The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1920-11-26

STUPENDOUS GAME
OF FRUIT POLITICS
NOW BEING PLAYED.
By Rufus Woods. in the
Wenatchee World.

The biggest game of fruit pol
itics ever played in the North
west and probably in the country
is being staged these days in the
Wenatchee valley. 1t is a game
in which not only the fruit crop
of the Wenatchee valley is in
volved but also that of the entire
North Central Washington-and
more For the fruit sections of
the Northwest are centering their
attention hitherward to this sec
ton as the Buckle of the Great
Fruit Belt. The fruit crop of
this section which is involved in
the discussions figures a value
running from $10,00O,00O to 500
100000. while the crop next year
promises to run into $25,00O,00.
The crops of Yakima. Walla Wal
la, Hood River and other North
west sections known as the boxed
apple country are also largely
tied up in mutual interest with
that of Wenatchee and the North
Central Washington country.
For the past few days there
have been two big factors in the
game that is being played. We.
call it game-for it is a game.
And it is one so closely linked
with the future hopes of every
grower and resident of the North
west. The two star players just
at this time are Fl. G.. Bohlke and
w. s. Crutchfield. Bohlke has
just staged the most stupendous
the most spectacular, and to all
evidences thus far the most sue
cessful single-handed job of mar
keting ever undertaken in the his
tory of the apple industry.
Crutchfield landed here a few
days ago to give the Northwest
Fruit Exchange of which he is
the controlling head the "once
over" He not only has given it
the once over but he has decided
to stay for awhile, so he has been
here for the past week. One year
ago Crutchield perceived the
idea of bulk investment in apple
land for the avowed purpose as
was stated at the time of "sta-
bilizing the fruit industry" He
and his associates threw in a mil
lion dollars into this section and
bought up some of the biggest
and best orchards of the valley.
Crutchfeld and his associates are
interested also in shipping. They
have been handling great vol
umes of produce from other parts
of the country.
These two men accordingly are
the ones who are now in the mid
die of the stage. Crutchfeld is
backed by millions of money, has
had much experience in the game
he is playing, and believes that
he has the wherewith and experi~
ence to point the growers of the
the Northwest toward the land of
Promise-a stabilized market
Growers on the other hand.
are asking the question why he
didn't do it this year. In the
meantime Bohlke. confident of his
ability to finance the market of
The valley plunged in with what
funds he had. and with what
credit he had which was big, and
bought up what is reputad to be
2600 cars of Wenatcheo valley
apples-enouph in fact to give
him control of the crop At least
it begins to look as though he had
control of the Winesap crop. And
he has demonstrated thus far his
ability to get the money.
Comes now a strong movement
among the growers TO organize
the growers into a solid unit and
ask Bohlke to assume the man
agement. And he has PLAYED the
unusual game of telling the men
from whom he bought all about
il. lust how he did II and what he
received for the apples he has
been buvirg.
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