The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1912-09-13

shine is worth $1,000 a minute to
the bean growers of Michigan"
So spoke Fred Welch of Owosso
to group of men at the Hotel Vim
cent Tuesday morning, the group. be-
ing composed of officers and mem
bers OF the Michigan Bean Jobbers'
association, which Is here for its
twentieth annual meeting. There
are about 200 members In the asso-
citation, from all parts of Michigan,
and most of them are in attendance
ut convention, the sessions of which
are held at the Auditorium.
Mr.. Welch arrived on the scene
early and himself distributed a
good deal of sunshine in the shape
of greetings to arriving members. He
said of the general outlook:
with this weather we shall have
about normal crop in Michigan. A
normal crop? Why, it is in round
numbers about 100000 bushels,
and the Michigan crop is about Go
per cent Of the total commercial crop
of America. Rain ami bad weather
conditions touched us up severely in
lower Michigan, this year, but the
vastly increased acreage, the reports
from the northern part of the state,
and the present splendid weather
have put different face on things,
| and the outlook is now for normal
crop.
This means a great deal to the
country, as without Michigan's crop
or with it only in part, the situation
would be very bal. There are only
four other states where they grow
beans to any extent, that is the bean
of commerce; being California, with
its two annual crops; New York.
Wisconsin, and Ontario, Canada. The
New England states grow some beans
but these do not affect the CONNER
oial situation"
The convention met at the Audi
forum in the afternoon, at 2 o'clock
and was warmly welcomed to the city
by Mayor G. w. Stewart, the re-
spouse being by G. F. Almendinger
Of Ann Arbor. The president ma lie
his address, and reports of officers
were presented.
Presidents Address.
President Welch's address was
listened to with deep attention, and
the various points developed were
warmly approved by the meeting.
In opening, the president COM
mended the association for its work
of the past year and made this sig
nificant statement, I'm the face of
the fact that the beans We have had
to handle have been in the worst
quality in the history of the bean in
and reflections as reported to our as
ISOLATION has been even less than the
average year. This shows that our
members have exercised more than
ordinary care and intelligence in put
ting this damaged bean crop into the
channels of consumption
The situation over the state was
described as satisfactory, with an
absence of bitter local fights, due to
the work of local associations. The
growing acreage this year was shown
to be very large, and the damage by
rains was referred to. In this con.
nection, the president remarked:
II suggest for your consideration
the propriety of making without fur
Their delay, some specific rule per-
tanning to the maximum amount of
moisture choice beans may contain,
and the Incorporation of same in our
official contract"
A committee of three was recon-
mended to investigate and report at
this or the next meeting, there being
no official ruling on the question at
present. 1t was further recommend
ed the report of the committee on
new rules and forms for inspection
ana arbitration be adopted without
alteration, when presented.
In regard to buying beans. the
president. urged adherence to the
Readon schedule, and called atten-
ton to the fact the elevator men
must adjust themselves to the high
ed wages which they will be obliged |
to pay women help for Manipulating
the beans. Formerly the price was
from 21s to 8 cents per pound, now
it was from " to cents. The in
crease was held to be fair, in view |
of the increased cost of living.
The rule of refusing to loan bags
was held to have met with success
and approval. The farmers approved !
of the rule, and every elevator man
was urged to adopt it, the contrary
practice being proved to be poor
business and very costly.
Shipping of beans on open account |
was condemned as dangerous and in |
direct opposition to the present day |
movement of business economies to |
absolute oh hac Hnnr