The Mercedes News (Mercedes, Tex.), Vol. 5, No. 17, Ed. 1 Tuesday, January 17, 1928 Page: 4 of 8
This newspaper is part of the collection entitled: Texas Digital Newspaper Program and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the Dr. Hector P. Garcia Memorial Library.
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THE MERCEDES NEWS
Semi-Weekly
“First with the News”
Published each Tuesday and Friday
morning at Merceres, Texas, in the
Lower Rio Grande Valley, by the
United Printing Company, Inc.
SUBSCRIPTION: $2 per year ip
Hidalgo county; $3.50 per year else-
where.
ADVERTISING RATES: Classified,
full information on classified page.
Display rates upon request.
TELEPHONE 65 for news, advertis-" tor in the Rio Grande Valley:
COOPERATIVE MARKET-
ING ACCOMPLISHES
MUCH
So that it may not be forgot-
ten we want to restate what the
Rio Grande Valley, Vegetable
Growers’. Exchange has accom-
plished this winter:
(1) The solidification of lo-
cal associations from Browns-
ville to Mission. One marketing
unit controlling so far almost
50 per cent of the vegetable
tonnage of the Valley and mak-
ing itself a factor in the market
and, in truth, the controlling fac-
ing or job printing.
Entered as second class mail matter
at the postoffice at Mercedes, Hi-
dalgo county, Texas.
THE COOPS’ EXCHANGE
AND THE CASH BUYERS
The Vegetable Exchange did
the right thing when it refused
to have anything to do with the
proposed shippers organization.
While the avowed purpose of
this shippers organization is to
improve marketing conditions in
the Valley, it is nothing more
than a combination of cash buy-
ers driven together by competi-
tion furnished by the coopera-
tives and whose real purpose is
to fix the price which they will
pay the growers up and down
the Vali’ey. The cooperatives
could not be decieved or gulled
into such a proposition. The
cooperatives have been making
such high returns to their mem-
bers that cash buyers are unable
to make the profit they want
and meet the prices received
by the cooperatives. The ob-
ject of the cooperatives is to re-
turn to the farmer the full mar-
ket price. The object of the
cash buyer is to buy the farm-
ers produce for as little as he
can and sell it for as much as
possible. As long as our coop-
eratives exist the cash buyer
cannot, by express or implied un-
derstanding between themselves,
fix the price which the farmers
shall receive for their product.
The tonnage of the coopera-
tives is now so large, and as they
opeerate at almost all of the
shipping points in the Valley,
conditions as they have hereto-
fore existed are impossible. The
greatest results, however, will
be obtained when all the grow-
ers in the Valley are members
of the associations and the cash
buyer is entirely eliminated.
The cash buyers admitted
they were whipped when they
went to the Exchange with such
a proposition. The Exchange
rendered their members the
greatest service of the year
when they declined to negotiate
with them. As'we understand
it these cash buyers intend to
hold another meeting in Merce-
des today but the Exchange in-
tends to take no part in it and
we think their decision is cor-
rect.
Fortunately for the Exchange
when they heard that the cash
buyers were calling on them
they notified all’ members of the
board of directors of the Ex-
change asking them to be pres-
ent. Most of them were there,
and heard the proceedings, and,
therefore, prevented any false
rumors going forth in the Val-
ley that there would be any
agreement between the associa-
tions and these cash buyers.
(2) The publication and dis-
tribution of the facts in refer-
ence to marketing conditions
generally over the United States
and competent advice as to when
and what to plant and when to
bring it on the market:
(3) The establishment of a
uniform pack and grade:
(4) The reputation for their
vegetables which has increased
the demand and created confi-
dence in the outside markets, a
condition which has not existed
heretofore:
(5) The proper grading and
packing of vegetables:
(6) The price of Rio Grande
Vegetables quoted in all markets
of the United States for the first
time:
(7) The saving to its mem-
bers of large sums of money in
the purchase of seeds for plant-
ing. In the potato deal of Cam-
eron county alone a saving of
$30,000 was effected on seeds:
(8) The filing of proceed-
ings to reduce freight rates
which assissted in the immediate
reduction of freight on perish-
ables shipped from the Valley:
(9) Securing to its member
growers for the first time the
full return and full market price
of their vegetables without div-
ision or split of profit with
anyone.
