The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1924-02-07
Committee of Five To Make
Detailed Study of Cal
ifornia System
BANKERS PLEDGE
FINANCIAL HELP
Members to Devote Time to
Work Until Plan Has
Been Formulated

The Northwest apple growers
committee of five named by N. b.
Coffman, president of the State
Chamber of Commerce, will leave
Yakima tomorrow to study first hand
the system of handling fruit in CAL
ifornia. The board is holding its first
meeting, since organization, in Yak
ina today. 1t is making detailed
outline for the California investiga-
tion and has several typewritten pag-
es Of questions which it will endeavor
to have satisfactorily answered in
California.
The purpose Of the California trip
is to formulate general plan for
the northwest before attempting any
local organization work. Upon its re-
turn from California the board will
establish headquarters in Yakima and
members will give their entire time to
the work until plan is ready for
submission to the several fruit grow
ing committees. 1t is thought this
work can be accomplished by the lat
ter part Of the present month.
The Yakima Valley is represented
on the board by j. r. Schwartze, of
Yakima, fruitgrower, business man
and legislator. He has been elected
treasurer Of the committee. Other
members are r. III. Moses of Cash
mere, president, j. M. Langdon, Walla
Walla, secretary, E. M. Gillette, Of
Malaga, and c. X. Benton, of Hood
River.
The expenses of the board to Cal
ifornia and other preliminary expens-
es are to be paid from fund of $5,-
900 pledged by group of bankers
who were present at the meeting in
Chehalis last week when the commit
tee was organized.
o. A. Fechter, president of the Yak
ina Valley bank, has pledged the Yak
ina banks for $1,000. Isaac ID. Hunt
Of the Ladd & Tilton bank, pledged
Portland banks for $4,000. A similar
pledge for the Seattle banks has been
made by z. B. Cox of the Washington
Mutual Savings bank. Wenatchee
banks have been pledged for $1,000
and Walla Walla and Hood River for
$500 each. The remaining $1,000 will
be contributed by banks in the small
er districts.
Mr.. Fechter who has been taking
an active interest in the apple mark
citing plan since its inception express
es the greatest confidence in the COM
mittee. He compliments President
Coffman for his selection Of the COM
mittee.
4Tt seems the final plan will be
similar to the one used in California
but upon additional study the COM
mittee may find other methods more
adaptible to the Northwest. The New
Zealand and Wenatchee plans are also
being considered" says Mr.. Fechter.
The committee will lose no. time
in developing and presenting COM
plete detailed system for the market
ing of the entire deciduous fruit of
the Northwest" says A. G. Cherry,
attorney, who attended the Chehalis
meeting. "Such plan is to be de-
veloped and organization effected
with the least possible delay consis-
tent with careful consideration and
sound procedure. Organization will
undoubtedly be effected this year.
"The committee appreciates the vi
tai Importance Of beginning its pro-
gram of organization at the earliest
possible date and hopes to present
its plan and start organization before
the expiration of the present month.
"Under the existing plan Of the
California Fruit Growers exchange,
which is benig seriously considered,
the local associations are organized
under one definite system and ar
rangement of the district exchanges
and the central exchange. 1t is high
ly important that organization Of
local associations be deferred until
this general organization plan is
adopted, if it is selected. Otherwise
they will be out of harmony with the
general organization and financial
system of the exchange.
"Any organization without ade-
quate financial facilities can not well
succeed, and any proper financial plan
must, of course, be based upon def
mite system Of organization for the
local association. After the plans are
perfected the committee will be glad
to have and will welcome, the assis-
tance of any other committee or COM
mittees in effecting full and COM
plete organization of the Northwest.