The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1922-09-12
LAUNCH DRIVE
To HALT SP I'D
MARKET DELUGE
Seek to Restrict Potato
Shipments as Means of
Stabalizing Quotations;
O'Neil at Head.

A movement was started Thursday
in California for the purpose OF unit
ing potato growers throughout the
United States on plan for restricting
potato shipments for the purpose oil
improving market conditions. Every
potato growers association or organ
ization of potato growers of any sort
throughout the United States was wiz
ed Thursday night to assist in the
movement.
The man selected by the California
potato growers to lead in this move
ment was Thomas O'Neill, president
of the California Vegetable Union.
The California Vegetable Union is
selling agent for the six cooperative
potato growers association of Califor-
mia.
Thursday night Mr. O'Neill wired
all potato growers associations
throughout the United States as fol-
lows:
'In an effort to stop present demon
allied conditions of the potato market
we suggest to potato growers in prin-
cipal commercial producing districts
throughout the United States the fol-
lowing plan which depends for its sue
cess on absolutely unselfish coopera-
ton on the basic understanding that
the controlling incentive on all sides
must be the good of the industry as
whole and not of any certain local
ity. The present market condition is
due to an excess supply of potatoes
and the first step toward its correc
ton is to reduce shipments so as to
give the markets an opportunity to
absorb the present surplus in each.
These are self evident facts admit
ting of no argument what ever, but
when it comes to the question of re-
ducing shipments each potato produc
ing district has its own adverse argu-
ments based on local conditions; some
on account of crop conditions; others
by reason of some advantage on &C
count of location, ct cetera, and as
long as the local conditions of each
district are allowed to influence action
the same general demoraized market
conditions will undoubtedly continue.
Therefore to overcome these condi-
tons it is absolutely necessary that all
districts unite on uniform plan for
the general good, and be willing sin
cerely to cooperate in carrying out
such a plan leaving aside for the mo-
ment any purely local considerations
for the reason that any general benefit
accomplished by cooperation will GER
tainly be reflected back in each dis
trict. Our suggestion is that for the
week beginning Monday Sept. II dig
ging and shipping operations should
be reduced one-half in each producing
district, taking as basis shipments of
the preceding week, and also that on
Friday Sept. Is a meeting of potato
growers representatives from each
producing district of the United States
should be held in the Sherman House,
Chicago, for the purpose of consider
ing and adopting constructive meas
ures in the proper distribution of the
potato crop of the United States, with
the object of presenting demoralized
arla ~
may receive some reasonable return
for their product; and that representa-
tives of the United States Department
OF Agriculture and Bureau of Mar
kets should also be invited to the
meeting. We are not specializing in
potatoes and do not own any by pur-
chase or otherwise, but are simply dis
tributing agents for cooperative asso-
Citations in California and Idaho. If
our suggestion meets your approval
will you please bring this very i'm
portant matter to the immediate atten-
ton OF all potato growers and associa-
tions of growers in your district and |
If it does not meet your approval |
please advise us what other corrective
measures you would suggest. In eth
er event will you please wire us an
expression of your opinion on the
subject to our main office, Up Union
Oil Building, Los Angeles.
The matter of securing cooperation
from Idaho growers on the above bas-
is will be considered at the meeting
of the Board of Directors of Canyon
County Farm Bureau Saturday after
noon, Sept. 9th, at their regular
meeting. Officers of the Ida
no Producers Union will also be in