The De Soto County news. [volume] (Arcadia, Fla.) 1898-1924, 1916-04-27

DOtn ana Town hedNHi BNt NO'u
Fed"
The Hon. -. G. Gillett, Of Tampa
who responded to the address of wei.
come in behalf of the Florida Agrl-
cultural Society in session here. was
warned by the chairman that he
would have to go some' to measure
up to the standard set by Judge Cd.
lin and Mr.. Mitchell in their welcome
addresses. Mr.. Gillett said he rccog.
nlzcd the "blgness" Of the task be-
fore him. and had therefore come
prepared. His address proved him
TO he thoroughly equal TO the occa-
sion, and we sincerely regret that our
space will not permit us to publish
the excellent address in full. The
following excerpts are taken from
the address:
Mr.. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen:
Last year when the Horticultural
Society decided in Tampa that thir
years Convention should be held It
Arcadia, your loyal friends ana sup.
porters made very broad claims for
your city ana surrounding country. In
fact, so eXtraragant were they in .Hc
use Of adjec.ives setting forth Tie
beauties Of Arcadia that l am su'.
there was aroused in the minds of
ayarx, man ,,yso1f {,rI,1Iad , daz;..,
to visit Arcadia and partake Of that
hospitality c5r which you are famous
We were tol3 Of your agricultural
and horticultural -osources, yor-
phosphate ind Grazing lands, ;Nur
schools and churches, cur business
institutions and ci'izcnship and last
but not least, your beautiful women.
Since my arrival and casual obser-
walton Of The surroundings, l do not
hesitate to say to you it is my opln-
ion that the story was not half told.
The picture was not painted in its
brightest colprs, and | am glad VIC
are here uinsling with Florida
most progre ;,iye citizens.
On behalf "a the Florida state HOr-
ticuturul Society, | thank the gentle
man who has preceded me for his cor
dial welcome, and I am sure that we
shall enjoy our visit to the fullest ex.
tent and 20 home with warm spots
in our heat for every Arcadian.
Arcadia has been 'nllcd Cracker
Town. This my friends. is Il distia,
item pr NuI % tou should be- proud, aud
l am proIl with YOU for ann a Flor
ida Cracker myself country born,
town r1r.d and corn fed.
Within the asst few years there O.
no part of Florida mat has shown
more real Development along agri-I-
tural and horticultural, lines than Do
SOTO county. At is rich in natural re-.
sources. You nave your naval stores
and timber. You haNe your phosphate
and grazing lyadS. NoL have 81 vast
the raising IF rlt"u. fruits and early
vegetables. G1I haze ample cau.'nl
and above all, you have men OF ability
and faith. | therefore say it is very
proper that h. florida state h.,
cultural Soni'ty ~hmn' convcn" u,
Arcadia and .Nchnn - IDEAS Of n:n-
tual advantage a. il,
l believe In cooperation because l
think the "omriucd slrcrRth. advice
and counsel Of Thousand men is bet
ter than my own. ! am willing to
contribute my small mite To the sue
cess and upbuilding OF any OrganiEs-
ton which will tend to elevate aud
place on a higher plane the business
from which I make my living. Has 1t
ever occurred to you how much more
efficient this society could be to it,
members. or the Florida Citrus Elk
change. or the Florida Growers and
shippers League IL every one Of the
1000 citrus growers of this state
were actively working for its advance
ment and welfare? There has never
been time in the history of Florida
when cooperation was as necessary
in solving our present day problems.
1t Is my sincere hope that out Of this
meeting at Arcadia may come a clear
er understanding and better feeling
between all members and full re-
alization of the necessity for team
work in han1ling the great problems
which confront us in the conduct Of
our affairs.
II the native and adopted sons Of
Florida are going to place her in the
front rank Of civilization, II they are
going to keep her aPace with the
times, cooperation from every source
- l.. IA g. Sh,n ana 0nlx fhqu