Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1916-03-17
SNOW REPLIES TO
SPUD CLUB CRITICS
PRESIDENT OF ORGANIZATION
TELLS REASONS FOR IT AND
OUTLINES IT'S PLANS,


submitted the following communica-
ton this week, in which he sets forth
the reasons which led up to the for
nation of the club, the way it's bust
ness is to be conducted and the re-
suits it proposes to attain:
Editor Washington Standard:
Much has been said through the
columns of your valuable paper for
and against the organization of a
potato club in Thurston county. /
feel that some of the writer's at least
do not really know why this club was
organized or they would not ask you
to send abroad their letters denounc-
ing the interests of every farmer,
merchant, banker and professional
man of our county.
There is one thing certain, one
thing that cannot be denied by any
intelligent person, and that is, II the
farmer prospers financially by pro-
ducing better crops and by reaching
out and getting fair prices for them
and then bringing back this money to
his home county and spending it
there, every line of business do
not care how great or small-will
profit through his effort. The thrifty
farmers are class of people always
striving to improve their farms and
they cannot do this unless they can
obtain the cash to do it with.
Must Extend Credit.
The merchants in all lines are
forced to give credit and take chances
.of ever getting their money on at
least so per cent of all farmers in our
vicinity, and some have to be carried
for year. Now do not misunder-
stand mel am not claiming this 60
per cent of farmers are dishonest. I
do claim that whenever a merchant
sells you a dollars worth of goods
without receiving the cash for it, he
is taking chances on you, for life is
uncertain.
Our merchants, as far as possible,
are willing to take our goods in ex-
change and to give credit on the bill,
but there are so many different farm
ers who owe them that the merchants
do not need to put up the cash to keep
supplied. Then again. the merchants
of our county have trade that de-
mands better article than they can
obtain in our home market and this
must be supplied or the trade will be
lost. Not that we cannot produce the
goods in quality and quantity, but
that we do not do it. The merchants
are then forced to send to Yakima for
potatoes. to Wenatchee for apples, to
supply this trade, and the careful, OBJ
serving farmer, especially II he be-
longs to an organization and lives up
to its rules, receives the cash that
should 60 to the producer at home.
Mr.. Editor, have shipped as high
as seven carloads Of potatoes belong
ing to different unorganized farmers,
to one firm in one order, to be
shipped to Texas, and I can truthful
ly say that at least two carloads out
of the seven we're far below standard.
Did I ever get an order for more po-
tatoes from this company? No.
Could I IL they had all been up to
Yes, as these people were
in the potato business. Now stop and
mediate for a minute-was the rep
utation of the potato growers of
Thurston county injured? My an
swer is. it was not only injured but
killed. by those who received the poor
potatoes. Now remember, some of |
these potatoes were as fine as ever
left any station in the United States
and could have demanded top price,
but the small, inferior, knotty, ILL
shaped ones in the shipment killed
the effect Of the good ones, and this
stands out against the |
Thurston county farmer today in
some localities of the United States.
Club Members Agreement.
Now wish to state that the Olym-
la Potato club has only % members
at present. These men have signed
an agreement that they are going to
raise certain number Of acres of a
certain variety of potatoes, that they
are going to sell their potatoes
through the officers of the Olympia
Potato club, and that they are going
to grade. pack or sack them according
to the orders received from the buy
ers. They must place their names as
producers on slip Of paper in each
sack for shipment and the potatoes
are subject to inspection by the Of
ficers of the club. The club is ready |
to and will guarantee every potato !
sold and all will be stamped with the
name of the Olympia Potato club.
H., 60