(10) The pooling of all pro-
duce amongst its members and
the distribution of the loss of
any particular shipment rateably
amongst all members, thus mak-
ing it impossible for a member
not to secure returns on any pro-
duce shipped. In other words,
any losses are absorbed by the
membership as a whole, and are
so small as not to be felt by
anyone.
From Other Papers
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
LOSING SUPPORT
It is true that the United Printing
Company, publishers of the Merce-
des News, is not a member of the
Mercedes chamber of commerce, and
does not intend to be affiliated with
it as long as its affairs are conduct-
ed as they have been in the past. The
United Printing Company, along with
the Mercedes Concrete Pipe Company,
the First National Bank and the Am-
erican Rio Grande Land and Irrigar
tion Company, withdrew from the
Mercedes Chamber of Commerce as a
protest against the manner in which
chamber’s affairs were being conduct-
ed, particularly in reference to its
attitude on the principles of coopera-
tive marketing and the secret man-
ner in which same were considered
and handled.
The above enumerated institutions
were good paying members, contribu-
ting a large amount of cash which
went towards the support of the
chamber of commerce.
Outside of the non-progressive at-
titude of the chamber of commerce on
these matters it was not right that
the attitude of these institutions
should be wholly ignored.
The chamber of commerce cannot
point to many accomplishments
worthwhile, other than the individual
work of James W. Monk, secretary,
amongst the rural communities. The
chamber of commerce has never dis-
cussed any program with Mr. Monk,
never mapped out any plan and, in
fact, has never stood for anything
and does not now stand for anything.
We think the bulk of the contribut-
ing members in the city feel the same
way about it as we are advised that
most of the members have stopped
paying and that there are not enough
revenues coming in to pay the salary
of a secretary.
The chamber of commerce does not
even have any literature on this com-
munity and if inquiries are made Mr.
Monk has to get literature from pri-
vate interests.
Anything which we have had to say
in criticism of the chamber of com-
merce does not apply to Mr. Monk,
This is lean vear With thp the secretaiT, as we regard him as
p year. Wltn tne a competent man, but he has been
Hew Fords and other popular-, very much hampered in his work by
priced geewhizzers running wild
Mrs. Mabel Tweed is in the
courts—having filed a bill for
divorce from her husband. Any
how he is getting a new tweed
suit. Furthermore, the wife
says she is going to press the
suit.
on our highways
should be good.
the leaping
A Missouri woman has spent
years in making a quilt that
contains more than 21,000 pieces
of silk. It isn’t only the quilt |
that IS crazy. _______ j be held here January 19th.
receiving very little cooperation
from the officers and directors of the
body. Most everything that he has
done has been among the farmers
and upon his own initiative.
Fred Johnson, chairman of the
Rural Relations Committee, has also
done some good work in putting on
entertainments at some of the sur-
# THE VALLEY CAN DO IT
Seldom a day passes that there
does not come to the attention of
all persons interested, the immense
advantage to be obtained to the Val-
ley if it will just get together and
by putting united shoulders td the
wheel, push, and push and push.
Investigation pushed by iCalifor-
nia organizations, cooperatively, show
that the increase in the use of Cali-
fornia citrus fruit during the last 15
years has been five times as great as
the gain in population.
But a long time ago, they found
out the fallacy of trying to fight in-
dividual battles. They got together
and pooled their forces and then set
out to conquer.
They have almost done it.
True enough, David killed Goliath
but it was a chance shot, and in this
day of preparation and knowledge,
those chance shots are few and far
between.
There may be a posibilJty that
some Valley grower may be able to
make a slight dent in the California
success, but it would be short lived.
Taking advantage of natural op-
portunities and being willing to
share the glory, of which there is
enough for all, the Valley growers
have as yet been unable to get to-
gether on a plan to seek more than
individual honors.
The attached clipping tells a bet-
ter story than any amount of ad-
juring could do.
During the season ended October
31, 1927, California marketed a vol-
ume greater by almost 7,000 car-
loads than the previous record citrus
crop, that of 1925-26, says a clip-
ping from the Pasadena, California,
Star-News.
