The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1913-02-27
SEND OUT WARNING or TRUST
President Piper of the Association
BUSHES Letters to Various Growers
Urging Them to be Careful in Max
ing Contracts for the Coming Year.

against the growers IN ken0Sha ana
other counties? The executive com.
mittee believes that there is, and a
second circular has been addressed to
the members of the Kenosha and Ra-
cine County Beet Growers Associa-
ton, under date of February 10, 1918.
1t is urged in the letter that the
farmers ought to get together and
talk over the proposition, but as that
is almost impossible, the proposition
is to discuss the matter on paper.
The committee say that they desire
to inform the members Of the associa
ton and others who grew beets, that
they have been in communication
with the Pope factory and they state
that they will not contract any beets
in Wisconsin, only under the same
terms as the other two companies.
Now Them say the committee,
as the Wisconsin companies have
come out with the same kind Of con
tract as the Rock county, it is evident
and plain to see that all three COM
panies are combined and have agreed
and connived to ignore the beet grow
ers' association and have accused and
threatened us under the Sherman act
for organizing to control an output,
IN 10 IL
against their corporation trust in talk
ing undue advantage of the farmer who
is individually helpless and how else
can we get protection only through
association, which is legitimate.
Allusion is made to report from
Washington, which the committee has,
of the hearing on sugar factories, also
cane and beet growers, before the ways
and means committee in regard to the
tariff on sugar.
In the testimony Of great
many beet growers from different
states, the price received for beets
ranges from fve-ffty to six dollars
and they claim that they cannot grow
beets for less to make any money
Figures show the cost Of production
per acre from forty-three to forty five
dollars per acre without cost of fer
tilizing and they yield eleven to thir.
teen tons per acre. The association
also has reports from Washington that
beet growers ought to receive eight
dollars OF better for beets, tariff or
no tariff.
Again, the circular says: "Your exc
cutlve committee has made a careful
study and Investigated conditions, and
as our interests are identically the
same we believe you have the utmost
confidence in our advice, and as mat
ter of fact the beet companies are cut
doing everything in their power to
again entice us into thef trap with
their promises or threats that they will
close their factories or cancel their
shipment of seed, which is on the way.
if the growers do not sign their (they
call them contracts which are dan
gerous things to sign.
We have nothing to worry about !.
let the beet companies worry; our
farms are worth just as much without
the beet factory, but what is the beet
factory worth without our farms?
Let each one of us make ourselves a
committee of one to see and talk it
over with our neighbor and there
might be some one who does not belong
to our association, and has signed to
grow beets, or is inclined to do to,
make him feel ashamed of himself for
being SO foolish, for we certainly have
the chance right now, if we will only
avail ourselves of the opportunity and
step right out in the front rank ana
say We are going to protect ourselves
aud stand for square deal.
Public sentiment is with us, and
our move is watched with interest not
only in this state, but others as well.
We are in the right and confident the
beet companies can pay what we are
asking, but if the beet companies are
inclined to be fair and show a disDo-
sition along that line and withdraw
their contracts, we might talk con-
promises with them on the price. on
the taIing, Weighing and freight.
which also means denurrage. Let
us stand knee to knee back to bacl.
and face to face before we ever sign
that kind of contract, and when
their field man comes around to CON
tract, make him feel as though he
didn t have friend Oh earth and that
he is alone in the world.
Let the beet companies work their
contracts to their full satisfaction and
find out where the growers stand. The
acreage of beets will be considerable
less this season even II TIE beet COM
panies agree with US OH a contract
right away, as a good many have al
ready planned not to grow beets, and