Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1907-12-31
HOP MEN ORGANIZE
FOrty-One Growers Sign Bylaws of
Union In independence Last
Saturday.

The organization of the hop grower
| of Polk County, which was begun il
a tentative manner at the convention
held in Dallas few weeks ago, wal
completed and put on an effective work
ing basis at the meeting in Independ-
ence, Saturdaymorning and afternoon
M. FL. burst and his delegation
from California, who have beer
engaged in the active work of organi
zation in this state for several weeks
were present, both at the committee
meetings in the forenoon and at the
general convention in the afternoon,
Their practical experience was of great
value to the association, making it
possible to strike promptly and directly
at the most important points of the
subject in hand, and to make the work
OF the afternoon as complete and
effective as possible.
At the meeting in the afternoon, the
committee on resolutions submitted to
the assembly of hopmen the bylaws
of the Pacific Coast Hop Growers
Union, under which the work Of organ
ization has thus far been carried on
both in Oregon and in California.
These were unanimously adopted,
making the first and most important
step toward the affiliation of the local
or County association, with the other
associations Of Oregon and California,
for with each organization acting
under precisely the same set of bylaws
it is simple thing to bring about the
combination of all of these lesser forces
into single, powerful association.
After the adoption of the bylaws,
Hon. /. M. Simpson, chairman of the
convention, was elected as the first
president of the Polk County Hop
growers Union and Ell. G.. Campbell,
OF Dallas. was chosen secretary.
Forty-one of the hop growers of this
county, representing almost 1000 acres
of its hop land, paid the initiation fee
and signed their names to the bylaws.
e. f. Woodward, of the California
stated that there were now
Oil signers of the bylaws in Oregon,
and that he fully expected to see the
number swelled to 300 before leaving
this state.
In order to make the further work
of organization in Polk County as
effective as possible, Mr.. Simpson
appointed five committeeman to solicit
membership among those hop raisers
of the county who have not yet joined
themselves to the Union. On this
are J. E. Hubbard, of Inde-
oendence, Mark Burch, of Rickreall,
I. G. Campbell, of Dallas, Clyde
Beckett, of West Salem, and Mart
'crafford, of Monmouth. Each of
hese men is given the power to appoint
IS many assistants as he deems neces-
ary to cover his territory properly,
nd a systematic canvass will be
rganized for the purpose of winning
very hop grower in Polk County into
he membership Of the association.
The plan and purposes Of the Union
s explained in the convention Satur-
ay afternoon are to control the price
hops by regulating the production,
nd to put an effectual check on short
cling, or precontracts. That this is
ossible was clearly shown by Mr..
Woodward in one of his speeches
efore the association. The Union
ill control the majority of the hop
rops of the Pacific Coast and there
IRE Of the world, and those who have
)mpleted previous contracts must
'ver their sales with hops purchased
'om the Union, at the prices fixed by
le Union. The almost certain finan-
al loss resulting from this will
ractically puta stop to the practice
thin few seasons.
The members of the California dele
alton will be in Eugene and the
Oregon towns this week, and
i'll endeavor to bring about organi
ltions similar to the ones already
in the northern portion
the Willamette Valley. Presidents,
directors of the local associations
ave been elected in Salem, Wood
lrn, McMinnville, Independence, and
her places in the state, who will
Operate with officers of similar
'wer in California, to carry on the
ork of the Hopgrowers' Union, which
w seems destined to become a power
/ and effective influence in the COM
ercial and economic development of
9 Pacific Coast. III