The morning call., 1894-09-14
WlNEMEN'S WOES.
Further Discussion of
Their Affairs.
WHY WETMORE OBJECTED.
Disappearance of the Growers
Committee.
THEY WILL NOT MEET THIS YEAR.
Producers Will Dispose of Their
Crops on the Same Plan as
Last Season.
WHY WETMORE OBJECTED.
THEY WILL NOT MEET THIS YEAR

ganlZDg committee, whose acu0n In
abruptly calling their session to a close
last Wednesday evening has elected no
little comment among wine circles, have
departed homeward without having ac-
eOmplished the least sign of a result, ex-
cept that of creating greater discord among
those interested in the movement.
Charles Wetmore was openly jumped
upon by the members as a whole for not
coincidi 9 with their views in the matter
OF organizing, and now that the affair is
over, Wetmore comes to the front with a
statement which bears quite a different
hue from that which the affair was given
by his opponents.
When seen yesterday Mr.. WetmOre ex-
planned the matter in detail and gave his
reasons for not submitting to the dictates
of others. He said:
"Three distinct propositions were laid
before the general meeting. besides two
others which were imperfectly outlined.
"Judge Stanly of Nara County proposed
a cor poration of grape-growers, the capi al
stock of which should be subscribed for
on the basis of $40 for each acre of vine
yard, and suggested that perhaps only 90
per cent should be called for at first. 1t
was stated by him that this would insure
capital of $4,000. 600, with 81, ,000, 900 called
In for Immediate use. did not fully com-
prenend all the de ails of such plan from
the statement made, as IL was not further
brought before Us for discussion.
Assuming that there are $1,000 acres of
wine grapes, su DESCRIPTION of $40 per acre
would amount to SS50,000; 80 per cent
called for would yield capital of $425. 900.
II all vineyards contributed. If only $4,000
acres were represented which is probably
q 10 nnnln ha roA thar rl-tr, mi
tai would be $3.50, coo. / did not understand
exactly how the rest of the $1,000,O00 was
TO be obtained, nor how it was proposed
to utilize these resources. therefore / can
not further report on this plan until Judge
Stanley Is heard from again.
"Mr. K. 9. Terry gave notice of another
plan for corporation, which was not
fully explained until the meeting of our
executive committee.
"A gentleman. whose name did not get
proposed corporation the capital of
which should be derived from an assess
ment OF a certain cash subscription for
each thousand gallons of wine production
and for each acre OF vineyard.
"Mr. AlbertZ of Cloverdale proposed the
establishment IT large warehouse for the
storage and blending of vines. to be con-
trolled by some organization not yet fully
explained.
81 proposed general pooling of ordinary
wines, to be sold on a commission basis,
with inferior wines converted by dist illa-
ton for joint benefit. all receipts from
sales to be distributed pro rata in proper
ton TO numbers OF gallons in the pool
the association to DE kept up indefinitely,
but the terms of the pool TO be arranged
annually; PRODUCERS to reserve their supe-
rior and fine grades for private sale, or,
at their option, on terms to be satisfactory
TO them, for sale on commission through
the association. This plan contemplate
a central exchange in San Francisco to
faeiliiata the work of brokers and to re-
celve and communicate information; also
TO assist in inding purchasers at fair and
equal prices for grapes apd to encourage
local associations among grape-gr0wers to
improve and equaliZe prices paid by wine
makers according TO standards of quality
In connection with this idea of a whole
sale commission agency created by pro-
dCcers for the disposition of their or
binary stocks for joint account l
suggested that. it might be Practicable
for the storage, treatment and distribution
of large part of the wines so offered,
under the management of business men OF
first-claSs commercial experience and
financial standing, the offer of sufficiently
large stocks being the inducement for in
creased capital in the management of our
wine trade. The inadequacy of present
mercantile resources for the prompt and
efficient handling of our vintages is the de-
feet in our situation | presumed necessary
to Overcome: the pooling OF ordinary
wines until tho present depression is
passed over being only temporary ex-
pedient to prevent disastrous competition
and to serve as a basis for the invitation of
fresh capital and enterprise.
before the executive committee eX-
pressed the opinion that our immediate
necessities demanded prompt action and
temporary eXpedlents; that / was and
would continue 10 be an opponent of all
plans tending toward the creation of a
permanent trust idea for the control of our
industry; that as soon as present difficult
ties were overcome by the Introduction OF
fresh cap tai and increased competition
among wine purchasers all necessities for
pooling stocks of wines would cease; that
all attempts to restrict rivalry among pro-
ducers for individual excellence Of prod.
ucts and superior prices for superior goods
would tend to prevent progress iu our in
dustry, " ieh is now far behind our possi-
bilitiss; that all Limitation of competition
among wine purchasers would result in
permanent low prices 10 producers; and
that all our troubles now spring from in
sufficient capital interested In tie mercaB-
tile adjuncts of our industry.
'These suggestions were made to the
committee, which was called together
hastily without n0tificatio to all the men,
bers appointed, so that there has not yet
been full expression of opinion. Ii tran
spired, however, that with an attendance
Of six, five were in favor Of the general
plan proposed by Nr. Terry, and have
agreed TO proceed 10 perfect the same, al
though it is understood that it cannot be
put into practical operation In time to
affect the prices and purchases of grapes
this year.
''I object to the proposed plan because it
provides for trust pure and simple, and
attempts TO place the business control of
the wine Industry permanently in the
hands OF 1--WE men, or majority of nine
directors. to be elected OH the corporation
plan; because it provides that % per cent
of the wine production shall pass into their
hands without defuite idea as to any
time for dividend on sales; because this
working capital would be entirely insuffis
cient to supply the corporation with funds
to control the majority of the grape and
wine crop; because winemakers could not
conduct their business if deprived indefi-
nitely of one-Quarter of their vintsges; be-
cause without possession OF certificates of
stock for five years they would nave no
collateral evidence of the property they
had entrusted to others. and because all
such granger organisations invariably re-
suit in bad business management and fail