Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-06-10
Shall We Move On or Staonate?
(Portland Press Horald.)

(Portland Press Horald.)
Names sweet corn is not surpass-
ed by any produced in this country
IL it were exploited as are the prod
ucts Of some states it would bring TO
Maine many times the revenue which
now comes from it. Packed under
one LABEL, sold by q cooperative COM
pany, nationally advertised and with
modern selling methods applied there
is really no limit to the quantity
Which could be sold.
The packers who are organized
have several times sought to employ
up-tO-datc and progressive methods
to expand this business but there are
some Of them who have refused
70 enter into such plans. They are
holding all the others back and the
state rs wcl. Their idea Of making
profits is to squeeze the sweet corn
growers down to the last penny,
stick 70 the old ways Of doing bust
ness, permit packers elsewhere to la
be! their product Maine Sweet Corn"
and take away from them the cream
81 tho market.
There is no earthly reason why tic
grower Of sweet corn in this State
should not command not a living
price but tho top notch price for his
product or Why the packers should
not sell their product at higher pric-
IS and not be able to fill the demand
for il. Both the farmers and the
packers are vitality interested il hav-
ing this done. Instead Of fighting
one another and Quarrcling over the
/ fraction Of a cont a pound they ought
to set together, organize a cOopcra-
tive selling association, spend a lib
crai amount of money in popularity
me Maine sweet corn and multiply
the business which this State can
DO.
THIS is not 4 problem for polti-
Clans to solve. 1t is ono which the
packers and farmers acting together
ana tremendously can easily find q
solution for. 1t may require the out
lay of little money at first but, like
the fruit growers Of California and
Oregon they can almost Immediate
~ reap their reward ana it would
mean several millions Of dollars to
Maine.
The day for exploiting the farmer
on every occasion has passed. Either
| the farmer must be rewarded by rea-
sonable returns for the money he in
vests, for the risk he runs and for
the work he does or he will seek
something else to do which will pay
Elm better than farming docs. Tho
last census showed Names rural
population steadily decreasing. Ev-
crNonc knows the boys and girls will
not remain on Maine farms because
they can sec no future for them in
agriculture. These boys and girls
orc The Very best crop the State pro
duccs. We cannot afford to lose
them. They can he kept at home if
, they arc given chance and it is up
/. to the business mon and all the poo-
pie Of this State to see that such
chance is afforded them.
Developing the sweet corn industry
IS one Of the things that can be done
almost 81 once. The hotel and trans
portation companies Of this State
thought that national advertising,
done in the right way, would increase
our summer tourist business. This
is the first season an advertising
cImpa IN on an extensive scale has
been attempted. It is too carly vet
to determine results but the indica-
| tons arc that even tho first years
effort will pay big returns. Inquiries
from prospective vacationists. in re-
spOnso to advertising. arc surprising
ly large. The same results will fol-
low tho exploitation of the sweet
corn industry. Maine people are
ncElcctful Of their opportunities il
something is not done along this line.
Giving tho farmer better markets
. for his products; helping him set bet
ter prices for the things he produces:
assisting him in making his business
profitable, will help turn the tide to-
wards Maine farms. 2 great many of
which arc unproductive under pres
ont conditions. These are things the
state can do. LEGISLATION cannot do
them. State aid is not required. It
. is not job for the politician but for
the business man and fnancicr. The
display Of a little progressive spirit
ana determined effort to help our
solves cannot fail 10 bring results
Shall We do something along this
line or shall we continue to stag
nate?