The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1913-03-13
PROPOSED COOPERATION

closer cooperation IN their methols o
distribution. Hood River dealers an'
growers realize that they must "ge
together" and we think they will ge
together. However, at present it II
hard to predict just what form tha
cooperation will take. The Glacier Is
of the opinion that, II the present
prevailing public sentiment is followed
a serious mistake will be made.
will an amalagmation mean coopera
ton! By the formation Of such an or
agnization will competition be e!imin.
ated? We do not think so. We will
witness the formation of another inde-
pendent company. If this IS absorbed,
then another independent company
will be formed, and so on ad infnitum.
To correctly solve the problem, the
independent companies must be brought
together at the selling end. This can
be done without the elimination Of in
ueptHutnb CoHlH'IiiSss
Nor do we want to do away with old
brands and establish single new
brand. We do not want too many
brands of apples, but we do need more
than one for the demands Of the mar
ket. For example. different dealers in
a city are handling Hood River fruit.
They will prefer to sell apples bearing
different brands. even though the fruit
may be the same in quality.
We do not believe that the Hood
River apple deal is in sosserious a state
as, laboring under the depression that
the status of the marketing conditions
of the past season can easily lead US to
believe. to cause the growers to jump
hastily toward any proposed saving |
straws. 1t is true that many apples |
we're produced last year, and that
many more tracts are going to come
into bearing in the next few years.
Yet we must not lose sight of the fact
that no region in the United States
has been more favored clmatically
than the northwest How often can
the middle western and eastern orch
ard man figure on such full crops as
they had last year? Such years are
scarce andIbut few of them have been
recorded 1t is true that the apple
production Of the northwest is on the
increase, and the marketing Of the
fruit is not going to be as clear sailing
as was the case when the industry was
young and when northwestern fancy
fruit was bringing the top prices in
the world markets. However, think
of the old rule of "the survival of the
fttest. The Glacier is going to make
again the assertion that was made sew
eral weeks ago 1t would perhaps be
a good thing in the long run were a
big crop to be produced again next
year. 1t would mean wedding out of
the places unfit for apples. 1t would
put a crimp in speculation on fruit
lands in regions both adapted and un-
adapted.
In the past six months the industry
has settled down on a more solid basis.
Hood River growers have come tC
learn that they must work frugally.
One of the sins of the American people
has been that they have tried to make
money too fast they have wanted to,
much for too little effort. All branches
of the government, legislative, eXecu
tive and judicial have been taxed am
are going to be taxed for many day
to come with problems that hav
arisen because of this tendency. How
ever, this is depressing somewhat fror
the topic under discussion.
Do the Hood River apple grower
want to amalgamate their sellin
agencies, their receiving stations, thei
storage plants and their warehouse
and form a big combine with an emo
nous capital? Such an oranEizatioi
If it is to be controlled by the stoci
holders, the entire people, is going
be unwieldy. Theoretically it is
beautiful plan, and could the grove
govern without friction such merg,
then all would be well, hut in practic
such affairs have been found lacking
the lubrication of all parties beir
agreed on the same plan Of action, al
fusions and dissensions are sure
araise. Past history has shown th
human nature in the Hood River Va
ley is just like human nature ever
where else. Such an organization CT
be managed by private corporation
single man or body of men of gre
executive ability. But do the Ho
River growers want to leave the ma
keting of their fruit to such an outl
as this? And then, with such an o
ganization formed and with dissensi,
prevailing, there might come a tin
when the temptation to get control
the system for personal profit won
be rather strong. Do the grove
want to help build up an organizati
that will make this possible?
A plain statement of facts is new
amiss, although our assertions may lei
to the bursting of optimistic bubble
for a strong sentiment that the anna
eamation of the fruit selling agenci
means a solution of the problems
marketing has prevailed. But Il
Hood River orchardist does not want
enter a proposition so gigantic withoI
thinking of the future and taking int
consideration every phase of the ma
ter. He does not want to be part
to a plan that will seemingly brin
temporary relief, but he wants t