The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1917-01-18
Money Talks.
Fruit Growers
BY
Northwestern Fruit Exchange
No. 1.-The Acid Test
TO FRUIT GROWERS:

| To FRUIT GROW ERs:
10 the past great deal OF money
has been spent by the various market
ing agencies and a good deal of IT
wasted-in sending solicitors amongst
the growers for tonnage contracts.
This system has been INEFFICIENT.
1t has frequently happened that solicit
ors would make claims for their own
service and criticisms of others which
would not stand the acid test. Yet
these statements have had their effect
and altogether have helped to obscure
the issue. confuse the public mind, and
more or less directly cause money loss
to all concerned.
JUDGMENT that is not bsscd on
KNOWLEDGE is worthless. Hearssy
isn't KNOWLEDGE. Sentiment isn't
KNOWLEDGE. Rumor isn't KNOWL-
EDGE. knowledge comprehends cold,
PROVABLE FACTS. The kind of
facts that are expressed in the writing
on a check the figures in the ledger.
| II is human nature TO be more con-
servative when making a statement in
WRITING, over ones signature, than
when making it verbally.
We in the Northwestern Fruit Ex-
change believe most earnestly that the
time has come wheninefficiency, ,extrav-
agance, waste and preventable losses
of all kinds MUST be eliminated by
every factor in the industry and in
every department of it. EFFICIENCY
and ECONOMY in the picking, haul.
ing, packing, shipping. transportation
words of the industry if it is to settle
down. as ! believe it surely will. on a
basis of solid and stable prosperity. :. =.
To this end the EXCHANGE is adopt
ing a new policy as respects solicita-
tion. Instead of putting solicitors in
the field, the EXCHANGE will make a
series of authorized statements Ito the
public through this paper space. II
reaches hundreds of you growers regu-
larly If you will read these statements,
ponder them and INVESTIGATE them,
believe you will be serving your own
interests very well.
Every statement made in these col
umns over our signature we shall stand
prepared to PROVE. We are anxious
for the opportunity to prove them, so
don't hesitate 10 seek proof.
We shall try to make these state
ments CONSTRUCTIVE; not De.
lSTRUCTlVE. We shall aim to follow
Lincoln's creed: With charity to all !;
malice toward none.
| NJ ,Iozksnrt
and ours. II YOU fail, WE fail. That
is obvious, isn't it? ii you succeed, we
believe that those who serve you hon.
estly and well will succeed with you.
At the close of our seventh year of
service of the growers of the North.
west, we find ourselves IN position of
large responsibility and trust. We are
conscious OF solemn acceptance of
this responsibility and deep gratitude
for the confidence which hundreds of
growers have manifested toward US so
unmistskably. Very earnestly we wish
to continue to deserve your confidence.
So far. the EXCHANGE hasn't made
any profits for itself. Ii has shared
your struggles shoulder to shoulder.
believe that we are all nearing the
turn in the road; that on January !,
1917, every man of US faces his prob
lens with clearer understanding of it
than ever before; that at last we are
out of the clouds with our feet solidIy
on earth and that new era of substan-
tial growth. development and prosper
ity awaits those of us-growers and
shippers who do our work honesty and
well. Those of US who may be
weighed in the balance and found
wanting" will inevitably be eliminated.
This refers to districts, neighborhoods
and individuals. REGULARLY HERE.
AFTER, in this paper will appear
statements of facts and figures having
constructive bearing on YOUR prob
lens.
Will you take the trouble to read
these statements regularly and thought.
fully, with an open mind, seeking only
the truth? Clip them out of the paper
and file them away for reference should
need be. And If you doubt any state
ment made. will you ask US to PROVE
| il? Faithfully yours,
W. +. GWINN.
Vice President and General Manager,
Northwestern Fruit Exchange.