The daily sentinel., 1913-12-02
TRIBUNE EXPLAINS
PAL|SAOE SIDE OF
MERGER DISCUSSION
Answers Sentinel Editorial and
Relates Reasons For Their
Dissatisfaction.

The Palisade Tribune, in answer
ing the recent editorial in The Daily
Sentinel under the caption, "Why
0uibble over Names" has the follow
ing to say in explanation of the up
per valley position on the consolida-
tion question:
Again The Sentinel furnishes the
text for an explanation of Palisades
attitude on the proposed fruit asso-
ciation consolidation plan-this time
as it relates to the name for a new
organization.
1t isn't so much, as the Tribune
understands it, that the name of
Grand Junction Fruit Growers as
sociation within itself has special
bearing upon the. controversy, and
probably all recognize in a measure
the significance of an established
reputation in trade relations. There
is something deeper than that, with
which the older residents of this end
of the valley are most familiar and
which has been handed over as a
sort of legacy to the later comers.
The point involved is chiefly the at
titude of the Grand Junction associa-
ton directors in times past, when
they controlled, and had the oppor-
tunity to still control, the shipping
of the fruit in this section of the val
ley. Had they listened to reasons
then presented why Palisade- should
be given democratic government in
the administration of its affairs, and
also give due credit on the packages
for its products. chief of which were
the peaches, conditions might have
been different.
The fOrma tinn nj tho Da1ica1. n
Fruit Growers association was the
direct outcome of the formal protest
from this end of the valley along
those lines. The big association as
sumed an arbitrary attitude and re-
fused to accede the points asked for
in all fairness, and to which the peo-
pie here were entitled. True, the
concessions were granted two or
three years later, but move had
then been made in another direction.
Some of the larger growers remained
with the big association and acquired
more stock to enable them to get n
representation on the official board
from this end of the valley, in which
they were successful.
That mistakes may have been
made on both sides in permitting so
many organizations to be formed at
the expense of the grower-for he
has paid the bills-is only too ap-
parent, but the grower is moving a
bit slowly at this time to avoid, il
possible, further complications along
this line. He is seeking a way out of
the present ,difficulties-not new
troubles under another name. He is
amply justified in studying carefully
the situation before it is embraced.
When he fixes it this time he wants
1t to stay fixed.
1t may as well be plainly stated
that there are some things in con-
nection with the government of the
Grand junction association to which
large number of the people at this
end of the valley seriously object, and
which was plainly evident at the
meeting Monday night. Itwas form
ed as cooperative. democratic insti-
tuition. with the stock held by the
growers, but of late years this stock
has gradually drifted into the hands
OF a few men who hold the controll-
ing power and want interest on their
Investment. No one denies them that
right. but the grower insists that he
is tired of paying big dividends along
with other heavy expenses and he
wants a little of the product of his
toll for himself
1t is obviously. possible at this time
to form a valley-wide organization
for handling all the products-iin as
sociation that may ultimately be big