Los Angeles herald., 1891-01-27
From the Bayers' Standpoint.

EDAlOhr IEhALO Ictsu Hu - UiClo
in your contemporary, the Times, this
morning, berating you for taking sides
with the buyers in the fight now going
on between the growers and buyers.
To any fair-minded reader your posi-
tion was only just respecting both par
ties: probably your contemporary
can only see one side OF the question at
Issue. No doubt both sides have griev-
ances, but the main point at issue is
that the grower is anxious to obtain last
years prices against all existing circum-
stances which he will not allow himself
to see. There has been no combine
against the growers. There has been
some misleading statement made by
some interested parties for personal in
terest: there are men who have sold
their crops and have no other interest
at stake than the pecuniary interest
that they might derive from the grow
ers' union. 1t does !. not. need any
special pleading to gloss over any point
in reference to the case OF the low prices
Of oranges at present. Any grower that
reads the statistics Of importations 81
foreign oranges, and the condition of
eastern markets, coupled with Florida
oranges, can easily see the cause of low
prices.
The importations which at the present
time have doubled those of last year,
Notwithstanding that duty has to be
paid.
Any amount Of sarcasm from your
contemporary will not lower the buyer
in the estimation of an honest grower,
who can not help but concede today
that the buyer is his best friend. Take
for instance the former Growers asso-
citation Of five years ago, as an illustra-
ton: OF these many growers are carry
ing in their pockets or letter files today
account sales, as records of the broken
Fruit Growers' association. where their
oranges did not net them over l5 to 25
cents q box, and many grower in
Southern California can record it as a
fact that he was drawn back on for
money to pay freight on his consign-
ments during that time, and not be-
cause the dishonest buyer did not pay
him big price for his oranges, but the
law of supply and demand governed the
market and he was forced to take what
the market would pay him.
Your contemporary asks why the con-
tracts are not made at this late date for
the orange crop.with the growers ? The
question is easily answered: the growers
want more than last years prices with
ar increased crop, which with an in
creased crop in Florida, to battle with,
also an increased amount OF imported
| fruit to compete with.
| Their deep sentiments and love for
the grower is not as strong as your con-
| temporary's love for the growers
money. Your contemporary states that
| the growers hive waited for a month OF
| two, and were willing to make contracts
at reasonable rates. have known the
growers to have repeatedly refused last
years prices, which were the highest
ever paid for oranges for the past foul
! years. In several instances have
known growers to have asked 100 pei
/ cent. higher prices than they ever got
| before, 90 you. see there Is always two
sides tosthe question.
| The sentiments that the growers ad
! vised have gone forward TO all the towns
and cities, and the conimission men arr
! looking for c0neishmenta like vol
| for hib prey, where they were before
| sending In their orders for cars OF or
anges. As g matter to be considered il
! will be remembered that five years age
| there were but few buyers in the market
compared with today, therefore there
| was not the competition between the
buyers. Yours truly, NJ.
Los Angeles, January 26th.