The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1916-03-09
OPEN LETTER TO
MIR. WILMER SIEG
March Q 1914

March 2. 1916.
Mr.. Wilmer Sieg, Sales Manager.
Apple Growers Assn,
Hood River. Oregon.
Dear Sir: On November IL, Bl5.
you addressed to me the following let
ter:
with recollections Of very delight
ful day with you there, absorbing the
hospitality of yourself and Mr.. Parsons,
it seems wrong to break in with ques.
tion. but would much sooner have you
give me the true know ledge of the facts
than to take cognizance of it through
the talking of somebody else. under
stand from some of our friends in the
valley that a circular has been iussed
by your institution, stating that our
Mr.. moomaw in London had old rs cars
of Newtowns, choice, at 81. 40 delivered
New York. This information is abso-
lutey incorrect. do not want to put
confidence in the source received it
from, and would like to know from you
personally whether circular to this
effect has been issued or not.
with kind regards to you and thank
ing you for the hospitality extended. /
remain, Yours sincerely,
(Signed) Wilmer Sieg,
Sales Manager.
To this letter l replied on November
10th as follows:
1T is entirely proper and an evidence
of good feeling, that you should write
frankly on the subject of anything that
needs explanation. l have looked over
our file of weekly bulletins and find an
item in our bulletin Of October 28th.
extracting a report Of our London office
as follows: i learned yesterday that
Moomaw had sold for the account of
the Apple Growers Association, Hood
River, Is cars of c grade Newtowns to
Ridley & Houlding. and 10 cars OF e
grade Newtowns to Gerald Da Costa,
both for this market. counts IT'S to 225,
at 81. 40 +. o. b. New York, delivery to
commence in November This item
was published IN our bulletin without
comment or criticism and out of any
connection that might be construed as
critical or uncomplimentary. In otheI
words, it was an impersonal statement
of reported fact. From the way your
letter reads infer that you regard a
report of such sale as inimicsl to your
interests, whereas in fact sale OF 2t
cars G grade Newtowns at 80 cents +.
o. b. Hood River is a cause for con.
graduation and certainly not of criti'
cism. 1t may we'll be that this report
is erroneous. If so, why not take the
benefit of this testimony to your sales
manship? Certainly would not refuse
a similar offer and between US do yor
think you would? IL so, my dear Mr.
Sieg, you are more of an optimist or
the apple market than l am.
81 sincerely trust that this will cleal
up the matter to your satisfaction.
am glad to have you come to me direct
ly in any matter which seems to require
explanation and will avail myself o1
the same privilege and am glad that
relations are such that this procedure
is possible on either side. With kint
regards, am, Yours very truly,
(Signed) W. F. Gwin,
Vice Pres. & Gen Mgr"
You replied to this letter under date
of November 10, 1915, as follows:
"Your favor of the 10th received
| am gald to have the letter from yor
because | was little worried at moi
getting your report.
"Ihe mention of prices in bulletins
is matter purely. in my opinion, one
! that concerns the party making the
sale and does not concern the competi'
tor. The report was of considerable
moment here because these reports are
unfortunately magnified very largely
and ! have my own ideas as to prices
which we are obt, lining and have not
yet gone as low as suggested. Perhaps
l am an optimist; may be llwill vino
up wrong, but at the same time dc
not see the good-fellowship apparent ir
| issuing such statements. | have abso'
lutely refrained from issuing statements
concerning your good selves, statements
that have had thoroughly confirmed
from markets, because considered II
none of my business at all and that you
we're operating as you thought wise.
| None of US know the future of this
season very 1clearly. We are all hop
ing, but | would like to see you stop
this mention as regards US or our do.
ings. 1t is taken advantage of and
know you would make us all feel more
kindly toward you if such items as this
were left out of all sections. In all
respects you are dependent upon abso'
lutte hearsay evidence which is not to
be relied upon always. and while we
are fortified with liberal quantity of
this stock we do not feel that it is good
judgment to advertise prices on &C.
count of bearing it might have on ties
now in progress and sincerely hope you
will stop this. You will find yourself
better for it. | believe we can work
together closely, but let's keep our
affairs, as far as sales are concerned,
to ourselves. Write what you want, and
write to your own representatives un-
der personal cover, but when you issue
a circular it is a broadcast proposition
and it is liable to hurt where you least
expect it.
Yours sincerely,
(Signed) Wilmer Sieg,
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