Oxford Democrat., 1921-06-28
Sweet Corn Growers.

Tn6 executive o0mmltCe6 OF the Maine
Sweet Corn Growers Association met
recently at the rooms of the Auburn
Chamber of Commerce, Auburn, d. C..
Buzzell Of Fryeburg, George &. Merrill
of Gray, Charles r. Trip Of Canton
Point and Charles b. Crawford Of
Augusta being present. Several matters
Of interest to the association were dis
cusDed but the principal item of business
was the preparation Of statement on
the sweet corn situation and the con-
troversy between the growers and the
packers. The following was Issued by
the executive committee:
"In viewing the aftermath of the con-
troversy over the sweet corn industry Of
Maine, It would be we'll for the growers
and public to view some of the results
which show and will be more In evidence
In the future. 1t 10 very much regretted
that the outcome of the situation has
caused the practical standstill of the
industry. All this could have been
avoided had the packers been willing to
srbitrate the matter with the executive
committee Of the Growers Association,
but the plain fact was that they thought
by taking their contract to individual
farmers they could dictate their price
In the old-fashioned way and at the
same time smash the Growers Asso
citation. The mistake is theirs and up
on the packer does the blow fall most
heavily. The old-fashioned farmer 10
practically Of the past. The organized
farmer is here with education, expert.
oooa Cksko afd and National anIo,sa
mept.
"Mr. Baxter's article In the public
press has been most vigorously az
swered by the farmers themselves, and
while the farmers at once resented 1t as
an attack upon them, the public gener-
ally probably took Il - an attack on the
secretary, Mr.. Crawford. Mr.. Crawford
is the paid secretary and treasurer of
the association, and while he has shown
great interest and ability In working for
the association, We wish to state that
there has been no definite action taken
by him, no meeting called, no articles
given to the press, except by orders or
approval by the State Executive Com.
mittee. And this committee is directed
and controlled by the president and vice
president of each county associations; 90
that Mr.. Crawford was merely executing
the orders Of 1000 farmers.
"Mr. Baxter says Mr.. Crawford 10
leading the farmers In unfamiliar paths.
he means the farmers are going into un.
familiar paths. We fear that the pack
ers will realize this In 1922 to their re.
gret. The farmers now realize % never
before the amount of effort, time, energy
and money he was putting into bis sweet
corp business In order, ~ one packer
said, TO have little spending meney
In the fall It IL surprising how readily
the farmer Is adapting himself to other
lines, and another year when the packer,
who let his business 60 by for . differ
ence OF about 8 of cent on can, will
learn that instead Of the farmers getting
diminished returns to get the business
back, % Mr.. Baxter says, the packers
will have to make attractive concessions
In order to find the farmer who formerly
took their fixed prices which gave them
their fst returns. Mr.. Bakers 5000
pounds to the acre 10 all right to dangle
In the public eye, but 1t does not appeal
to the experienced farmer. The Chal
lenge for any packer to give his sworr
average number of pounds per scre FOL
Ave or three years, has never been 90.
cepted.
"Instead of pulling apart, Why not ge
together and work for our mutual vel
fare and the interest Of our Statef WI
are eli red -blooded Americans.
| (Signed) 81. A. PLUMMER.
| E. G. BUzzELL.
GEORGE e. MERRILL.
G. r. TRIPP.