Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-04-03

u.
they so tenacious about retaining that reso.
luton that the minority of the Trustees
sought 10 have rescinded They say 10 Del
cent. is TO cover all. The Courts NAV con
strRe differently.
At this point the meeting took a recess
for dinner.
Afternoon Session.
Mr.. Stephens resumed: 1t is not clear to
every one that 10 per cent is TO cover all
the commissions of Mr.. Porter. MANY be-
lieve that he can recover an additional
amount.
Mr.. Porter Gnterrupting)-I will state
right here. Mr.. Stephens, that as honorable
men we are willing to give writing saw
ing that we understood 10 per cent. was to
cover all.
Mr.. Stephens-Well that would be a very
good thing to do; but it is not q question
between you and l. 1t is purely matter
OF business between yourself aod the Board
of Trustees. | would like to ask the pro-
ducers here if it is not true that if freights
were reduced TO $500 or less it would re-
dound to the interest of every producer.
cause an active market and more BUYERS
II IS directly in the interest ofevery grower.
We don't come here with a contract asking
you to give us your fruit upon one condi-
ton, that you surrender your property in
terests 10 our control. Better leave the
rates as they are than to get a reduction
with the proposed restriction. We offer to
give you the low rates. and allow you to be
independent. | never have combined to
injure any one. am the equal of any of the
gentlemen who represent the Union All
the Trustees of the Fruit Growers Associ-
alton are fruit-growers in every sense. The
Trustees of the Union must not arrogate to
themselves the right to
CHARACTERIZE Us AS scHEMERs
Unless they accord us the same right to
| criticise their acts and motives. Mr.. Por-
Ter is buyer, Just as long as Mr. Buck
says he can buy. No one can say, except
Mr.. Buck, how long that will be allowed.
viii Mr.. Porter sacrifice his fruit in place
of that of the consignor? l have little
knowledge of human nature. and think
that the loss would fall upon the consignor
and not upon Mr.. Porter. Mr.. Porter's
agencies are to be made wherever he sees
| fit to make them. There is not a word in
that contract as to their location. He adj
mits that there may be sub commissions to
pay. Those sIb-agents will sell at what
ever price they choose, remit to Mr.. Porter
whatever amount they like and from which
he will deduct his 10 per cent. Whose
cars will thus be broken up? Not
Mr.. Porter's. Concentration is their ar
gument. Monarchs claim that they
can manage the affairs of the people
better than can the people themselves
| They think, at least their arguments indi-
| cate it, that it is wrong for fruit grower
to manage his own business, for fear that
in so doing he will injure his neighbor.
All corporations simmer down to the bene-
tit of few. If you are working to that
end then restriction is what YOU want
| What Of
down to the benefit of few The speaker
briefly referred to the Changers Corpora
ton and Farmers Insurance Association.
and showed how the public had been
gulled and swindled by those institutions
He claimed that he knew what he was
speaking about, for he had suffered finan-
cial loss at their hands What. he asked
is the basis of the Fruit-Growers' Associa-
ton? Its membership costs but one-liftE
as much as that of the Union. Our Secre-
tary gets but $50 per month while actively
engaged, and all the other expenses will
not aggregate more than 800 per month
A total expense, of say $3.50 per month
not mere. What does the Union cost Z
Figure up the princely salaries, and see
Manager, $3.50 per month Secretary, Sl5C
per month; President, 500 per month
$500 per month, or $1,000 per annum, fol
these three dignataries, and
GOD ONLY KNOWS HOW MUCH
Their contingent expenses will be- All We
desire, all that the grower wants, is re-
duced rate of freight and a multiplicity OF
buyers. Come in with us; the rate will
thus be secured and we will keep Mr.. Por-
ter amongst us, as we have in the past, as q
buyer. BY doing this you have protected
yourself, you have accomplished the oh.
ject for which alone the Union was pro
posed and organized. If Mr.. Porter
will not remain and buy, there are
plenty of others, with capital al
their backs, to take his place. The dangers
of glut in the Eastern markets is no aTgu-
ment, for it is part of the business OF
shippers to know each others field of ac-
ton, they know the destination of every
carload that is shipped, they know the
wants and requirements of the different
markets. Mr.. Hatch in bolstering up thai
idea, says that it would be better to have &
5000 rate than q $500 rate, or even free
shipment under the plan adopted by thS
Fruit Growers Association. He would
handicap the producer for the sole purpose
of concentrating the fruit into the hands o.
one particular individual Let us try the
Associations plan for one year. In sc
doing we surrender no right,
WE SACRIFICE NO PRINCIPLE.
II they carry out their ideas of concentra
ton they will dump three car loads of frui
upon the shippers at once to, as they say
crush him out. Is that IN the interest oil
the producer in the interest of California
fruits. If the Union succeeded in this, the
East would look to him alone for fruit He
would hold in his grasp all the machinery
of this gigantic monopoly. 1t would belong
to him, it would in no sense of the word
be the property of the Union. You would
have to take from Mr.. Porter Just what he
chose to give you, and the shippers and
growers would soon become tired We
don't assume anything of this kind. We
don't wish to exercise dictatorial power
We ask you simply TO come in TO the Asso
citation, subscribe stock and thus secure fo1
all the desired objects-low freights and
liberty of action. If YOU cannot get The
prices you think right through the Union
then you can ship through Us on your OWE
account at $500 car. If you are sincere
conscientious and honest in your profes
siODs and desire a reduction in freight rate;
you should join an organization which vii
secure You that right untrammelied Yot
don't have to surrender single right. W.
don't say to you, I'VE don't believe yoI
are able to manage your Own affairs"
Mr.. De Long-Would not Mr. Porter b,
the best man in the State for this position
MIR. Stephens am not criticising Mr.
Porter; but, from the writings you hav,
read to-day, Mr.. Porter guarantees moth
, ing. 1t does not appear that he has any
thing al stake.
Mr. De Long-If ten or twelve fruit
buyers come out here from the East, woule
they not combine against the growers
, Would they not form if-you -will-tckle
me-I-will-tickle-you society? We wan
. nothing of that kind. We propose to pu
in that place
THE GREAT AN,
J Mr. Porter. who knows the markets an,
, the people, who can dictate his own term
and secure profitable prices. Low freight
{ and multiplicity of buyers is the yer,
worst thing we could possibly have. Th