Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-03-18

JACKSONVILLE, Fla, March 12.-During the
last few years, hogs-not razorbacks, but
~ high-bred, pork-naking hogs-have in
creased in the state of Florida at the rate which
At the same rate, and as a direct result of this
hog manipulation, there has been a great in
crease in the number of that pillar of de-
mocracy, the man who works for himself,
otherwise known as the independent operator.
For the facts concerning this great eco
nomic development, as we'll as the phioSoph-
cal differences which accompan" them credit
is due to w. M Traer who is secretary of the
Florida State Swine Growers association, and
is easily the leading pork-propagandist of
the state.
The sensational facts about Florida hog cul-
ture are as follows: Five years ago there were
practically no hogs in this state except for
that Characteristic and ubiquitous feature of
back, of course, is an animal not to be de-
spised. For a combination of sagacity, speed,
wind, fighting qualities, omnivorous appetite,
Self-reliance and immunity to disease, he is
ton to him as hog is that he produces little
or no pork He shuns fat like movie star.
He assays about ninety per cent briStle, hoof,
tusk and squeal. He excites admiration but
does not satisfy the appetite.
The Floridians decided that this old-time
southerner would have to go. They organized
and began to import blooded stock. The re-
suit is that there are now nearly two million
real hogs In the state of Florida, and the
number is steadily growing. The state grow
ers' association WAS organized two years ago,
and it is the leader in forming all-Southern
association. Florida SOW with two genera
tons of Florida hogs behind her, won the
grand championship at the international Live
stock exhibition in Chicago. Recently as m, CHI
as $4,000 has been paid for boar to be used
for breeding purposes in Florida. A live stock
show is now being planned kere which is ex-
pected to attract five million dollars worth of
exhibits There is a big packing plant at Jack
sonvlle, and two smaller ones at Chipley and
at Tampa. And all this has been accomplished
in five years.
Mr. Traer firmly believes that the hog is to
be the manStay of Florida's future prosperity.
AS quick producer of wealth, he believes that
says, is the poor mans best bet, and one which
he too often overlooks. More and more these
days it takes capital to get started in any
thing. The days when you could start on
Shoe-Strng seem well-nigh gone. The result
is that lot of us are holding jobs who would
like to be in business for ourselves.
At this point we must rise from the solid
ground of fact and take hazardous little flight
in the thin air of theory. Fifty years ago when
any man could get a hundred and sixty acres
of good land by going west and building
country, and other nations admitted that we had
lot of democracy. Now that most of us have
to hunt Jobs in cities, we have lot of unrest,
and the people across the water regard us as
the most reactiOnary of nations In word, we
venture the mild generalization that democracy
is at bottom matter of economics rather than
of policies and so is unrest If you are work
ing for yourself you are inclined to be salts
fled with things because there is nobody to-