The clipping goes on to state that
total shipments from California as
reported by railroad reached 70,600
carloads, of which 57,163 were or-
anges and grapefruit and 13,437
lemons.
The industry returned f. o. b. cars
California, in round numbers, $120,-
000,000; the nearest approach to this
was in 1925-26 when the f. o. b. re-
turns equalled approximately $98,-
000,000.
Although the Florida crop suffer-
ed severe damage from hurricane
and frost, the total supply of or-
anges and grapefruit in the United
States and Canada was approximate-
ly 10,000 cars greater than in the
preceding season, 17,000 cars greater
than in 1924-25, and 4,000 cars in ex-
cess of the previous largest supply of
1923-24, when exchange oranges av-
ereaged $1 per box less than dur-
ing the year just closed.
The satisfactory disposition of this
large orange crop stands out prom-
inently among practically every fruit
and food product. Demand has not
only been developed, but the public
has been educated to realize the
healthfulness of the delicious fruit
to a degree where it has been wil-
ling to pay satisfactory prices for
the increasingly larger crops. The
increase in the United States orange
and grapefruit supply in the last 15
years has been over five times as ra-
pid as the gain in population.
This preference for oranges has
been built up year by year largely
through the extensive and insis-
tent advertising activities of the ex-
change and its broad distribution on
shipments to take advantage of the
maximum demand.
On lemons, however, it has not
been posible to keep the demand in
pace with supply so that in years of
full production there is a surplus
beyond the present consuming capa-
city of the United States and Cana-
da.—Edinburg Review.
-o--
A “REAL” FARM PROBLEM
The Country Gentleman decides
there is no “average farmer.” The
phrase originated as the result of sta-
tistics put out by the Department of
Agriculure after it examined 13,475
farmers out of more than six million
in the United States. Also it points
out that the phrase “average expendi-
ture of farm families for clothing” re-
sulted from the Department of Agri-
culture Year Book for 1925, which was
based on reports from 1,337 farm
families.
Commenting on this, the Los An-
geles Times says: “If these figures
are true, they sweep away at one
movement some nine-tenths of the ar-
guments for farm relief measures, for
such figures evidently are worthless
as a basis for anything. They could
be used only for the wildest guess
work.
“It appears then that there is no
statistical information regarding the
condition of the American farmer,
save the general price index which is
concededly only an approximation.
This general index shows that in the
last few months farm products have
practically caught up with the price
levels of other commodities.”
There is a movement on in Con-
gress right now to apply the quota
law to farm labor coming into this
country from Mexico for seasonal
work, which returns home after the
crops are harvested. This common la-
bor from Mexico is invaluable to large
farming areas in the United States,
and has not heretofore been exclud-
ed. —
Will this Mexican labor be con-
sidered as a “real” farm problem, or
will politics be played so as to deny
the farmer this mainstay of agricul-
ture in the Southwest?—McAllen
Press.
WITHOUT COMMENT
The handwriting experts employed
by William Randolph Hearst have
rendered their opinion that the alleged
official Mexican documents calling
for money payments to four United
States Senators are forgeries. Not
without reason is that opinion made
public without comment. For what
comment could Mr. Hearst make, or
Mr. HearstV papers make, that would
excuse the original publication of the
documents?
No decent newspaper would, in the
absence of judicial proceedings, print
a statement to the effect that, while
the newspaper does not believe it to
be true, one man asserts that another
of high standing in the community
has committed a crime. Yet, in ef-
fect, Mr. Hearst’s publications did
just that in regard to the Mexican
documents. Asesrting that he did
not believe the fact to be true, but
the documents to be authentic, Mr.
Hearst authorized a publication cer-
tain to reflect upon the integrity of
four men he himself declared he re-
gardedas innocent. The official
Hearst admission that the documents
were forgeries is not needed to em-
phasize the enormity of his act.
^ Mr- Hearst’s publication of these
documents injured four reputable
officials of his country. The act in-
jured the United States Government
in^ its relations with Mexico. By im-
plication, it reflected upon the per-
sonal integrity of officials of the
neighboring republic. But, most of
all, it injured William Randolph
Hearst, and the damning summary of
his own admission admits of no ex-
oneration for himself.—Dallas News.
