The record-union., 1895-11-07
The FRUIT GRORERS CONVENTION.
Question of Consolidated Auctions
Warmly Debated.
The Raisln Industry, Transportation
and Ventilator Service Receive
Due Attention.


the Assembly Chamber, giving it more
cheerful appearance and enllVenlng
the proceedings.
Mr. Weinstock offered resolution re-
citing that resolutions having peeh
passed for the perpetuation OF the Can-
fornfa Fruit Growers and Shippers AS
ISOLATION and the carrying out Of the
consolidated auction plan, a committee
of conference, consisting of seven, be
chosen, representing each of the sepa-
rate interests; that the committee
should meet at an early day and
shall request the attendance of all in
terested parties, in order to harmonic
the conflicting interests; also, that all
fruit growers, shippers and others IN
terested are requested to give all infor-
nation and aid toward the establish
ment of consolidated auction rooms IN
each of the Eastern cities, free and open
to all auctioneers and buyers.
r. D. Stephens, who had not been
present the day before, opposed the res
olutions. He said that he was opposed
to any action that would centrallze
the fruit products of California and put
them in the power of one or two men.
The interest is the most important IN
the State. There is probably no terri
tory on the face of the globe of the same
size that possesses equal capability to
produce wealth to the producers. But
this fact does not carry with it that ef-
feet On the contrary, the growers do
not amass wealth, but, instead, the
mortgages on their places are increas-
ing, and it is only question of time
when their farms must pass from their
possession.
He was not willing to place his prop
eTty interests in the hands of one or two
mentor that is always the outcome IN
all corporations. The richest members
always take the lead and absorb to
themselves riches. That is human ma
ture. If the growers would act for them
selves, as the growers on the American
River. and appoint their own agent to
attend to their business for them, they
would realize better prices and receive
a fair return for their labor BY the
plan proposed by Mr.. WeinstOck, the
fruit would be practically placed in the
Same hands in which it had been, and
OF which 50 much complaint has been
made. During the past season car sitter
car of fruit had been dumped on top Of
his fruit in New York and Boston, while
the markets at Kansas City and other
Western towns were bare. He men,
toned this to show the methods that
were being employed to crush out COM
petition, as he believed the fruit was
sent there because he had shipped to
that point.
The schedules that We're published
said so many cars to New York, so many
to Boston, etc, and so many to "other
points" The cars sent to 'Other points"
were, he believed, reserved to be sent to
points to which no cOnsignments had
been secured, in order to break down
what they were pleased to term 1.-The
opposition" and dump them on top of
his fruit that had been sent there.
He had spoken here because he did
not wish to be accused of acting in bad
faith. He proposed, however, to take
care Of his property and his family,
and not to turn his property over to two
or three individuals to manage for him.
IF their management during the past
year, which was a season of good prom
Use. has been so disastrous to many of
the growers. what will it be in a year or
two more, when the crop will be much
larger? How are the growers to be
Independent and form a union when
the shippers hold crop mortgages over
them which compel them to ship with
the mortgage?
The five-day fast service that was
claimed last year would be a panacea
for all evils. was in the interest of the
=
small growers, because it ran only to
Chicago Had it run to New York and
Boston, it would have been different,
hut the big grower could detach his
three or four carloads and send it on
East, while the small growers fruit
was left behind
As regarded consolidated auctions, he
favored a single auction and thought
everybody else did But when the auc-
tion-roOm in New York was changed,
the room that was selected was in an
incOnvenient place. 1t was changed,
but the new one could only be reached
by one railroad line, and it was not
improbable, he thought, that the ship
ping managers and the road had been
able 20 come to an understanding by
which better facilities for shipping by
that route We're afforded.
He gave some figures as to the
relative amounts of fruit handled by
the Erie and West Shore roads, and
claimed that the fruit carried by the
former realized the better prices. If
the convention wished he would read
figures to prove it. He read figures Of
prices brought by fruit shipped from his
locality only and sold at the two auc-
tion-rOoms. that at the Erie fetching
the best prices.
Abram Block said he would appeal
to the gentleman to come to the assist
ance Of those who, as he had said, had
$50. 0G0 or $4,000 mortgages on their
places He begged him not TO build up
another organization, but to come in
with them and put his shoulder to the
wheel. He, himself would gladly stand
aside and let Mr. Stephens take his
place as director and help to save the
growers.
r. Madely asked if, as had been
stated by q shipper to him, the venti-
lated car service was Of no value be-
yond Chicago.
Mr.. Weinstock said that Mr.. Steph-
ems had stated his reasons for opposing
the Fruit-GrOwers' Association. He
had not been able to see that Mr.. Steph-
ems had pointed out any way by
which the state of affairs could be rem
edied Some of his remarks had cast
reflections upon the managers of the
association and he could not allow
them to go uncontradicted
one Of his statements was that thJ
association was under the control 81
three or four persons and that he did
not propose to place his business under
their control. The grower who joins The
association gives up none of his rights
but has the privilege Of selecting his
own receiver and auctioneer, could q
himself or could combine with his
ncighbOrs and send their own agent
As for the relative merits of the Erie
and West Shore they cut no figure, as
ii IS matter of Indifference. with only
one auction room. Mr.. Stephens grapes
bring higher prices than those of other
shippers because. as one of the dealers
told the speaker, he could depend or
them every time. and the people wanted
them. Mr. Stephens puts brains and
conscience into his packages, and thai
Is what tells
In regard 10 the statement that the
managers Of the association had dumped
fruit on top of his in the Eastern mar
kets in order to break down prices, hi
,esg Eaa ePure