Milford chronicle., 1912-10-04
COMMUNICATED.

THE EDITOR OF THE MILFORD CHRoNIcLE:
would thank you to allow space in your valu
paper for a statement Of facts in connection wi
communication published on Sept. 9th. by Da
win S. Cllins.
It will be apparent to any disinterested reade
that Mr. Collins has singled out my establishmei
for personal attack. This in the face Of the fac
which can be easily proved. that we have for Il
past two ~ seasons adopted and are carrying OF
system to reduce to a minimum the objectionab
features of delay TO teams in delivering at the cai
merry. and have succeeded in satisfying large pei
eentage Of our growers and giving them bett,
service than they ever had before at any Gamer
| in Milford.
Il would be only simple justice to state some fact
| which the public should know in connection wit
Mr.. Collins publication.
Mr.. Collins holds contract to grow tomatot $ fc
| US, signed by Collins a Savage, Savage being tn
/ tenant on the farm of Collins. On Sept H. 1871.
Savage delivered load Of tomatoes to the canner
late in the afternoon too late to use that day. an
for his convenience and to avoid keeping his tear
over night, had his tomatoes set of on the groun
and proceeded TO give him empty baskets in ex
change for those he set Off. In order to give hin
the correct number of empty baskets, went by tn
number he reported at the scales as having on hi
load. and which was less than the number he de
manded of my men, and yet more than my men wh
set of the load counted as correct ! made NJ
charge that the difference was intentional bu
simply told him he had made a mistake and thai
would count the baskets this time myself Say.
age then became very abusive and used anguag,
TO me which is unfit to print and was both profant
and indecent. ordered him to leave the premises
which he refused to do and kept his team across
the driveway blocking other teams which were
waiting. He finally did di i've away
then sent for Mr.. Collins and notified him that
i would not permit Savage 10 abuse and curse me
again IN SUE manner and that he tSavagel should
not return to deliver tomatoes. and that if he had
tomatoes to deliver he must send driver who
would behave himself. Mr. Collins thereupon be-
gan TRADE against me at 10 the canneries not un-
loading tomatoes fast enough which subject had
nothing to do with the Savage matter latter being.
a question as to my right to decent treatment at
the hands Of any man in law-abding community.
Mr.. Collins went away fl ON the cannery and re-
manned away, and 50 did Savage. for several days
and Mr.. Collins then brought m a load Of tomatoes
with different driver, and as the tomatoes were
not up 70 contract in quality. they were rejected
by US with the privilege that he might Gu over
the load and we would accept such portion Of .
loao as might he up 10 contract. which Mr. collins
did not see nj TO comply it'll and took the load
away.
The public can decide as to the motives of Mr..
Collins in his efforts TO infame the minds of the
farmers and TO mislead any who are not familiar
with the facts.
Now, referring 10 other remarks in Mr. Collins
would answer further:
l. No one disputes the right of the farmers To
decide for themselves whether 10 raise Tomatoes ur
motor whether to raise them on a contract with q
rannery or for the market and the farmer has ney Sc
been forced TO make contract unless he was satis-
he'd with the price and conditions
?. The farmers know that every year there is a
week or two weeks Of glut, at which time both the
,anncr and farmer suffer but the farmer must not
expect To throw all the responsibility of the wealth
.r conditions and the season upon the Gamer.
, -Four and hve weeks ago many farmers came to
ne and told me the weather conditions were such |
gith lack OF rain. and blight. and foliage burned
rom the vines that their crop would be badly in
ured, the tomatoes would remain small and stunt !
d, and there would be very few good tomatoes and
hat all would ripen at one time.
They did not then intimate ii would be the fault
TOrsch.
Two weeks later their prediction came true /
ines were either dead or bare of foliage and ev- /
rything on them stopped growing and began TO /
pen. and blister and turn yellow rather than red.
ONE late patches were an exception to this condi-
on which might do better if rain came in time.
The farmers began to haul in these crops from
he blighted vines. We patiently received them.
lany were unfit for food and we cued out more
= less each and made no reflections or deductions.
nd had hauled out to the dump 100 to 400 baskets
Il per day. We urged the farmers to nick only
lch fruit as was in accordance with contract.
any farmers did pick and deliver only proper !
lality. Others continued to bring bad tomatoes
The effect Of this was that our hands could make
D headway peeling such small and bad stock and
le work was held back and tomatoes which were !
jod and could be unlOaded and used promptly /
ere kept back and blocked out by the large per
utage of bad quality. We saw this condition and
ood this loss for ten days of the gut and then
und quality getting bad we must call on
e farmers TO stand part of the loss, or bring US
y such tohatOes as we could receive under the
ntract We notified all who came that they must
-her Gull their tomatoes themselves or if We were
Gull them, they must agree to deduct the culls
ON their weight and take away the culls Most
overs admitted the justice of this some refused.
On Saturday. September 2S. we rejected several
Ids, after giving the farmers the privilege to
il the tomatoes themselves and deliver the por-
m that We're up to contract.
state further that these farmers admitted the
natoes were not up TO contract. The excuses
ey gave were:
L They are my last picking.
I, They are the best have.
;. Ny hands picked them and did not pick them
/ told them.
4 number Of farmers claimed 7 had not taken the
natoes fast enough and they had been caught by
, severe rain Of the past week AS a matter OF
It most Of the tomatoes never had been good
IN before the rains came. and were simply what
farmer had predicted four weeks ago they
uid be. small miserable stufr-unfit for food
I instead of standing their loss Of cron ike men,
y seek to throw the loss and blame on the Gamer
here is nothing said in the contract to the effect
It the farmer may deliver the best he has"
N If that best be very poor the contract Is
in that quality is to be lived up to.
he fact that we have been lenient and liberal in
epting poor quality without deducting pound
tomatoes or penny on the price has made some
the farmers think there is no limit to our pa
nee and endurance and are willing to deliver us
latoes uniit Tor use, and then curse as If We pro
{ or decline TO receive it.
ir. Collins asserts that the farmers have been
1pelled TO leave tons of tomatoes in the field to
II those tons Of tomatoes are good merchant
e tomatoes why did they not pick such and haul
m to usf The loads rejected and complained
lever were good tomatoes. but were small, mis-
Bile, unripe and blistered, and the farmers knew
2 weeks ago they would not have good tomatoes
Ter the prevailing weather conditions.
lhy should they leave good tomatoes out in the
and pick aud haul in the kind they did
o far as farmers getting together and holding
sungs is concerned. | certainly have no right to
set, and go further and will say that If they at
time want me to meet with them, or with anv
lmittee they may appoint and discuss the prob
$ and conditions which confront both the can
and the farmer would cheerfully consider and
pit any reasonable proposition to improve our
.em-provided they can make it plain to me
r suggestions can be worked in conducting the
merry and are fair to the Gamer.
he interest Of the farmer and the Gamer are
ual, but business should be carried on with rea-
and epmmOn-seuse and not with abuse and
T-beating' as has lately been resorted to by
e.
e have many farmers who have through this
1g period done all they could 10 act reasonable
have delivered only tomatoes in compliance
! the contract. F. A. TORSCH
ord, Sept. 80. 1912.