Arizona republican., 1921-03-23
CO-OPERAH TIVE MARkET|NGACT
 BECOMES A LAW
Governor Signs Measure
 Sponsored By Cotton
 Association With Pen Made From Pima Stalks

The Cooperative Marketing act is a law. Governor Thomas E. Campbell signed it yesterday at 2 o'clock. And thereon hangs a story.
 The new marketing act was signed with stalk of Pima cotton.
 No, it is not impossible. It is a fact. And it came about in this way: The bill is the Sapiro model cooperative marketing act, practically identical with the law passed recently in Texas and other southern states to enable pro- ducers to organize for marketing on a truly cooperative and democratic basis.
 It was introduced by Jones of Mari copa at the request of the Arizona American Egyptian Cotton Growers as sociation to furnish the proper basis for the new organization on the suc- cessful California plan it has helped to formulate the Arizona Pima Cotton Growers. The bill passed both houses without a single dissenting vote. Nat urally, when the bill was about to be signed the governor notified the asso- citation. Permission was asked to sup ply the pen to be used It was granted. So at 2 o'clock W. S. Stevens, presi- dent of the association and chairman of the executive committee; Dr. J. c. Norton, J. c. Dobbins, J. J. Phillips, and
 
 cotton growers organization commit tee, went to the executive office and were received by the chief executive of the state.
 Governor Campbell said the spokesman for the committee, you are | about to sign one of the most construc- tive pieces of legislation passed by the fifth legislature. Its provisions are broad enough to enable the producers ,1@ t< ganize on a proper basis for co-opera- tive marketing.
 'It applies equally we'll to the cot l ton producers, the cattle men, sheep men, the grain growers, fruit growers, alfalfa planters, or the producers of any other agricultural commodity. It will provide the vehicle which, properly utilized by the producers to form com modity marketing organizations, will | lead them into prosperity and greater and more consistent profit But it was the cotton growers who were most interested in the bill at this time. It is the cotton growers who 1 will utilize the new law first, as a means to proper organization. We therefore request that you use this pen with which to sign the bill.' 1 A box was handed to the governor. The outside was covered with various | Sdiiiplcs ut AldTdCleT tlOIn woven l from Pima cotton. Inside, reposing on Ia bed of extra fancy No. 1 Pima, lay what looked like simply a stalk of cot 1 ton.
 1 It0was a stalk of Pima cotton, with | two opened bolls on it, but to the bot tom was fastened new gold pen whose first use was destined to be the sign ing of the bill that will, properly used | bring back prosperity to the cotton growing industry in the southwest Taking up the pen, the governor re- piled: ''Gentlemen, I think that house
 bill 164,. the cooperative marketing
 act. is, as you say, a good bill. and 2
 constructive step in advance in Ari-
 zona statutes. It is one of a large
 number of good bills passed by the fiftf legislature. It is, now a law. I hope
 that it will be used to bring greater
 prosperity to Arizona agricultural in. | terests.''