Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1914-11-18
HOP GROWERS MEET
FOR ORGANIZATION
Antitrust Law May Cause
Some Trouble in Forming
the Association

For the purpose Of formulating def
mite plans for the organization Of the
Pacific Hop Growers association, dele.
gates from the growers associations of
California, Washington and Oregon are
in session at the assembly rooms of the
commercial club this afternoon and will
probably hold meetings from time to
time for several days or until the prop
osition is worked out satisfactorily to
all three state organizations.
No definite plan of business organi-
zation has been fixed upon, but there
are two fundamental propositions which
the delegates will consider and adopt
at an early stage Of the proceedings
after which the details of organization
and business arrangement can be built
up according to the plan outlined in
the basic principles. The initial pur.
pose is for the growers to form a cor.
poration to handle the crops of the
mcmbers for period Of years, but
whether it will be formed with three
separate organizations, one in each
state to work separately, or with one
central organization with branches in
each state, is the question to be de-
cided upon at this meeting.
Sherman Law Comes In.
Great care must be exercised by the
growers in the formation 0fsthis asso-
citation to keep within the provisions
Of tine antitrust laws of the country
and not lay themselves liable TO attack
and prosecution, and ultimate demoral
ization, under the Sherman antitrust
law. The antitrust law recognizes the
right Of farmers and laborers to or.
ganize to promote their respective in.
terests and protect themselves against
monopolistic and capitalistic interests
but there is very delicate line of dis
tinction as between q "good trust
and trust organized in restraint OF
trade, and this is the point which the
hop growers will have TO bear in mind
and keep within the limits Of the law
II the three states were to form sepa
rate organizations and then consolidat,
under one corporation for the govern
ment and control Of the business Of al
of the state associations, the element OF
monopoly and restraint OF trade
might be construed to exist by tne fed
eral courts, If the organization SHOULD
be attacked by hostile interests ant
the grower delegates have been warnet
that This Is just the opening that tn,
hop dealers are laying for in the hope
Of catching them mapping and breaking
up tne organization On this account
every detail Of the proposed plan Of
organization will have to be gone owe
very thoroughly and the convention b,
absolutely sure Of it's ground in every
respect, and that they are safely within
the authority Of the antitrust laws, be
fore final action is taken.
Whatever Is done at this meeting
however, will be binding upon all o
the three state organizations, alread,
formed and ready for business.
p. b. Blalack, president Of the Men
docino County Hop Growers assoeia
tion, Of Hopland, Call and h. l.. Gun
ningham, Of the Mendocina County as
sociation, arrived early this morning
and George Hewlett, vice president o
the Mendocno County association, o
Hoplandj President Bl'4- Paxton, o
the Sonoma County association, Of San
ia Rosa, and W. ~ NJ. Beardslee, presi
dent Of Sacramento Valley association
Of Sacramento, arrived later In the DAY
and are In attendance at the meeting
All Of the California delegates repor
. that fully 30 per cent Of the growers II
their respective districts have sgne,
up and are enthusiastic for organizn
tion, and like reports have been re
ceived from President George Kerr, o
the Washington association, who, wit
two other delegates, Is expected to al
rive today
The Oregon delegation is composed o
President Il. II, McMahan, Of Salem
Vice President @. A. Mclaughlin, o
Independence, who is represented a
I today's meeting by H. b. Fletcher, o
4 Independence, Fred N, stump, Of Su
YER, secretary, and j. l.. Clark, o
Springfield, Lane county; II. V. Pau
OF Polk and Yamhill; G. @. Coad, o
Dallas; Marion Palmer, Of Silvertor
aud Mr. Kirkwood, Of Amity YamhiI
! county. All Of the outside delegate
. report increasing enthusiasm on IN
q part Of the growers In their respectiv
district, and they predict all the wa
[ from 75 per cent to 40 per cent of ia
= growers will join the movement.
n The Oregon Hop Growers associatio
will hold a meeting In Salem saturda
j. of this week to adopt bylaws and con
Q plete the organization tentatively form
9 cd two weeks ago, aud II is cxpectc
that all Of the growers within radir
Q of several counties will be In attent
anee.