Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1914-05-26
HOP MEN GATHER
Organization Effected
At independence Saturday.
PREACHER is FOR PROTECTION.
Campaign to Counterfeit Prohibition
Movement in State Inaugurated
by Hop Growers.

A feature of the Hop Growers
convention at Independence last Sat-
urday afternoon was an address by
DIR. Chas. H. Dunsmore, pastor of the
Presbyterian church of that place, in
which he stated that he had arrived
at the conclusion that to advocate
prohibition, a thing that meant de-
sthuction and hardship both to the
state and individuals, was folly. The
docter declared that in his early min
istry he had labored untiringly for
the prohibition cause, but as time
passed and so little was accomplished
he had concluded it was folly to CON
tinue a fight against the best inter
ests of the community in which he
lived. His remarks, very naturally,
brought forth prolonged applause, and
was followed by rising vote of
thanks.
The gathering was largely attended
by representative hop growers and
hop buyers from every section of the
willamette Valley. The meeting was
called to order by C. A. Mclaughlin
OF independence, vice-president Of the
HSp-Growers' association, who an
nounced that the object of the meet
ing was to promote protection to
themselves against the sentiment in
the cause of prohibition. Mr.. Nc
Laughlin introduced A. j. Ray, Port
land, president of the association, who
gave a talk emphasizing the import
ance of organization among the grow
ers. "The growers feel,' he said,
that should Oregon go dry the hop
industry of the state, representing
an investment of over $25,0O0,O00,
will be ruined, and it will take
many years for the state to recuperate
from this financial loss should the
state be voted dry at the November
election. The purpose Of this newly
formed organization is to bring these
facts before the people of Oregon, and
to show facts and figures relative
to the hop crop in proportion to its
total value annually to the state,
showing the immensity of the crop
and capital derived from outside
states in comparison to any other
kind of farming.
GAS it is estimated that he value
of the Oregon crop ranges from about
$3,0O0,000 to $5,O00,000 a year every
town in the valley practically depends
on the hop industry. Independence
from August | to the middle of Sep
tember has from 5000 to 10000 pick
ers who remain from five to six weeks,
at which time the merchants do a
thriving business as many of the pick
ers purchase enough supplies to carry
them through the WINTER
The purpose of the organization of
the hopgrowers, it was explained, is
not to antagonize any section of the
country, but to enter upon a campaign
Of education to save the vast amount
Of money realized by the continued
growth of this industry, and the enor-
nous amount paid out for labor to the
people of the state. The growers say
they are confident they will be ruin
ed and that the state of Oregon will
suffer the loss should this product
be entirely wiped out. 1t was strong
Iy advocated to bring these facts be-
fore the hop growers, hop pickers and
others whose livelihood depends in
my measure on hop production, and
IN that matter offset the efforts of
Drohibitionists. Beyond this, it was
stated, the association will take no
part in the controversy of the present
political campaign. Among the speak
RS were James X. Linn of Salem,
lewis Lachman, C. +. kirkpatrick
If Dallas, w. w. Percival, Indepen-
lence, o. A. Macy, president of the
Commercial club, DIR.
cartwright, of Harrisburg, George
Ball, of Ballston, Frank Durbin, of
,alpm and Dr nuncmore