SHIPPERS Apple Shippers' Association Rochester, N. Y. Vol. 3 Rochester, N. Y., March, 1913 Address all communications to the Secretary as designated above Shall The Spy Your Opinion Is Asked No. 2 Everyone will concede that it is poor business to continue useless expense. Everyone will concede that there is no use in publishing The Spy unless (1) it is read, and (2) unless from its notices we can get an expression of opinion. If neither of these results follow, then let us abandon it. THE PROUTY BILL. In the February issue of The Spy the Prouty Bill was published in full with extensive comments. Your desires were asked. This bill affected the whole system of transportation in perishable products throughout the United States and was Exceedingly Important. While the bill died with the session of Congress which closed on March 4th, yet the same bill may again be introduced at any time. The Principles Involved Are Therefore Still Important. Outside of the officers Just One Firm Indicated Its Desires. NEGLIGENT TO OUR INTERESTS. The Association cannot act unless it knows the will of its membership. If we do not take interest enough in these matters to write a letter, then we must expect to be saddled with bad bills and laws. The trouble is we pay no attention to essential things. Here was a transportation question, in which everyone had a vital and financial interest, practically allowed to go by default. No wonder the water power, forests and public utilities of the country have been "grabbed" by the so-called "predatory interests. truth is they have not been "grabbed"; the "dear people" handed the Die thing over on a silver platter with both eyes shut. They stuck a card on everyone of them: "Take One-This Is My Busy Day." After ll over we burst our lungs talking about "Conservation" and deliver eches and write interviews advocating the decapitation or life imprison ment of those who have been alive to the "main chance" and took what was forced upon them. The time to "conserve" is beforehand. A LEGISLATIVE AGE. This is a legislative age. All human aches and ills are sought to be cured by legislative enactment. If present tendencies persist, it will not be long before every activity of life will be regulated, bonded, licensed and circumscribed. Our people are not alive to these things. One bad bill can cause you thousands of dollars' loss. THE SPY. We aim to publish in this bulletin only matters which are of value to the apple industry. If, however, they are not read, let us stop and do something else. If, worse yet, they are read and no attention paid to them, then by all means we should stop, for a continuance of The Spy would then be subversive of good morals. It would be precisely like many of the laws of the land which are deliberately violated with full knowledge of their existence. It is a fearful waste of time, energy and money to keep track of these things, analyze them and present them for consideration and advice and then have no attention paid to them. The most lamentable feature about it is that in the end it is your funeral. We cannot act or represent you unless we know your desires. We cannot know your desires by inspiration or special revelation. The only way we can know them is to have them stated in the language of the realm. To tell the truth. we are a little surprised at this lack of initiative on the part of our membership. They are usually right up in the front rank on every question. There must have been some reason for the peculiar inertness at this time. IT LIES WITH THE MEMBERSHIP TO INDICATE WHETHER PUBLICATION SHALL BE CONTINUED. IF THE SPY IS OF NO VALUE, LET US STOP IT AT ONCE. The Apple Recipe Booklet Mr. Border's Great Work In the February issue of The Spy we published an article by Mr. Border under the heading "Trade Creating Booklets." On page 11 a cut was shown of the cover of this booklet. The last sentence of that article read as follows: "WRITE TO ME TO-DAY, AND IF YOU FEEL YOU CAN NOT AFFORD TO SUBSCRIBE FOR TEN THOUSAND BOOKS, MAKE IT FIVE THOUSAND, OR, IF ONLY FIVE HUNDRED OR ONE THOUSAND MAY BE USED TO ADVANTAGE, ORDER THAT QUANTITY. YOU WILL NOT BE ASKED TO PAY ANYTHING UNTIL THE BOOKS ARE DELIVERED." Further reference was made to these booklets on pages 3, 12 and 17. It is to be hoped that Mr. Border's appeal for support met with hearty encouragement. He deserves it. It is rare in the history of organizations to have such positive accomplishments brought to pass so rapidly. A limited number of these booklets have just been published. They are admirable from every standpoint. They afford a magnificent oppor tunity for wide publicity at a small cost. They are what they claim to be, "Trade Creating Booklets." We believe that every member of the Association can place several hundred of these with every grocer in his town or city at one cent each. They are worth double the prospective charge. The Association, however, does not wish to make any profit on them. WE WANT TO GET THEM INTO THE HANDS OF THE PEOPLE FOR THE BENEFIT OF EVERYBODY FROM PRODUCER TO CONSUMER. In the City of Rochester some of the ladies are taking hold of the distribution. They will sell them through their organizations. Every one of the first shipment has already been taken and paid for. This shows what the ladies think of them. It is a magnificent opportunity. Write to Mr. Border for a sample copy and then place your order. Nothing like them has ever before been issued. Every house will want one. Few people realize the amount of work Mr. Border has done and the tangible results achieved. We now have in our hands a printed list showing the names and addresses of the persons wanting these booklets and the number each desires. Listen! Up to date 1,134 applications have been received from all points of the compass and for an amount exceeding 500,000 copies. The Committee has worke! in the face of discouragements, but it will "deliver the goods." The Chairman is a fighter; he has the nerve. He will win anyway and in spite of everything. Again listen! We want at least $2,250,-enough to print 225,000 copies. Make your subscription NOW. If you want and can distribute the booklets, order them. We believe that five hundred will cost you $5.00, and so on up, providing we can raise an amount sufficient to print the 225,000. This is a business proposition. It means business. It isn't just talk. The goods can be delivered. There is nothing problematical about it. The proposition is first class and worth twice the price. This whole campaign has been thought very highly of by the best men in the country inside and outside of our own ranks. "Better Fruit" will feature it in a coming issue. Let us get in the collar and give this proposition the support it has more than earned. We owe it to the man who has worked so faithfully and intelligently in the interests of the whole industry. We owe it to ourselves. It Is A Business Opportunity. Write U. Grant Border, 218 Light St., Baltimore, Md. Do It Today. A TOUCH OF KINDNESS There is no little and there is no much; We weigh and measure and define in vain. A man can die of hunger walled in gold, A crumb may quicken hope to stronger breath, Some little thing which tells for life or death. -Susan Coolidge. |