The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1918-03-21
AMEN POT A TOES
w. II. Terrell Takes Exceptions to the
Unions Comments on His and
Mr.. longs Interview.
We Simply Claimed That the Market
Was Not Yet Closed and
Cars Were Needed.

Late last fall when potatoes were
being rushed to market and prices had
commenced to fall the Union advised
farmers not to crowd the market and
further demoralize prices. We thought
then and still think it was good advice.
All the potatoes that the dealers
could handle and care for were being
daily received in Princeton. Suppos-
ing the receipts here had been large
ly increased last fall prices would
have been forced down then to what
they are now. That would have been
the inevitable result.
But through the months of Decem-
Der, January and February there was
a lamentable lack Of cars especially
refrigerator cars that are absolutely
necessary for shipping vegetables in
extremely cold weather.
Lack Of shipping facilities has cost
the potato raisers of this vicinity
many thousands of dollars, and the
dealers have also been heavy losers
from the same cause.
A few weeks ago, when it seemed
there was a possibility Of relieving
the car shortage there was an appar-
ent Indifference on the part of the
dealers-I don't give a damn sort of
a spirit that did not impress us very
favorably. It was claimed that $500
cars were needed to move the Mime
sofa crop. No one with an ounce of
common sense supposed fora moment
that any such number would be avail
able or could be utilized if they were
available. It was the seeming indif-
ference of the dealers that caused the
Unions caustic reference to Mr..
Tong's and Mr. Ferrell's interview in
the Tribune. Perhaps the Union has
been too jealous in behalf of the
farmers; but we can't help it; that's
the way we feel.
Appended hereto is a letter from
Mr.. w. H. Terrell, formerly of this
place but now of Minneapolis, explain
ing his position We might add that
we do not dispute Mr.. Ferrell's con-
tentions- the promised relief has
come too late-but we do contend that
the differences we drew from Mr..
longs and his interview were justi-
fled.
Minneapolis, March Is, 1918.
Dear Bob: In the issue of the
Princeton Union of March 9TH we
noticed an article wherein you are
censuring us and Mr.. o. w. Tong,
manager of the Minnesota Traffic as
ISOLATION, and you take the position
that $500 cars are needed in Minneso-
ia at the present time for the move
ment of potatoes.
We did not see the article to which
you refer in the Minneapolis Tribune,
but we do admit the Tribune called us
over the telephone and asked us in re-
gard to Mr.. Tong's interview wherein
he advised them that Minnesota could
not utilize the $500 cars asked for.
We still maintain that it would be a
crime to have Mr.. McAdoo send $500
cars into Minnesota for potato load
ing at once as the marketing commit
tee of Minnesota advised. Up to and
including the 9Th of March there had
been shipped out of Minnesota, accord
ing to the United States Bureau of
Markets, $1,000 cars Of potatoes this
season. Do you think that under the
present market conditions that it
would be right and just to allow $500
cars to be sent to Minnesota at once
for potato loading when we have only
shipped so far this season out of the
entire crop 1900 cars since last Aug
ust? [ still maintain that it would be
crime and that if these $500 cars
were sent into Minnesota, as the mar
keting committee promised they were
going to have done, the greater part
would be setting around on side tracks
and would not be utilized, and as we
all know these cars are badly needed
in other districts for other business.
Under present conditions which are
prevailing throughout the country we
should utilize all cars which are avail
able to their fullest capacity and keep
them moving under load so as to have
them utilized to their best advantage
for the whole United States.
We believe we have the interest of
the Minnesota farmer at heart as
much as anybody in the state of Min
nesota. We would like to see the en-
tire crop of potatoes which is in the
hands Of the farmers and in the hands
Of the warehousemen utilized and
shipped, and that the farmer be paid
the highest possible price for, his po-
tatoes. On the other hand we would
like to see the potatoes come into the
hands Of the consumer at price
which would stimulate consumption so
as to create a demand for potatoes
still back and not shipped, and as far
as we are concerned, as we have said
in previous meetings with the Mime