The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-04-15
nation to dominate the markets Of


the world
Better conditions are of slow
growth. They come from small be-
ginnings. Nineteen centuries have
passed since the Man of Galilee pro-
claimed the true doctrine to man
kind. and as yet there is not Chris
tian nation on earth But men are
beginning to cooperate for their
own welfare This led to the Or
ganization of the Florida Citrus Elk
change FIVE FEARS ago. 1t started
out right the avowed object being
marketing fruit to the best ad-
vantage, and avoid competition
among all similar organizations
This object, prominence being
given to its purpose to avoid COM
petition" apparently brought the
organization within the provisions
of the Vicious Sherman law before
farm and labor combinations were
exempted from its annihiliative pen
alties by the late congress, the poll
ticians having begun No fear the
farmer and labor vote of the coun-
try. Through this association the
fruit growers of Florida are able to
act together for the mutual welfgre.
protection and profit of each and AN.
They avoid competition" the un>
necessary duplication of agencies,
and the evil of the multiplicity Of
independent individual acton.
Fear is often the beginning Of
wisdom with Legislators. Exempting
farm and labor organizations from
the misunderstanding provisions
of the Sherman law is a virtual ack-
nowledgment Of the injurious effect
OF this worst enactment that has
been placed in the statute books OF
the United States since the passage
of the fugitive slave law, although
the reconstruction period that fol-
lowed the civil war witnessed much
bad and vindictive legislation. Pre-
tending on the face to be law to
prevent restraint Of trade" it ac-
tually prevents that cooperation
which is essential to a worldwide
expansion of trade.
This brings to mind the fact that
our farmers are at a great economic
disadvantage in this country, which
can be overcome only by cO-opera-
tive and non-competitive action.
For more than fifty years they have
been taxed numerically to build up
manufactures, have paid protective
prices for articles they have been
obliged to purchase, and have been
compelled to sell their surplus pro-
ducts at prices in competition with
like products, produced in other
countries, in the markets of the
world.
Furthermore, the farmers buy at
retail and sell at wholesale. Two
to three profits are made on the ar
ticles and implements they pur-
chase; and two to three profits are
made on their surplus before reach
ing the consumers. No other bust
ness could exist under such meth
, DDS. No wonder men leave the farms.
Statistics show that the farmers re-
ceive only about 35 per cent Of the
price paid by consumers for the
necessities of life.
What is the remedy? Through CO.
operation, honestly and intelligent
ly conducted, the same as the busi-
ness of England's workingmen is
conducted, the farmers can buy at a
small advance above wholesale
prces, thus saving quite percent
age on articles bought for the home
and the farm: and cooperation, or
ganization, combination. now per-
mitted by law, will enable the farm
ers to obtain more than 35 per cent.
of the cost to consumers of the nee
essities of life they produce.
Reading about the Florida Citrus
Exchange suggested this letter. 1t
sorts and packs fruit honestly. II
for example, grapefruit was not
, clipped from the tree at the stem
end, and enough of the stem left to
show this, it is thrown out at the
packing house; for if none of the
stem appears it may have fallen
from the tree and been picked from
the ground, which is not permiss-
ible. E. W. BARBER