The Lakeland evening telegram., 1917-11-30

as those operating in other states.
In his work to secure relief for
Florida firms from the unfair dis
examinations against Florida land ad-
vertising, Mr.. Thomas took the posi-
ton that it is Just as important to
the rest Of the country as to our peo-
p!a that Florida's idle lands shall be
brought into production. Another
point made was that honest advertis-
ing of Florida real estate should no
more be ruled out because some had
been dishonest than that all clothing
copy should be rejected because some
firms in this field have misrepresent
ed their goods.
Another matter for the good Of
Florida as a whole, on which Mr..
Thomas has been working for four
years, is now apparently about to
come to head in way that will be
OF great Importance to every tourist
town. This is the plan to extend the
season for winter visitors to about
double its former length, through CO.
operation Of railroads and tourist ho-
tells. Already several transportation
lines have announced that their de
luxe trains will be put on earle.
this season than heretofore. East
Coast papers state that probably
next year the Florida East Cost Rail-
way and it's chain of hotels will Join
in the movement.
Active on Other Lines
Friends of Mr.. Thomas recall his
previous efforts along lines similar to
these with no small degree of appre-
, ;cja;ion, Recently rumors of IN en-
barge on the shipment OF citrus
fruits, circulation of which were cal
culated to do growers great harm,
: were promptly run to the ground by
him and official denials secured from
transportation and government off,
Gals.
Two years ago, Just as Florida 8
: tourist season started all over the
north, a story to the effect that the
: health authorities here contemplated
quarantine against persons from
3 o.her states on account of the grip.
Mr.. Thomas heard Of this and al
once took steps which led to an en-
lhatic statement from the state
health officer to the effect that moth
ing of the kind was contemplated
which he induced the Associated
Press to wire out all over the coun-
try
When citrus growers began to Or
] ganize they found one of the worst
obstacles to be the shipment from
F:crida in large quantities of imma
. ture oranges and grapefruit. The
! laws governing were inadequate ana
unsatisfactory Mr.. Thomas propose d
: to the late William Chase Temple,
: thel manager of the Florida Citrus
, Exchange, an appeal to the people OF
the north, through health and pure
l food officers
MIR. Temple approved te plan ana
tgave Thomas permission to put into
execution. The publicity was han.
died So efficiently that thousands of
newspapers carried lengthy stories
about the effort of the Florida grow
ers to protect consumers from unripa
fruit. The Associated Press deemed
the matter Of enough Importance tC
put the news features of on the
wires from half dozen important
cities. Florida and her fruits wers
made known to the public as well il
| a single day as could have been dom
in months Of ordinary methods anc
never since have the people Of TIL
north looked with favor on orange
and grapefruit shipped too early. II
consequence. every year has seen
decrease in the volume of immatur
IfIuit sent out. Times, Tampa, No
vember 26.