The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1910-01-07
GRAPE GROWERS
PLAN TO ORGANIZE
Enthusiastic Meeting at
LawtOn Last Week.
Could Not Agree.
UNIFORM PACKING DESIRED
ing to the Final Combination
of All Societies.

ing 10 the FInal combination
of All Societies.
A meeting of grape growers was held
at Lawton, December 30, to discuss the
advisa biity of ceutering all forces into
one general organization of the entire
belt. by which the competition that now
exists among the several associations
and grape handlers might be eliminated
and the matter of packing brought to
such standard as to place Van Buren,
county at the pinnacle of superiority on
the markets. We have for years suffered
through careless AMI negligent packing
and under the present system there
seems to be little chance of improve
ment. In fact, to the close observer
there seems to be inclination toward
cheapening the cost of harvesting rather
than improving the value of the crop by
proper methods. The incentive to grow
a really fine article becomes less when
your careless neighbo receives aD equal
price with yourself.
rne attendance was large. The town
hall was filled with interested grape
growers until standing room was at a
toiore mentioned we're fully discussed
by the nearly 500 growers present. An
attempt was made to bring about some
com blnation of the now existing organ
Izations whereby al equal price would
be quoted and a uniform pack guaran-
teed, but To no avail. Each one was
/ willing to accept the whole county as
members, but did not wish to change
their present methods. Mr.. Duuham OF
the Southern Michigan association stated
that while he greatly desired the people
to ceuter on that organization, he did
not want TO stand in the way of the one
/ thing that was need I'd In the belt, gen.
eral organization, and was ready to come
in as grower and 40 all he could for
what he deemed the only thing that
would insure just returns for the vine
yardsts' toll. Many representative
growers from the various organizations
expressed their belief 10 and desire for
one organization. The reasons given
we're not only the suppression OF CON-
petition, whereby better prices could be
maintained for the same article, but
the fact that in so large an organ
] ization a schedule of grades could be
made aud maintained that would enable
the painstaking grower to reap the re-
suits of his special efforts by having
sufficient painstaking members at his
loading station to NIL full cars Of straight
selects. The question Of varieties could
also be handled to better advantage.
| Frequently full cars of certain varieties
| are wanted, but from the fact that in
order to fill a car all at that station are
! needed, the order is not lilled on account
of divided membership. We're they all
| in one organization, it would be an easy
matter.
The many points that were brought
out so emphatically demonstrated the
need of one central organization that a
request was madefor a rising vote of all
present who we're willing to lay aside all
prejudice by reason of their membership
! IN one OF the existing organizations and
meet on common grounds under one
head as growers of Van Buren, county.
! Diu they all get up? No! One man
opposed It. some few remained IN their
seats but it is safe to say that 80 per
]
! The sentiment was unanimous.
We want to organize under set of
rules that will insure our goods being
shipped with their equal n value and
uniformly inspected al each and every
loading point. We want an organiza-
ton that shall be known as covering the
entire belt; one in which each and every
loading station, no matter how small,
will be represented and to whose credit
the goods shipped therefrom shall be
given
With little discussion on the means
of procedure of organization, it was de-
cded, in order to- have every station
represented aud given an equal voice in
the forming of the final organization, to
hold meetings at as many loading sta
tions as possible, explaining the plans
aud having each station select delegates
/ to final meeting whose object would
! be the formation of rules and regulations
under which the organization would be
governed. With this end in view the
following committee we're selected to
arrange and attend the meetings at the
various places:
Lawton, ID l.. Thornton, Chas. Stain
ton; Paw Paw, L.. f.. Shepard, @. r.
Prater, jr.; Mattawan, A. ii. Campbell;
Marcellus, G.. l. Kester; Decatur, M. 5.
Thomas Lake Cora, f. Il morrill,; Law
renee, NJ. s. Fuller; Hartford. George
MutchIer; Schoolcraft, j. l.. Clark.