La Junta tribune. (La Junta, Bent County, Colo.) 1881-1939, 1898-09-07

,8elou oIOVcIS ASSoStshou uSs -
Rocky Ford last Saturday. a fpll
representation being in attend
ance. Some OF the members Ia
vored a closed session, but vote
being taken upon the matter II was
decided that the meeting should
be an open one. and large NUM-
Der Of spectators were present to
witness the proceedings. The
first meeting was broken up by
the fire, and not much was accom-
plished, though Mr.. Wetzel's at
torney made talk and explained
the situation 10 the growers. 3At
a meeting held at the fair ground
in the afternoon the members de
cided to leave the adjustment OF
their difficulties to the directors,
expressing great confidence IN
their judgment by giving them
full sway in the matter.
The directors held a very long
and stormy meeting. the com
promise agreement which finally
went through not meeting with
the approval Of all OF the members.
and being fought against unto the
end.
WetZel owes the association
$4S. 900 n date, and will settle by
paying SIS, 900. the ASSOCIATION
virtually making Mr. Wetzel a
present Of $50. 900. The SiS. 900
is to be divided pro rata on all
shipments made between August
2Ist and August 3Ist, and the
growers VIA realize about one
third of the contract price for the
season, which was 971z cents per
crate. The Santa Fe railroad
com ,,any also donates several
thousand dollars in freight charges
to assist MIR. Wetzel and the asso-
citation out of their almost hopeless
dilemma. Fortunately for all ship
ments previous to August 2Ist the
association has been paid in full.
Mr.. Wetzel then agrees 10 take
the balance Of the crop at IS cents
per crate, drafts in payment to be
drawn upon him at five days sight.
Some OF the directors vigorously
objected to this latter clause,
claiming that as MIR. Weizel had
been unable to liquidate previous
CLAIMS the drafts would probably
never be paid unless the agent
was enabled 10 dispose OF the crop
at profit. They were in favor OF
entering into a joint contract with
Mr.. Wetzel, and disposing Of the
crop at the best possible figure
aud dividing the profits. The
growers would be assured OF re-
cciving some returns under this
agreement. but as IT is they have
40 positive assurance OF anything.
rhe whole matter is entrusted to
MIR. Wetzei's honor. II he is
able to dispose OF the balance oi
the seasons crop at a profit he
Wilt have the necessary collateral
to take mp the drafts drawn upon
him. otherwise the association will
probably be called upon to make
him another donation.
Experience is a dear teacher,
and her lessons are sometimes So
expensive IN many ways as to be
positively disheartening for fur
ther effort. The single agent plan
does not seem to be- decided
Success. and shipping promis
cuously to commission men proved
a drsasterous failure. The mel
on growers will probably now be
sisp cious of any scheme inaugu-
rated Tor their benefit and aggran-
dizement.
The melon growers have sur
pris.d everybody by their ability
Ia stick together. The fault is not
theirs that the crop has not been
disposed OF at apro6t. II there
is such a demand for Arkansas
valley melons. and such an enor-
nous profit in 1t for those en-
gagged in ii. why do not the asso.