The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1911-03-30
TINE FOR COOPERATIVE ACTION.


TINE FOR COOPERATIVE ACTION.
For placing the products of the Hood
River Valley in the front ranks of all
fruit markets and the successful
handling of its constantly increasing
crops due credit must be given to the
management of the Apple Growers
Union. From an unknown Hood River
Valley of but decade ago, when the
methods of cooperative marketing
were yet unformulated ideas, the sec
tion has grown in reputation until now
it is pointed at with pride by the whole
of Oregon and marVelled at wherever
known-and its fame is international
But to lay aside these facts so well
known by every citizen of the com
munity, the time has come to strength
en- the cooperation of the past; for
only by this cooperation Of growers
and impartality Of management has
the present status of prosperity been
reached. The methods of the local
union have been coveted by other sec
tions. Attempts to establish them have
failed because Of dissensions among
producers, while Hood River continues
to hold its enviable record of success in
marketing.
Unfortunately. as the details Of Mr..
Sproat S communication will show, dur
ing the past season many unforeseen oc-
currences have operated in such manner
as to cause decrease in price of certain
varieties Of boxed apples, the effect Of
which has been felt in local circles and
created disappointment among the
growers. Undoubtedly the facts Of the
communication will dispeI fear from
the minds Of those who who have mis-
understood the situation. 1t is but a
natural sequence, following from the
increase in production Of boxed fruit
and the peculiar character Of last
years local output, that such an un-
fortunate situation should arise. How
ever, n comparison of the true mar
keting reports Of the Union and those
of other sections will show that the
Union management continued to main
tam its standard of success, even under
the adverse circumstances.
AS new conditions arise and new sit |
uations come about new plans must be
made to meet them. Infinite prece-
dents of the past point out the fact
that in all lines of business new meth |
DDS must be devised in order to meet |
new demands, changes Of conditions
and increase of competition. The eX-
perience with last years apple crop
presents us with the problem of devils
ing new methods Of selling the product.
The time has come when the handling
of the enormous output can no longer
be handled by mail transaction. For
successful marketing it has become
realized that skilled statesmen must be
put into the field Alert to every
movement that may be of benefit to
the patrons of the Union, at recent
meeting its board Of directors recon-
mended the salesman system.
Now that the conditions prevailing
IN fho ami. ,,arknfg ,urip,r tho nugt
winter have been explained by the
communication and foresight can be
had into what may be looked for in the
future, the settlement of questions
pertaining to methods to be pursued is
up to the stockholders of the Union
themselves. Important matters will
come up and decisions must be reached
Every member of the Union should
be present If any one has a valuable
idea, he should not miss the opportun-
ity Of proposing it. Whatever criti-
cisms of past methods may be had
should be frankly brought forward.
And Furthermore all should beware Of |
giving proxies and signing over their
voting power to others; for above
everything else, in order to perpctuate
the model standard of the Union in the
fruit circles Of the commercial world, !
its management must remain in the
hands Of men, who will be loyal to the
best interests of the Hood River
Valley. The Glacier makes an urgent
appeal for the attendance of every
member and that men be picked whom
all know will carry out plans of
absolute impartiaity.