The Monte Vista journal., 1916-09-23
,e THE FARMERS UNION
prING STUNG BY BOYLE :?

,seelve an unjust or unfair return
=, his products. A year ago this
-. eyemplifed in a protest against
representative Of the Boyle Com
,ission company, of Wichita, Kan
,,s whom it was charged under
,uoted the potato market. The
povle man was threatened with per-
,oual violence and thereupon with
drew his questionable tactics.
We understand contracts were
,sned between the growers and the
farmers Union Association this year
,or delivery of practically ninety-f1ve
ner cent of the potato crop of the
Monte Vista district. Thereupon the
hoard of directors of the association
sutered into an exclusive contract
with the Boyle Commission company
| TO market the output. the purpose of
The agreement being to secure the
best obtainable price.
The government ten-year average
shows percentage condition of 1855
IS against 67.4 condition for 1916,
Involving shortage of 42,2SO.OOO
bushels of potatoes. With these fig
ures before them the farmers of the
San Luis valley were in position
to expect unusual high prices for a
crop Of potatoes of recognized high
quality.
1t has been charged on the streets
that the Boyle Commission company
we're employing their tactics of 1915
and were under-quoting the market,
from the fact that their quotations
we're almost invariasIy a dime lower
than those offered by Independent
buyers. A meeting of the potato
growers was called Saturday night at
the Eureka school house for the pur-
pose of ascertaining the truth of
these charges and to suggest rem
edy for an unfavorable situation if it
existed. At this meeting statements
we're made by local dealers and out
sde buyers to indicate that there
was no necessity for cutting the
prices.
In the light of Investigation this
seems to be true. We understand
Inc Union market today to be $1.30
and are advised that outside buyers
are Offering to take everything, in
Guiding the Union crop, at $1.40.
W, E. Anderson, a western slope buy
81 Tor the Olathe Produce company,
INFORMS the Journal man that they
are paying $1.40 for potatoes F. o.
b. olathe for the western slope prod
act' and our market always tops the
western slope by nickle. Giving
urther color to the truth of the
'narges, telegraphic adviccs have
'een submitted to us today, the gist
u which is as follows:
We have direct Information from
arge buyers that are quot
ns $l.4O. We sold today $3.50 to
'i'oo; nothing less than $3.50 and
elused lots of business at $1.5O
ocause we could not get the pota-
oes 1ast enough to fill our orders.
'uere Is no need of making low
r'ces, for crop is short everywhere.
'e can sell fifty cars daily at our
''ces II others do not quote for
ess."
ooihe OF the farmers have voiced
'i'cism of being excluded from an
pen competitive market and urge
4a' the action in closing with one
apofatlon is operating to their
etriment.
Every farmer properly believes in
sanitation. 1t is conceded that or
a'i'zed effort requires wise manage
l0n'' l,' and we firmly believe that any
'''olsm or effort by member or
'n-inember of the Union is not for
le purpose Of attacking the Union,
~ ~ lor the ultimate purpose of Sc
=. =. ing the last dollar for his prod
" and ltkawiua th,< ~ 1T, ,o;rb
VI which is one of the fundamental
N'poses OF Farmers Union.