The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-09-07
How Rocky Ford Melon Raisers
Were Ill Treated
Till They Formed Big COmbi-
nation.
NOW A BIG BOYCOTT
s On and Wholesale Dealers
Are Trying
To Palm Off Pumpkiny Melons
For Real Thing.

Denver, Sept. 7.-Melons, melons. mel
ons! Were it not for their juiciness, one
would be tempted to add, melons to burn.
Where do they all come from, and why
are they so plentiful and so cheap? That
is a question that is being asked by every
body on the outside of this trade, and
those in the business give varying an
sWers; but the general impression pre-
walls that the boycott on Rocky Ford pro-
ducts is largely responsible for the glut-
ted condition of the Denver melon market
This seems the reasonable solution of the
question, the immense resources of the
Rocky Ford region having in previous
years made more or less futile competitive
attempts of other localities; but it appears
that this season the Denver commission
men and the Rocky Ford growers were at
outs from the very first and there seems
to be no sign of giving in the part of
either the farmers or the Market street
people.
1T was simply inevitable" said H.
Woods, who represents the Rocky Ford
Melon Growers association, this morning.
He was very busy in his commission house
1t the Twenty-third street market. They
tried all the bluffs they could, those Mar
ket street fellows, and now they are on
the boycott I can't say whether it is
why did the producers form the asso-
citation? Because they had to do It or
else get robbed out of their eyes. There
wasn't anything else to do, in fact, but to
combine and make stand against the the
body of farmers down there who combined
ton was formed last year. It has now
more than 800 members, including nearly
every melon grower in that section.
THE outrages perpetrated on these
are well known to few, but the general
public has little idea of the extent of the
pad treat ment the Roeky FORD Pe9o go ne
their delicious watermelons and canta-
they received less than one-tenth what
thier returns should have been under an
be sent word that the melons in a GER
tain shipment were of inferior stock, or
cay, or that they had been improperly
handled and were of little or no value
anything which could be made an excuse
of a large part of what should have gone
WY 9RS er y0u viii Il nd f Incredible but
it is nevertheless a fact that once, about
actually sent by a Denver commission
house a remittance of s. cents on a car
that at the same time disposed of a car
load of the same sort of melons from the
grower grow Pa net remittance Of $50 what
do you think of that? This was, of course,
dozens of cases that were nearly as bad.
1T was on account OF TINS sort OF
ton was formed, and last fall committee
of four was selected from the board or d.
rectOrs of the association and sent up to
Denver to investigate the situation and
the prospect for selling melons on this
market during the present season had
fFociatio1 offerinp to BECOME its agent and
dispose of the products at a commission of
sales When the farmers on the commit
tee got here the Market street people went
at them hot and heavy. They offered to
buv the melons outright, to put up a bond
indemnifying the association against loss
RIIt somehow the COMMITTEES could not be
iD6nPPd things in the light in which
the Market street men viewed them and
did not come to terms Perhaps their
they had received was still active Any
recommended me as a suitable person to
act as agent of the association and put
LAS proof that their judgment was not
at fault I may cite the fact that since
gust 10, I have made net remittances to
the amount of $1,000 and the season is just
that I am positive that my total remit
tances will be far in excess of what they
THE Market. street people threa tened
the associa, tons committee with 60y5
bring in melons from dozen other points
inside the stats 9nd out o Of If IT + ana run
ket: but they have not been able to do so.
It IS true they nave e9e fnr PGsf
melons and 70 cents crate for canta-
the association. They sell melons from
Texas and Okla mona ana OIn6T points
and, while they look as good as any, when
you cut into them you find a vast differ
ence and it has not taken the people long
to learn it.
I'm conclusion, I will state that I
here to stay. without me, or some other
reliable agent who will look after their
interests, deal fairly with them and not
try to take everything in sight, the Rocky
Ford growers had as well pull down thir
fences and turn the hogs in on their mel
Manager Webb of the Denver Fish COM
pany, was frank about the boycott. Yes,
we are boycotting the Rocky Ford mel
ons," said he, land that fact is undoubt-
in the supply of melons in Denver. We
have nothing against the Rocky Ford
people. but don't like the methods of
the man they have got here as their agent.
He sells to wholesalers and retailers alike,
and it makes a big difference with US. We
don't want any Rocky Ford melons. We
don't need them. We handle melons that
are raised around Denver and in adjoining
counties. and some from Pueblo and other
points. and they are just as good any
YOU ever ate. The boycott has been a
good thing for the northern county melon
G. 6. Liebhardt of the Liebhardt Com
mission company. said: NO, we don't use
any of the Rocky 9ord melons-we are
not bOycotting them, we simply don't care
for any and we don't want any long
as they maintain their present arrange
ment here-but you'd better go and see
F'reeland & Metcalf, over on Sixteenth
street; they can tell you all about it,
NOT SOUND BAPTIST,