The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-02-18
LUX PLANS WORK.
New President Fruit JObbers
Has Busy Program.
Just Back From Trip to South
America.

Samuel z. Lux. president-elect Of
the Western Fruit Jobbers association
OF America, who has just returned
from a trip to South America and
the Panama canal zone, gave out d
statement yesterday to a State Jour
nal representative outlining his poll
cles and plans for the association dur
ing his administration. the year 1913
During the year it is my desire
that the Fruit Jobbers' association
pay particular attention to the stand
ard1zatlon, transportation and legisla-
tive problem affecting the handling
and dispatch Of fruits, said Mr.. Lux.
In my opinion, uniform weights,
measures and grades are the most i'm
portant subjects that the organization
can take up. and 1 have appointed an
unusually strong committee for this
work. The committee will work in
conjunction with our legislative com
mittee which has accomplished such
splendid results in the past. 1 cannot
see any reason why we should not
have a federal law establishing the
weight of a bushel of onions or
bushel of potatoes that is uniform. 1
feel that packages should be made in
conformity with the best package that
can be handled in the several mar
kets- Having given a great deal OF
time and attention TO the standard box
for berries and other small fruits,
sincerely hope that We will be able to
secure legislation on this subject dur
ing 1913.
THE strongest feature of our or
sanization at the present time is our
work on transportation questions
From the inception of the organiza-
ton it was the intention 10 maintain
a traffic bureau and after trying out d
number of plans and ideas, the present
system was Inaugurated. The report
of this department shows that the
foundation is laid and the number of
subjects that have been handled has
saved our members hundreds of thou
sands of dollars 1t is to be hoped
cooperative polly and carry out the
harm onious work with the transpor-
tation lines during the coming year.
I'm legislative matters there viii be
a number of subjects to be conSid cred
Our association is opposed to restric-
tive legislation but we are heartily in
favor of laws that will be beneficial
to growers. shippers, dealers. trans
portation companies and the con-
sumner.
Il believe more attention should be
paid to the butter, eggs and poultry
industry by our organization and I am
going to appoint special committee
to be known as the butter, egg and
poultry committee. Another important
work that the organization will carry
on during the year will be the tele-
phone rates and service improvement
and regulation.
Many statements have been made
relative to the growth of the Western
Fruit Jobbers' association. A few years
ago we held our convention in Kansas
City and at that time about 126 firms
We're members. Next year we will be
entertained again at Kansas City and
1 feel that instead of 126 members, 126
cities Will be represented as We now
have 80. This shows the remarkable
growth of this organization so young
in years.
the Fruit Jobbers' association at New
Orleans last month, by acclama ton
While he had strong opposition
throughout the campaign, as the time
came for election of president. the sec
onds began pouring in backed by
the other candidate withdrew as clev-
eriy as possible and the Topeka man
went in without a dissenting vote
Following the adjournment of the
convention, Mr.. Lux with the secretary
of the association, their wives and five
intimate friends of the officials. ac-
cepted the invitation of the United
Fruit Growers to visit the company's
great fruit orchards in Central and
South America. take a look at the Pan
anna Canal and get acquainted with
conditions under which the fruit used
in the states is grown
We had a great trip said Mr. Lux
but We are mighty glad to set back
to Topeka The. workings and develop
ments of the Panama zone are abso-
Iutely too big TO tell about without a
map. further those dog-goned Indian
names get the best of me. Neverthe-
less. We had letters to the men in
charge of the Panama work and they
showed US the work already done and
told US of plans of the future After
being taken in the government launch
out the west end of the canal to Pana-
ma City and out into the Pacific, we
were brought back just in time to see
the big blasts touched off that are eat
ing away the mountain for the great
water way.
You have heard of the great land
slides down there. well they have some
thing else to encounter too, that is the
or bullying up of the ground
from both sides of the little strip of
land that causes these raises. Govern
ment dredges will have to be constant
" on the job to keep these upheavals
from obstructing the passage of ships
through the canal
I'VE took several small side trips in
to the country where the United Fruit
Company has cut away the jungles
and great banana groves are growing
Talk about jungIes. we passed through