The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1917-05-24
WANT FRUIT
TAKEN FROM
LUXURY LIST
Campaign Has Been Started to
Save Northwest's Fruit Crop
From Destruction
ALL MUST WORK TOGETHER
Unless Government Will Recognize
Fresh Fruit as Essential Food
Loss Will be Great

The fruit growing districts are be-
coming thoroly alarmed over the OUT
look for harvesting and marketing the
fruit crop and a vigorous campaign
has been started to induce the govern
ment to officially recognize fresh fruit
as a food and place it on the same ba-
sis as staples. In line with this gen.
eral campaign the Kennewick Valley
club at its meeting last night adopted
the following resolutions which have
been forwarded to Senator Jones:
WHEREAS: His Excellency. Pres
ident Wilson, by proclamation, called
upon all patriotic farmers to make
special effort to produce the largest
possible amount of foodstuff, and,
WHEREAS: The farmers of the
Yakima and Columbia River valleys
have by much expenditure Of time,
money and labor, brought our land to
a high state of productivity, and,
WHEREAS: Most of us have our
entire capital engaged in this busi-
ness, and it would be out Of the ques-
tion at this time to pull out our trees
in order to put in other crops, and,
WHEREAS: Our entire living and
large part of the living of those who
help in fruit harvest depends upon our
being able to market our fruit, and,
WHEREAS: We have been notified
by railway officials that our soft fruits
are likely to be classed as luxuries
and declined transportation, There
fore, Be 1t
RESOLVED: BY the Kennewick
Valley club: 1st, that our senator's
and representatives in congress be
earnestly requested to present to the
proper authorities the condition which
confronts this section; End, that in
stead of being a luxury our fruit is
an absolute necessity, not only as an
addition to the food supply, but is the
sole source of income for thousands Of
our people; Bird, that to deprive us Of
cars for the transportation Of our
crops Of soft fruits, strawberries, cher
Tres, peaches, pears, etc, will mean
bankruptcy and ruin for many Of us.
1t may also mean that instead Of be-
ing a support to the government we
may have to call for assistance. 4th,
That we recognize the fact that we will
not be able to move our apple crop
speedily. But apples can be stored
while the soft fruit must be moved
when ready or they become a total
loss.
Now we, as officers and members Of
the Kennewick Valley club, do earnest
ly beseech you to give this matter
your immediate and active atteion.
w. II. Allison,
Jas. Johnston,
Newton Newlirk,
Committee.
The fruit marketing situation is
very fully set forth in recent letter
issued by w. f. Gwin, vice president
and general manager of the North
western Fruit Exchange. He writes
in part as follows:
"The time has arrived when very
careful and wise counsel should pre-
vail with view Of anticipating, to
whatever extent may be possible, the
conditions that confront us in the har-
vesting, housing and shipping Of the
1917 fruit crop. To the extent that
wise counsel, sound judgment and tho
ro preparation prevails, may we be
expected properly to discharge our
responsibility to the thousands Of
fruit growers, in whose interests we
work, and whose families are depen-
dent upon the successful conduct Of
their affairs.
81 have just this morning returned
to my desk from a trip to Spokane,
where i attended special trustees
meeting Of the Fruit Growers agency,
at which C. E. Bassett, representing
the Office Of markets, u. S. depart
ment of agriculture, was in attendance
and consultation.
"The entrance of the United States
into the war creates number Of new
(Contipued on mage eight)