The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1921-04-19
STOPPING THE SPIGOT

A few days ago, in discussing pub
lie affairs, we wrote a few lines that |
were not very mplimentary to the
state marketing bureau. Of it we
said; at can't alter prices up nor
down. 1t can't obtain cars nor clear
tracks. 1t is presided over by large, |
genial man who goes around and
sympathizes with the farmers. Then
it sends out for the newspapers to
print a string of stuff that the farm
ers can obtain frst-hand from their
agricultural journals. 1t is public
business showing itself in the way of
private, for there are several organl-
cations in the state doing the same
work, only better"
The reason why the Star opposes
the state marketing bureau is that it
is paternalism in the most emphatic
form. Government is, or should be,
an organization to do for individuals
what they can't do for themselves.
Paternalism is government doing for
people what they can and should do
for themselves. It always results IN
favoritism, slack work and higher
taxes. The state marketing bureau
was organized not long ago. At the
head of it is a large man who is able
and honest as we'll as genial, and so
far he has attended to business and
done very we'll. He has undoubtedly
helped the farmers some and we have
no doubt he will continue to help
them as long as he can. But he Will
not stay there forever. In the next
campaign or the next one his office
will become a political plum. He will
have to take one side or the other, or
resign, which last he will probably do.
His successor will be a politician, a
friend of the successful candidate,
and said successor will fill the minor
places with his favorites. The work
will be incompetent, the results neg
ligible, the people will lose faith in
it and take their business back to
private enterprise. This is what has
always happened to state-managed
business and always will until human
nature changes.
It seems like our remarks on this
matter got under the tender hide OF
our bright and busy little friend, Mr.
H. L. Shearer. He rushed to the res
cue of his large and genial friend, MI
Rhodes, who probably considers him
from a political standpoint, derned
nuisance. He inquired of the Star il
he could reply and was assured that
he could. He brought in his little
piece Monday and it was promptly
printed, although it was not what we
expected. We supposed he would
give US a civilly written article, Civ
ing what he believed to be facts. In
stead, he gave large proportion Of
his space to attempted criticism Of
the Star.
No paper is bound to print attacks
on itself, especially when they are un
truthful and read like they are ma
licious, and when they are printed i
is generally the custom of the editor
to blue pencil them. However, tn
Star published Mr.. Shearer's series o
spasms in full. We were not alto
gether disinterested in this, becaus
we knew his demagogy would be ap
parent to every reader.
On the Stars subscription list Their
are the names of many farmers VIII
subscribed to the paper years befor
Mr.. Shearer came to Florida, and the
know that the Star knows that no
only its bread and butter but that o
all other people come from the farm
and that it has always stood up TO
their rights. They do not take tn
paper as an act of charity but be
cause they like to read it, and find
useful to them. Perhaps Mr.. Sheare
likes the smell of fertilizer tags BET
ter than the Stars ink, but if h
wants to know how important hi
subscription is to the Star, he shoul
fill bucket with water. stick hi
finger into the water and pull it on
and then looksee how big a hole b
has made. One thing certain, he ma
cut eff his subscription but he will G
on reading the. Star if he has TO boz
row it from neighbor.
The Star has always treated NJ
Sheazer nicaly. It greatly approve
his efforts to organize the farmer
We have often advised the farmers
organize. telling them that in unie
lay their strength. We gave the
such advice many times before the
heard of Mr.. Shearer. but we are 81,