The daily sentinel., 1913-03-05
BASIS
IS FAVORED BY
EDITOR SHERMAN

Editor L. S. Sherman of the Pali-
sade Tribune, IN the current issue of
his paper. takes an advanced stand
on the organization of fruit growers
association. He cites the success of
the Western slope association to
prove the Fundamental correctness of
the acreage plan His arguments are
we'll worth general consideration.
That the acreage basis plan for
ownership of stock in the fruit asso-
ciations,-which is the fundamental of
the Western Slope organization-isb be-
ing recognized as the true solution of
many of the present difficulties in
handling the business of the growers,
is evidenced by the fact that a com
mittee of ten was appointed at the re-
cent meeting OF the Grand Junction
association to make a careful exami-
nation as to the relations of the large
and small holders Of stock and report
at a meeting TO be held early in April
1t is reliably reported that many of
the largest stockholders of the Grand
Junction Fruit Growers Assn. favor
the Western Slope association plan in
this respect and will urge its adoption
at this special meeting. John j.
Bridges is thee Palisade representa-
tive on that committee and says he
has studied the plan, believes it to be
the proper one and has considerable
backing in urging its adoption.
That any good thing could come
out of Nazareth may yet be demon
strated to the satisfaction of the grow
ers of the valley who are earnestly
seeking solution of their difficulties
and a more equitable distribution of
the earnings from their business that
belongs to them, instead of permitting
1t to go to the holders of the big
blocks of stock who insist, and right
fully so, that they be paid interest
upon their investment.
Under the acreage basis plan the
shipper owns ashare of stock for each
acre he ships from. and the owner
ship of this stock only entities him to
that privilege. 1t really doesn't mat
ter what per cent the grower is
charged for handling his fruit or what
he pays for his supplies, which of
course are held TO the market price.
all earnings beyond the actual running
expenses of the organizations iovert
back to him because he is the real
owner of the busines. These things
have been demonstrated ;or a year or
more in handling the business of the
Western Slope association, which
charged its growers fiye per cent for
running expenses and then found they
We're able to rebate three per cent to
the stockholders Cthe growers) which
made the actual expenses but two per
cent, and this in the face of most
unusual season for the prices of our
product.
That these things are making the
growers of the valley think there is
little question-the facts are there and
open to inspection. The Grand juno
tion people charged their growers sew
en- per cent for handling. and even at
that the stockholders received but ten
per cent on their capital invested,
while the Western Slope organization
also paid a ten per cent dividend in
cash in addition to the three per cent
rebate, making in all 80 per cent on
their actual Investment. This is also
open to verifcaJion, and is being veri-
fed by those most interested.
The Western Slope peop,e, as this
paper has reason to believe after care
fully watching their methods for two
years. are not boosting their associa-
ton merely as rival of the others,
but simply because they are convinc-
ed of being on The right road TO so
luton of the problems that have con-
fronted the growers of this valley. 1t
is also for this reason only that their
plan is being here advocated. They
lay no claims 10 perfection. but are
open to suggestions and remodeling,
If necessary, along these lines
There should be one paramount idea
before all of us in settling these mat
ters-that on the prosperity and well
being of the fruit growers individually
and as a whole depends the future of
this valley and the fruit industry.