Los Angeles daily herald., 1886-08-24
THE GRAPE GROWERS.
A Large and Enthusiastic
Meeting Yesterday.
AN ORGANIZATION EFFECTED.
Committees Approximations to
Enhance Value of Grapes.
Rose for Governor.

i
Rose for Governor.
| About one hundred Of the prominent
vine-growers and wine-makers OF the
county held an enthusiastic meeting in
the Board Of Trade rooms yesterday al
ternoon. 1t was an adjourned meeting
from the initial one of last week. MIR.
n. ID. Barrows acted as chairman of the
meeting and Mr.. Geo. Rice as secretary.
The committee on constitution and by.
laws reported an instrument under which
to effect an organization of permanent
nature.
Mr.. l.. j. Rose, the founder of Sunny
Slope, made a very clear and forcible adj
dress, showing the circumstances out oil
W hieh the necessity for such an associa.
ton has grown.
Gen. Pile, OF Monrovia, seconded
the suggestions Of Mr.. Lose. urging the
forming Of strong central society Of
those interested In viticulture for mu.
tual protection and the furthering Of
their common interests. All grape.
growers should come into this. and they
should pledge themselves and give Of
their means to sustain the society.
Mr.. j. w. Batcheller, OF Fruitland,
moved to receive the report of the com.
mittee and to discharge them.
Mr.. A. Brigden, Of Fair Oaks, wanted
| to know II the formation OF such
society would interfere with the getting
up OF similar organizations OF a local
| character all over the country.
MIR. Rose said this organization was
not meant to acquire or possess plants
for producing grapes, nor for making
wine. 1t was simply to use all proper
means to uphold the price Of grapes. All
in it should pledge themselves not te
sell grapes at less than fixed price.
The report of the committee being re-
ceived and the committee discharged,
| the constitution and bylaws were taken
up seriatim for adoption.
The main features of the instrument
are that the society is to be called
THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GRAPE
GROWERS ASSOCIATION.
ANY one feeling an interest in the
matter of grape growing can be a mem
Der by signing the constitution and by
laws and paying one dollar initiation fee
and fifty cents per month.
Mr.. Rose took up the matter of free
brandy for fortifying sweet wines, and
discussed the absolute nee ssity of get
ting some modification of the existing
law, and OF the censorious and stringent
measures by which it is at present ad.
ministered. He wanted it understood
that Mr.. Webb the special agent, Mr..
Ellis the collector, and Mr.. Miller at the
head of the department, was each work
ing in harmony with the others as he
honestly interpreted the law. But the
law and this way of enforcing it
was crippling an important industry at its
very inception, rand if continued instead
of increasing must diminish the federal
revenue, by shutting up the wineries
and distilleries.
Mr.. Batcheller wanted a guarantee
that the growers, not the makers of wine,
are to get the benefit of any change in
the law.
But the laws of political economy will
attend to that. If this special tax is
taken off there will be fair profit in
wine.making. When this becomes ap.
parent to capitalists they will come for
ward and put more money into the en-
terprise. This v ill create demand for
grapes and the demand will raise the
price.
1t was ordered that all officers of the
Society serve gratuitously. and that full
statistical information be gathered from
time to time regarding the planting OF
vines, the number increasing, and the
prospects of the coming vintage.
On motion of N. G. Carter it was or
dered that no debt be incurred for more
than 500 without vote of two thirds
of the whole membership OF the society.
1t was resolved that the fees OF mem
bership be one dollar per quarter or "a
annually, payable quarterly in advance.
The constitution and bylaws were
adopted and large number of vineyard
lists signed their names to these docu-
ments as members of the association.
On motion l.. j. Rose was unani
mously elected President of the Associa-
ton and IL. d. Barrows, w. A. Pile, l..
NJ. Hellman, J. IL Burke aud Thee.
Reiser Vice Presidents, w. II. Work.
man Treasurer and Geo Rice Secretary.
N. C. Carter, Rtmi Nadeau, n. w.
Getchel, j. W. Batcheller, ID. M. Nc
Garry and Henry Stuhr were elected
Directors.
Two hundred copies of the bylaws
were ordered printed.
By resolution the President was re-
quested to appoint a committee OF three
members to prepare Q plan for securing
fair price for wine grapes. ard to re-
port on Friday next, August 81, at Il
o'clock The President appointed a.
such committee II. d. Barrows, D. NJ.
MeGarry and w. II. Workman.
Mr.. Rose offered to lease to the grape
growers who were not prepared to make
wine, the use of his immense distillery
in this city, for the season, for the sum
of $780, The proposition was received
with cheerst
Mr.. W. II. Workman offered the fol-
lowing resolution.
Resolred, That we, the grape-growers
and wine makers of Southern California,
assembled, would hail with plea ure the
nomination of Mr.. l.. }. Rose as Gov.
ernor of the State, regardless of politics
Adopted by reclamation, with cheers.
Mr.. Rose stated that the grape grow
ers of Los Angeles should fix the price
of grapes, and he would abide by it in
whatever grapes he might buy. A con
cert of action was important and imper
alive.
The meeting then adjourned Till Fri.
day, August q, at II A, NJ.
After the adjournment Mr.. Charles A.
Wetmore, Chief Viticultural Officer of
the State Viticultural Society, was in
troduced to the audience by Mr., Rose,
aud re requested to meet the wine makers
this eveuil at 1870 O'Clock at the Pro.
duce Exchange and address them on the
subject of adulterat,d wines, sweet
wines and the tax on native brandy.
MIR. Wetmore, after some interesting
remarks, accepted the invitation.
Mr.. Rose stated that he had said at a
former meeting and not as reported that
there had never been an admission that
brandy was used for terrifying sweet
wines, that did not pay revenue tax, but
the expression was that such Is the be,
lief" 1t has never been stated that
there was permission by any Commits
sioner of Internal Revenue or by any
deputy that such fertilization was per
mitted without paying tax.
The meeting was of the most interest
ing character, but full report of the
proceedings is crowded out by other i'm
portant matter.