The herald., 1893-05-14
COMB|NEDFOR DEFENSE, NOT WAR
Important Meeting Of the Riv'
erside Orange Growers.
Outline of Policy That All Localities
Should Adopt.
The EVIL of Consignments to. Bo Brois en-
Up-Growers Must Get Fair
share of the Profits.
The Plan.


Riverside fruit exchange consists OF tn
following gentlemen;
A. IL. Naftzger, president First Ns
tional bank and grower; M. J. Daniels
president Orange Growers bank an
grower; s. Q. Evans, jr., presiden
Riverside Banking company and grower
George Frost, president Riverside Waite
company and grower; ID. W. Mcleod
grower; T. II. b. Ohsmblin, grower;
B.Crawford, grower; j Harrison Wright
grower; r. w. Meacham, grower; IL. A
Westbrook, grower.
At the Meeting yesterday the abov'
committee filed the following address:
In pursuance Of the instructions OF the
public meeting held on the 22d ult.
we have perfected the organization o
the Riverside Fruit Exchange, and with
the formal announcement OF the fact We
beg to submit some suggestions witt
which we think the growers should be
familiar.
First. let 1t be noted that this corpora
ton is not trust having for it's object
the fixing and maintenance OF high
prices, bat rather to introduce and pro.
mote such systematic and orderly meth
DDS of handling and m rketinR our pro-
ducts as will give stability and perma-
hence to the fruit industry OF Southern
California.
Nor do we seek to make war on brok-
ers and packers. But it must be evil
dent to thoughtful men that II our in
dustry 10 to endure, the legitimate profit
of the grower must be relieved as far aa
possible from,tbe danger of being dissi-
pated by hapbazard marketing or by the
caprices OF middlemen.
The one great evil that confronts and
threatens US is that OF consigning fruit
to parties whose only interest Is their
brokerage.
This evil must be cut up by the roots
totally and unfinchingly eradicated.
Growers must stop their ears to the
blandishments OF shrewd manipulators.
In thus undertaking to protect our
selves we shall expect to be threatened;
every plausible argument and cunning
device will be employed to break us into
fragments.
Happily there are cheering indica-
tions of organizations similar TO our
own, rapidly taking shape all over
Southern California. With these we
shall expect to act in accord. Does any
sane man doubt the ability Of the fruit
interest of Southern California, by com
bined action, to Withstand any assault
from whatever source?
Once again let it be noted that we are
not combining for war, but for defense.
We do ineiet that the men who invest
money and toll and take the risks are
entitled to fair and ordinarily certain
share Of the profits.
We seek no more than this; IL we be
intellie ent men we shall accept no less.
1t will be readily seen that our plan
of cooperation will not only promote
uniform and better methods OF packing
and handling, but will secure the
economic advantages Of a large pack,
with the possibilities Of cheaper ma
terisls and lower freightb.
We are to seek not only TO offer our
goods in such attractive condition as to
increase the demand and open new
markets, but to so distribute that every
market Hhall be supplied and none glut-
ted.
In the production Of good fruit, South
ern California has passed the expert
mental etage. We have the goods and
the world wants them. 1t is to be hoped
that we are able to bring to the business
such intelligence and capacity that from
the point Of production through to the
point OF contamination every detail ehall
show care, method and economy, that
producer and consumer shall be mutu-
ally contented. Incidentally our plan
of operation will afford protection to the
honest dealer who, under the present
system of consignment, ia not safe in
buying at any price.
One other matter OF considerable inn
portance requires notice.
Heretofore some growers have deemed
it necessary to consign their fruit in
order to get small advance for imme-
date use. If this organization ehall be
approved, arrangements will be made
with the local banks to make such
necessary advances at current rates OF
interest, the crop in the hands of the
local association to become security pre-
cisely as it does in the hands OF the con-
signee.
We deem it unnecessary to refer in
detail TO the plan of organization which
has already been quite generally signed
by the growers OF Riverside. 1t shall
be our aim 90 far as possible to make ef-
fective the methods therein suggested,
with euch notifications and additions
as the exigencies of the business may
require.
We do not hatter ourselves that the
plan ia perfect, but we dare believe the
combined wisdom of all parties at inter
est will be sufficient 10 rescue our SPLEEN
did industry from its present depres-
sion.
We have accepted the trust you have
conferred, and the undertaking shall
have our best thought and attention
but If we are to succeed we must have
the hearty support OF the growers.
We are 70 serve without compenss.
ton. All we ask is that the growers be
willing to allow the actual expenses OF
trsnsscting the business under such
methods as we may find necessary to
adopt.
We shall expect opposition. We must
be ready to meet it. The men who have
grown rich from commissions and per.
centages will not abandon the field
without struggle. The evils that be
set us have been growing through the
years. We cannot uproot them in
day. Let US patiently and courageouely
meet the problem and find a,eolution, OF
make one.
1t is needles to say this board canno
succeed alone.
Give us freely and frankly any eugges
tionH or information, and when out O
the mass of facts we are able to formu
late plans let every man respond viii
prompt support.
We cannot succeed with a fragment n