The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1919-09-05
PROFITEERS AND PACKERS


nature are same in all men in all ages.
1t is automatic; and yet, in the public
discussion of the grievances of one
class against another class this axiom,
this fact, is not only never mentioned
but the softening, ameliorating and
philosophical influence of this truth is
wholly supplanted in the press mot
the Starr and upon the hustings by its
virtual denial in the special pleadings
for the particular class whose cause
they happen then to espouse.
Frank acknowledgement of this
truth and the contemplation of what
do any of US good.
In the quiet chapels of conscience IL
imparts to us charity, love and hope;
it kills hypocricy, and tends to allay
hate, envy and despair.
| The force of that one truth if ap-
piled would shatter In an instant the
Hindu system of caste that has en-
thralled and corrupted uncounted mil
lions for more than twenty centuries.
1t would have destroyed the power of
the Pharoahs, and might even have
answered the riddle of the Sphinx.
It is as fatal to tsars, sultans and
kings as it is to Lenines. Trotzkys
and Bella kuns.
4 1t announces no moral doctrine, but
Iyet it must be the basic principle on
which all beneficial laws are founded.
For many years it was the custom
of the politician and press to refer in
their sweetest words to the farmer"
and the "laboring man." and imply in
! their shallow fiattery that the farmer
and the laborer possessed more of
honesty and less of selfshness than
twas the lot of other men. The intelli-
IIgent farmer and laborer knew that
this was not true and that any appar-
lent advantage they might have in that
respect was in the main due to envir-
onment and the lack of opportunity.
But they swallowed it, because in the
dull years of the past they sometimes
had little else to swallow. The farm
er and the laborer do not need to be
, fed on fiattery now. The words
"Gown trodden." which they once loved
. to hear would now be an insult if ap-
lplied to them. p
Il
} any opportunity for the reward OF
) genius or thrift there must be classes.
? The genius and the thrifty have led
the way in the civilization of the
: world, and shall we deny to them even
) Iduring their brief lives some extra
share in the benefits they have con-
lferred on US and every age to follow,
because perchance we know that they,
{ as all other men, are influenced by
e motives of pride and selfishness.
ol No; for we the thousands who
q drudge along with little to contribute
). to the sum and progress of civiliza-
{ ton, would defeat our own and the in
terest of posterity to deny to future
Edisons proper share in the full
e fruits of their labors. Therefore
q classes there must be; and we impute
e to the packers, the pikers and the Ia
s Dor unions the same traits and mo-
J, tives differing only. in form and de-
r gree of expression as may be infiu-
enced by opportunity and intelligence
Without now denying to any of the
e lclasses mentioned all proper motives
y of charity. honor and patriotism, we
a are now anxious to know the form anC
ldegree of expression which some OF
e those classes propose to give to quite
r another motive, viz: their selfishness.
- We cannot despise or condemn sci
lfishness as such, and be honest witt
Yourselves, for we know that it is the
/ lnexus which binds our domestic life
= that builds our civilization, that make!
IS business on which we grow fat ant
e prosperous. Such motives were tn,
e Iundoubted cause of Armour's building
II IA plant in Jacksonville; nevertheless
/ am one of those who believe that tn
building of such plant is of immens'
k Igood to the people of Florida.
81 / even venture to express the opin
d ion that the money there spent by Ar
mour will do our people more good
e dollar for dollar, than the good w
shall derive from some parts of on
share in some previous river and har
Dor bill. / do not say that this is
fact, but incline to the opinion tina
o such is the fair prospect and to b
shortly realized If Armour does no
wi get any greedier than he has been i
/. the past.
J. Fellow citizen, if you doubt thi:
N ask z. c. Chambiiss, J. L. Edward:
Waldo Martin or any other Level
is headed business man in our county.
al But even if this be true we canno
afford to tolerate a monopoly. w
id know that human nature IS too wea
J. Ito be trusted that far.
l. No man and no organization of me
whether packers of labor union
9. should be permitted to fix prices b
rs his or their own will upon any of tn
10 necessities of life and to none mus
s, be permitted the right to interfere b
unfair methods with the freedom @
&c trade. Sincerely,
a. William Hooker.
81 Denver, Colo, Seut. 1.