Smyrna times., 1921-04-13
LOCAL FLAX GROWERS MEET
Hold an Enthusiastic Meeting Last
Evening and Vote to Back Flax
Corporation in Their Efforts

OOA POAotAOA AAANAA A@hOAeS
An enthusiastic meeting of fax
growers was held in the Boy Scouts
room last evening by those who had
obligated to grow flax this year, to-
tai of 1000 or more acres. The meet
ing was to consider proposition OF
the Chesapeake Flax and Linen Cor
poration for "give and take" plan of
procedure in this first and vital year
of experiment to get the industry fully
established in. our midst. The meet1
ing which was attended by Farm Bu-
reau leaders and other representative
farmers, discussed the proposition
with Charles D. Stockly, president of
the flax corporation and it was unani-s
mously decided to back the enterprise
and lend every aid and encouragement
with the hope of establishing an in,
dustry that meant a great future for
the farming community around and
about Smyrna. The appeal of the'
flax corporation was as follows:
April 18th. 1921.
To the Farmers Bureau, and farmers of
Smyrna and vicinity who have contracted with
to grow Flax straw this year:
This meeting is most important, because
your decision tonight means whether Smyrna
shall, or shall not have flax industry. We
cannot get along without you, and although
you can get along without US, we believe that
| you will have more money at the end of the
season. should you decide to stick to us this
| year. If the farmers and the fax company
cannot work together harmoniously, the Flax
/ company might as well close it's doors tonight.
\ If you gentlemen, when you hear rumors un-
! favorable to your pocket-books, will only come
to headquarters before believing them, we Will
appreciate it. and we believe you will leave
with your opinion changed. We have heard
all kinds of rumors that have no foundation
| at all. Your committee of three appointed to
| interview us in regard to harvesting, has done
so. and they left entirely satisfied. As we
told them, we tell you now, that all we want
| is, for you to do your best and we will pay
| you $4,000 per ton, without any docking for
mistakes. From all can learn, the wheat
binder is not the proper harvesting machine
and we ask you not to use it. 1t is important
for you to know that the fax industry had to
| come to Smyrna now or never. We cannot
| hold over another year. That is the reason we
ask you to use the fax cutter this year. which
we will provide free of cost to you, and next
year, and hereafter. you will have either cut.
ter and binder, or a mechanical puller anC
binder. Both will be on the market next year
Your committee came to us, and told us frank
ly your objection to growing fax, and we ap
precate fully your taking such a step befor'
deciding that Smyrna should not have tn
benefit of this industry. We learned you
principal objection was that a clause or tw'
in the circular written by Canadian flax ex
pert and mailed to you a week or so ago
stated that fax should be kept perfect.
straight. We now say to you, that to keep tn
straw straight is the ideal way of handling ii
but if you tie it a little above center, it will b
perfectly satisfactory to us, and we repeat
there will be no docking. This year is expert
mental to certain degree for all of US, an
we must give and take. AS for individual con
tracts. if you want them you can have then
We do not need any more contract than you
word because. if you fail to live up to il
there will be no legal proceedings started. Yo
would simply be off our list for future year.
On the other hand, if we do not do the prope
thing we would be off of your list. A COPY
T this statement has been delivered to your chair
man. with the idea that if there should be an
confusion in the mind of anyone of just whs
!. the representatives of the fax company sal
to you tonight. you can refer to a printe
copy at any time. We now leave the who
: question of going ahead. or closing our door
with you. If you say close the doors you
command will be obeyed tomorrow mornin,
and if you say shoot will do our best
> please you Tonight the scales balance Whel
will you place the deciding weight-C -Chesapeal
Flax & Linen Corporation. by Chas. d. Stool
. ly, President.