The civic clubs of Harlingen will
unite on January 16 to give the Har-
lingen Cardinals championship foot-
ball team, a banquet in appreciation
of^ their efforts. This city has re-
ceived much advertising, very fav-
orable advertising from the Cardinals
and every public spirited citizen
should make it his duty to be present
when the final honors of the year are
given the eleven.—Harlingen Star.
facture of toilet soaps, and in the pre-
paration of a medicine for the relief
of colic in babies.
The plant grows from two to three
feet high, bearing in its smooth,
branshing stem, thread-like leaves
and compound umbels of small, yellow
flowers. It will thrive in any well
drained soil, especially if it is warm
and sandy. Seed is sown thinly in
early spring, in drills a foot apart.
A bed twelve feet each way, requiring
at most half an ounce of seed, will,
supply the average home. The cul-
tural needs of the plants include weed
pulling, keeping the soil loose and
open, and thinning the seedlings, when
three and four weeks old, to stand
nine to twelve inches apart. The
stems should be cut as soon as the
seeds ripen. If allowed to fall, the
seeds may start new seedlings all
over the garden.
Mercedes
EMPIRE
Mercedes
—Tuesday—
“THE GIRL FROM CHICAGO”
With CONRAD NAGEL
Comedy “Dr. Kuak”
W ednesday—Thursday
Daring adventure-
bristling action—
tender romance—su-
preme entertainment in
DILL, ITS USES AND
CULTIVATION
Dill is a hardy biennial herb of the
parsely family, native to the coun-
tries along the Mediterranean and the
Black seas, somewhat resembling fen-
nel in appearance. It is grown as an
annual for its bitter-flavored seeds
which are used in seasoning in the
popular dill pickles, and in soups,
stews and sauces. Dill vinegar, made
bj' soaking the seed in ordinary
vinegar, is used in many homes. Some
use the young leaves as seasoning,
though they are too strongly flavored
for the average taste. In French
cookery dill is esteemed as flavoring
for pastry and preserves. The seed
yield an oil employed in the manu-
ten
Sabkew
fh* answer to
‘BEAU CESTE"
WITH
GARY COOPER
EVELYN BRENT
NOAH BEERY
WILLIAM POWILL
d Qaramount picture
Comedy “Perils of Petersboro”
Paramount News
Land for Sale!
We have many tracts, large and small, ranging in size from plots suit-
able for homesites and business locations to large farms in fertile areas
suitable for citrus, winter vegetables, cotton, etc. Prices moderate, easy
payments.
18.10 acres suitable for sub-division, adjoining east line
of Weslaco—Easy terms.
Full information concerning this splendid tract will be furnished upon
request. It will pay you to investigate this opportunity for investment
as prices in this vicinity are bound to advance rapidly in the near
future. Call at our office for price terms and general information. Ap-
pointments for inspection gladly arranged.
. 10.37 Acres
Near Highway
A splendid block of 10.37 acres on
mile 2 east and about 500 feet south
of the highway. Black sandy loam
soil on this block makes it quite suit-
able for citrus. Good drainage, easily
accessible and splendidly situated.
This block is quite easy to irrigate,
which is a very important matter in
purchasing land.
$350.00 Per Acre
$850 Down. Balance 10 Annual
Payments
40 Acres
On S. P. Highway
Less than one mile from a town with
ample shipping facilities.
Also will be within 1-4 mile of paved
1 road under present improvement plan.
The soil is a brown loam and ex-
tremely fertile. This tract is priced
$275.00 Per Acre
and can be purchased on
favorable terms
American Rio Grande
Land & Irrigation Co.
J. A. PHELAN, Mgr., Land Dept.
American Co. Bidg. : Mercedes
!
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The Mercedes News (Mercedes, Tex.), Vol. 5, No. 17, Ed. 1 Tuesday, January 17, 1928, newspaper, January 17, 1928; Mercedes, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth634986/m1/4/?q=%22%22~1: accessed July 3, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Dr. Hector P. Garcia Memorial Library.