Monte Vista journal and Monte Vista graphic-reporter., 1924-10-31
So The People
May Know the Facts
Del Norte. Colo.
October 2S. 1924.

the Monte Vista Tribune in the Oct
%. issue Of this paper, written b!
Mr.. A. f. Headlee whereby he try
To Justify his action toward the Pc
tato Growers COOPERATIVE Market
ing Association.
In Justice to myself and othei
members OF this association l con
slider It my duty as a member OF the
executive committee to answer this
part of Mr.. Headlee's article and
give the people the facts and lei
them be the judge as to whether MT
Headlee's action deserves criticism.
Mr.. Headlee states that he did not
join because he did not approve OF
the arrangements for the first year.
this could not have been Mr.. Head
lees reason for not joining for the
facts are when Mr.. Headlee was ask
ed to Join and was appointed mem
ber Of the organization committee
for this association. no one could
tell Just what arrangements could
be worked out the first year for the
reason 1t was just in the process OF
organization and no arrangements
could possibly be made until the as
sociation was formed and incorpor-
ated. and SO far as l know Weyl-
Zuckerman was never mentioned or
even thought of until long after Mr.
Headlee had taken his stand against
the association, for when the COM
mittee went to see Mr.. Headlee the
last day before the closing OF the
membership campaign they then in
formed Mr.. Headlee that II the San
Luis valley could put 1t over they
were in favor of hiring Mr.. b. A.
Gibson as general manager and es-
tablishing our own sales agency. And
I want to make II plain that II Mr..
Headlee had heard that Weyl-Zuck-
erman was to be the sales agents, he
certainly had more information than
any member who was elected on the
Executive Committee. for the mem
bers of this committee were unani-
mously In favor of trying to market
our potatoes through a cooperative
selling agency and did not change
their plans until we found II i'm
possible to finance the association
through an agency of this character.
MIR. Headlee says he refused to
sign because the committee could not
tell him what all the arrangements
would be for the first year. 1t seems
TO me that this Is very flimsy ex-
cuse for no one knew at that time
just what could be done or who the
Officers OF the Exchange would be.
Did Mr.. Headlee refuse to qualify
as a member OF the State Legislature
when he was elected as a represen-
tative before he knew what all this
plans were? Did he wait year to
see whether all the arrangements
were satisfactory before taking his
seat In the legislature. No: he went
there and took his seat and his duty
was to work for the best Interests
Of his constituents. and II Mr.. Head
Tees action In refusing TO sign
contract was not prompted by what
h. thought would be his personal
sain then II was his duty as = potato
grower 10 assist his ne'shbors In
keeping away from such pitfalls As
he would poin, ou, now. and NOT
,nk. advantage OF his neiEhbor by
o,.c,ns all his potatoes on the mar
net at q time his neiEhbor was ho'd-
ing his potatoes off the market TO
try to stabilize the price.
MIR. Headlee's reasons for not join
iuy tn. association are not cons"-
tent with his actions. for II !; was The
fac, we had weyl-Zuckerman m
agents last year was his reason Tor
not joining. h. has had plenty oil
time to join the association since
~. have established our own sell
ing agency, and Mr.. Hcadlec en-
dorsed the man VINO IN no" "c"" VI
our selling force and sold most o'
his potatoes To this man when h'
xas an independent dealer.
As long as the farmers continue 'e
work against each other and mes
like MIR. Hcadice will not work II
harmony for the benefit OF all en-
gagged In the sam. occupation ins'caf
Of his own selfish interests. then th'
organization will never attain I'M
success In marketing their product
that II should.
II Mr.. Hcadlec is sincere In nj
actions In making laws that he say
will be a benefit TO the farmers ~
whole. then why In the name of soo'
common sense does he not Join u