Evening journal., 1918-03-15
farmers HEAR OF
TOMATO Situation
z. N. Soper States That
Government Has Not
Fixed S2I Price
SAY THEY CAN SELL
HENS IN STATE, TOO
Special 10 THE EVENING JOURNAL.

Special 20 THE EVENING JOURNAL.
DOVER Del. March i5.-Wlth nearly
800 farmers OF Kent County assembled
IN the Dover opera House this morning
10 discuss the tomato situation. IN crest
ran high and an were eager 90 get In
formation desired about price fixing by
the Government for Delaware tomatoes.
Todays meeting was under the au-
spices OF the Kent County Farm Bureau
and was presided over by +. NJ S0per.
Immediately after calling the meeting 20
order, Chairman soper made a report OF
the visit OF the bureau committee, con-
sstlns of himself and j Moore. vice
president Of the association. 20 Wash
ington 20 make an investigation as TO
the reports in circulation for several
weeks that tomatoes would be con
tracted for at the rate OF S2i per ton. OF
IS cents per basket
Chairman SOper stated that the visit
Was most satisfactory. not that auy par
ticular information was secured frnm
the food administration or army and
navy departments. but from Dclaware's
senators Mr.. Salisbury and Mr.. VOL.
colt who went thoroughly into the mat
ter before the Senate. giving assurances
20 the Delaware delesatlon that no
prices for tomatoes had been set by any
division Of the Government whatever.
As 90 the selling Of poultry. 70 was
stated that senator Wolcott told Dele
gate Moore 20 50 back 20 Delaware and
srll lll the hens he desired and set uu
he could fot them
The report OF the committee was re-
ceivod with tremendous applause and
rising vote Of thanks extended the COM
mittee.
A general discussion followed the re-
port as to the work Of the Kent County
Farm Bureau In trying 90 aid The farm
ers In every way possible as 10 prices
for all farm commodities.
A motion was made that the farmers
Of Kent county agree 20 contract for to-
matoes for the present season al 30 cents
per basket This motion, made by a
non-memher OF the bureau. was declar-
ed out Of order and generally con-
demned. the concensus of opinion being
that the farmer should he allowed 90
sell his tomatoes at whatever sum he
might desire.
4 Mr. Way, O recent resident OF Kent
county. addressed the me ting as 10 the
cost Of production Of farm products.
claiming that the farmer was not maxi
+ ing any money. BE condemned the rail-
road and postal authorities because OF
loss OF products sent by him 10 differ
ont parts OF the country through those
two mediums, claiming that fully hall
OF his shipments of eggs 40 New lorh
and other points had been stolen or LOST
/ Ia transit.
James II Hughes addressed tne meet
!, ing, opposing the fixing or any price on
7 tomatoes. expressing it his belief thai
the farmer or grower should be lefl
10 do as he chose N the matter Mr.
Hughes urged al the farmers 10 CO.
operate with the bureau 10 making 10 s
\ success and at the same time prove
a bene1t 10 The farmer In receiving
The right prices for his products
The Government representatives Of
the Fooi Administration did not arrive
until noon.
Ex-Governor Franklin Fort. OF New
Jersey. q member a. % Food Admin s.
ha,.on at Washington, addressed the
meeting After giving a General outllni
Of the work OF the Food administration
which be claimed was purely war
measure and would cease after the war
ended, he spoke Of the su 5ar, hour and
other shortage In fool commod ties.
giving assurances that al satisfactory
equalization OF all food p oducts would
be made and must be M. le if the war
+ is ever won by America. He emphasiz-
/ ed The fact that speculation ihroughout
/ the country had been cut out and
would remaia cut out.
+ The question OF the piIce OF toma-
toes which so vitality Interested the
/ Delaware people, was then taken up by
/ Governor Fort and explained, appar-
emily 90 the satisfaction " an lie
pointed out that the Utah and Callfor-
MIA producers agreed on Afieen dol
lar per ton price: Indiana. Illinois and
other western States on an eighteen
dollar per ton price; and western New
York agreed on a twenty dollar price
In explaining the part iie army and
navy had in the affair Mr. Fort stated
g that department had come 90 the
Food Administration and asked them
10 fx a price on tomatoes, which they
'efused 10 do. The army and navy de-
partment then asked for bids and re-
ceivcd the prices a, enumerated above.
u was then agreed Dv the department
mat FOR Delaware. Maryland and New
Jersey a price of s2l per ton be fixed
Mr. Fort made % plain that n the D,la-
ware canncr does not want 10 bid on
the Government plan be does not haVe
10 and he can depend as heretofore on
D.. .Ia