be about right on everyth;n
you say except about those who wi
not join the Exchange. We attribut
this to your letting your enthusiasm
get the better of your Judgment. W
will forgive you for all you have sci
e if you will now come to a realizatio
g that cooperation is the only salvatio
# of the growers, that the co-operatio
= needed is too big for any single OF
II ganzation to accomplish the desire
l. results, and will turn your good pape
n towards securing an aftiliation of .
g the organizations in the state. Wit
II your splendid circulation and preStig
J. you can do more than any one. Wi
% you do it? If not, why not? tn
r. Florida press cannot train their bes
,e guns on any bigger game than thiI
d 1t will mean several millions of do
s lars to the state. England, France
" Russia and Belgium are allied togett
< err in fighting the common enemy, ye
It they are not all English. Why ca
,e not we, of whatever name or organ
l. zation, ally ourselves together for tn
1t purpose of getting a decent price fo
the fruits of the state? All who d
Is not assist in this broad way, and onl