The record-union., 1892-11-05

mon -OCAo AAllO nlltu VI tL1G lSA AlIOIJ
that they had lost. This, at least, was the
desire and necessity of the major portion
OF the membership.
Instead of following out this idea and
holding conferences with the railroad
managers to see ii something could not
be accomplished by an amicable arrange
ment, the Traffic Association has never
even approached the railroad officials on
q subject of such vital importance 10 the
jobbing trade of San Francisco. Although
the association has less than ten members
III the interior OF the State no conference
was held on this ubject for fear of antag-
oniZing the interior sections of the State,
though the san Francisco jobbers repre-
sented over 80 per cent. of the total MEM
bershlp Of the association. Instead of
the desires and necessities of
the Jobbers of this city to the railroad
with the force of the Traffic AS
sOclatlOn back of them, no step in this
direction was made, but a useless agita-
ton was started with the California State
Board of Railroad Commissioners so as
TO demonstrate to the interior OF the State
that its interests were identical with those
OF san Francisco, although, as stated, the
interior gave little or no support to the
association. while on the other hand,
nearly the entire revenue OF the concern
was derived from san Francisco jobbers
and merchants.
The fact, however, remains, and must
be admitted by all, that in making San
francisco distributing point the inter-
ests of this city and the interior are not
identical, because the interior jobbers
viii not look at the question in its proper
light and refuse to recognize the fact that
San Francisco is SO geographically Stu
ated as TO make her the natural distrib-
uting point for this section of the coun-
try. They also refuse to recognize the
fact that the United States courts have
conceded the fact that all seaports are en-
titled to lower through rates than inland
points. The difficulty is that we cannot
satisfy the San Francisco jobhers and the
interior at the same time, and by endeav-
orlng to satisfy every one as to the broad
ness OF the objects of our association, we
connot do for our members, who are
nearly all from San Francisco, what they
demand and need, VIZ, open up new ter
ritory in which they may distribute their
trade. Had the Traffic Association taken
up this question at the beginning with
the transportation companies without
fear of antagoniSm from the interior, l
feel satisfied that much might have been
accomplished for the relief of the San
Francisco jobbing trade, instead OF. as has
been done, tying up the question for
many years.
We should have first, by peaceable and
AAthA AAANailSs GU III DGli5lll
our own city, as our support came from
this city, and with the power behind the
association am positive that the railroads
would have made concessions that would
have been OF incalculable benefit to our
jobbers. At least, something would have
been accomplished. AS it was political
agitation was preferred, and even if some
thing were to be accomplished thereby,
and the Legislature should establish rates,
the matter would be tied up in the courts
for many years. Instead of accomplish
ing anything for San Francisco, we have
thus prejudlced the case so far as this city
is concerned. Nothing was ever accom-
plished with great corporations by begin
ming with force or threats. This was not
the intention of the Traffic Association
when organized, as already explained.
In founding the California Traffic Asso-
citation we were guided by the experience
Of like organizations in Chicago, ST.
Louis, Omaha and st. Paul. These all
accomplished their objects by working in
harmony with the railroad companies,
and more recently conferences of the
business men of salt Lake with the rail-
road companies, brought about by Mer-
chants Freight Association, modelled after
ours, have resulted in gaining concessions
for them. amounting to nearly two mill
ions year, and making Salt Lake City a
distributing point for a large adjacent
territory. Doubtless interior localities
objected, but to no avail, as the Salt LAX 9
merchants carried their point.
Here, where we have the law with us,
recognizing San Francisco as a tide water
competitive point, we could easily, I
think, with our powerful association,
have accomplished our object, making
this city large distributing point, if we,
as an association. were not afraid Of what
the interior might say. AS already
shown the merchants outside of this city
only contributed about per cent. of the
revenue OF the association and the bal
ance OF 81 per cent. comes from the San
francisco business men, and the bulk of
it from the jobbers, an attempt to serve
whose needs should have at least been
made by holding peaceable conferences
with the railroad officials, to endeavor to
bring about what were the desires and
wishes of the majority of our member
ship. Too much regard, however, was
paid to the interior and what it might
say, and too little regard to San Francisco
jObbers, whose business requires relief,
and who did not ioin the association to
agitate, but who hoped to bring about. as
quickly as possible, a better understand
ing as between themselves and the rail-
road officials in regard to the needs of
the community. Clipper competition is a
good thing, ofcourse, but when you land
1900 tons of freight here by that method
we have got to have points to distribute it
10, and therein the services Of the rail-
road company are certainly required,
Besides, unless these goods can be dis
posed Of readily the profits on them are
no more than by shipping the other way.
Competing railroads would be a good
thing, but these are so far off that relief
cannot be waited for in that way. The
business interests of San Francisco re-
quire of the Traffic Association amicable
and peaceful efforts with the carriers to
accomplish something, for in the past the
Southern Pacific Company has, when the
emergency arose, conceded many things.
AS member of the Executive Commit
tee for the first year, I urged such con-
ferences, but whenever the question OF
San Francisco as distributing point was
raised it was opposed on the grounds
that it would antagoniZe the interior, al
though it was admitted that this was the
principal object OF the organization. AS
such a large proportion of the member
ship is from San Francisco, it is only a
question of a short time before the Traffic
Association will be compelled by the
members to take up this question prop
erly and endeavor to make OF this city a
distributing point, as it should be. AS a
business proposition, for the benefit of
san Francisco, the Traffic Association
will be 4 success; as a political organiza-
ton it will go to pieces.
1sIDoR JACOBS.
ITS FULL SCOPE.