Evening journal., 1919-02-04
GROWERS CLASH
WITH GAMERS ON
Tomato PRICES
CONTINUED from page ons.l


ing TO pay SIS a ton or thereabouts.
But as for $50 a ton. they say they can't
pay such a price and compete with
western Gamers. who pay much lower
prices than prevail In the East for to-
matoes.
The Gamers express fear that II the
differences are not adjusted and small
acreage or tomatoes Is put down, the
Delmaryia Peninsula may lose It's pres
tige as canning section and the bus
mess may be gobbled UP permanently
by western packers.
To try TO bring about some amicable
adjustment OF the differences between
the tomato packers and growers. the
Tri-Stste Gamers Association arranged
for todays meeting In the Playhouse,
TO be addressed by former Judge j.
Harry Covlngton, Of Rdgely, Md,
former Congressman from the Eastern
Shore Of Meryland, and former judge Of
the Suprement Court OF the District OF
Columbia. He Is counsel for the Ma
tlonal Gamers Association and familiar
with the canning industry.
The meeting was attended by several
hundred men. The growers were not
so largely represented as were the
Gamers.
Judge Covinston, however. did not
set 10 the meeting, but he sent a let
Ter and II was read.
Jude CoNington's letter. which was
sent TO II. p. Strasbaugh, president OF
the Tri-State Association and read by
him, was as follows;
February 3, 1919.
"Nr II. p. St~asbaugh. President Tri-
State Packers Association, Hotel du-
Pont, Wilmington, DEL;
MY dear Mr.. Strasbaugh-Tt Is with
extreme regret that / nnd that there
has developed since Friday last a mat
ter Of absolutely vital Importance 10
the future OF company which repre-
sent, and that | am In consequence
compelled 10 be In New York on Tues
day morning. The privilege and pleas
ure Of addressing the members OF the
Tri-State Packers Association and their
guests at Wilmington on that day is
therefore denied me. My interest in the
success OF the canned food business Of
'h" country and In the resulting ben
eflt from such success 10 Gamers and
farmers alike causes me, however, 20
tahe the liberty Of writing TO YOU a
few words about some matters which
seem to me Of most serious Importance
at this time.
IN the first place, there is certainly
more important 10 the Gamer |
than the assurance of permanently in |
creasing consumption OF his products. I,
This can come In but one sure way. !
The American people must have a prac- (,
tical guarantee that canned foods are
prepared under the best sanitary con-
dtions. and they must also be assured F.
that the containers hold a full guam I
tity OF pure and healthful food. Uni !
formity Of standard producing condi- |
tions, and OF products will commend the |
output OF the trade TO the consumers.
while there will be left a sufficiently
open field for the existence Of that
competition which develops the fancy
products. Such uniformity, meaning
thereby uniformly fine sanitary condi- |
tlons and good quality Of healthful food
used In full measure, can be assured
to the public In but one way, and that
Is by a system of inspection conducted /
by such an organization as the National !
Gamers Association. It seems TO me |
OF the utmost Importance, therefore. |
that the inspection system which is |
to be made a special service Of the Ma |
tional Gamers Association shall be !
whole-heartedly accepted by every can
ner In the Tri-State territory.
"Of scarcely less consequence % the |
canner than the quality Of his food |
products Is the price at which they may |
be sold to the consumer. This country |
has just passed through an era Of alb |
normal high prices. Foods Of many |
sorts have received an artificial price |
stimulus through government regula- |
tions and government prices established |
for the express purpose Of assuring the |
largest possible production. Regula-
tions Of that kind will no longer exist. |
Conditions which made for high prices |
will shortly cease. The Gamers profit |
must be found by putting into effect |
methods Of efficiency in production, and |
by purchasing his raw materials al
somewhat lower prices. He will thus
still be able TO sell his product at a
profit when the price falls to the sure
t0-be-reached lower level. Efficiency is
his own problem He must solve IL by
intelligence In watching and reducing
his factory costs.
''The price Of his raw material pres
ents problem which the Gamer must |,
solve, however, In cooperation with the /
farmer. No one wants to take from the
tiller OF the soil a single unnecessary
penny of his profits. But the economic
and industrial situation OF America al I
this time should be fully realized.
1.-THE question Of wages in this coun-
try is a serious one. and it is a very
real problem In fact for the whole civ
ilized world today. Il seems to be gen
e~allv accented by our wisest states
men that wages In the endless variety
Of our industries cannot be much re- I,
duced until the cost OF the food and
which the wage earners use
Is FIRST reduced. Applying that 10 the
canning industry, the canner and the
farmer must cooperate each to take a
sure but smaller profit TO do his part
In that American reconstruction policy
which Is to bring back business to nor
NAL The farmer by voluntarily reduc-
ing the price Of his raw material may
have less abnormal proflt on his pro-
duct but a more assured one through
the existence OF canneries able TO take
his material after the artificial prices
are gone.
3" cannot, therefore, too strongly urge
upon you that it is the duty OF the
Gamer and the farmer to cooperate
with each other to prevent the COM
petitive bidding for raw vegetable pro-
ducts 10 reach such a figure that the
canner cannot hope to sell his goods
at profit unless at such an abnormal
price as TO cause labor attitude which
may readily lead TO dire results in this
country. The farmer may. think,
fol r.