The record-union., 1896-12-05
FRUITGROWERS STIRRED Up.
Their Last Days Session Was the LiYelieSt
Of Any.
K. D. Stephens Denounces the rlethods
Ofthe FRUIT Shippers AS
sOCiatiOn.

The fourth and last days session OF
the State Fruit Growers Convention
was called to order at 10 O'Clock yes
terday morning, at which time the Pres
ident, Elwood Cooper, stepped FORWARD
and delivered an address, as follows:
COOPER EXPLAINS.
with regard to the resolution passed
yesterday recommending me to the po-
sition of Secretary of Agriculture in the
President-elect' Cabinet, l desire to
make few remarks.
1T is embarrassing TO discuss SUB
ject concerning ones self, and hence l
ask your indulgence in this matter
While had no knowledge OF the prop
OSitiOn or the effort being made Tor
my selection, or for the resolution re-
ferred to, am probably responsible for
it.
I'm discussing various matters con-
cerning the depression in every farming
district throughout the country, as well
as the fruit industry of California, L
made this remark: L would like to have
charge of the Department of Agrlcult-
ure through one administration, so as
to inaugurate something that would
benefit the cultivation of the SOIL This
remark made without the remoteSt idea
of being selected for such position, was
the source of the effort which my
friends in Santa Barbara have made.
Il did not decline, and hence am in
honor bound to stand by my friends.
THE Cabinet position of Secretary of
Agriculture is comparatively new, hav-
ing existed only during two admins
trations, hence must be very incomplete
in its organization. 1t will take time to
bring it to that efficiency that will do
credit to the nation.
IF the office was rendered, I have
three questions to ask myself: First,
have 1 the physical power to stand the
strain of such an important position
Second, is my heart large enough to
reach out in sympathy to the great
body of suffering producers. Third, is
my mind of sufficient volume to receive
impressions that would direct a course
that would do even partial justice to the
position. If 1 could give satisfactory
answers to those questions would ac-
cept; if not 1 would certainly decline.
"A first-class warship costs about
s., 100000. The one-hundredth part of
that sum properly spent in finding the
natural enemies of the devastating
pests which destroy, as has been esti-
mated, over $500, 5000 annually, and
if only one-third is saved we have forty
such warships, and the power behind
them in the contentment and patriotism
Of the citizens who have been saved this
devastation. IT has been stated on this
floor that the fruit-growers of a south
ern county of the State have discov-
cred simple remedy for the Texas cat
tie fever. The amount of loss by the
fever and the expenditures in invesigat-
ing the subject would represent several
Warships. We have heard also on this
floor the Importance of building the
Nicaraguan Canal.
The Department of Agriculture has
much to do with the completion of this
work. Because it saves a portion of the
farmer fruit growers products, it Sc
cures to the consumers purer and
cheaper food. 1t is not my purpose to
extend these comparisons, but to con-
vey to you that 1 am in favor of the
highest possible standard of intelligent
work, and not TO be misunderstood 1
will state that L am in favor of strength
= 4
of strengthening the homes of the
great body of cultivators of the soil
The incumbent of the office should be
in sympathy with the cultivators and
aid them by saving their crops in every
possible way.
I will bring up another point TO
show what other nations are doing to
assist and encourage their citizens |
copy from an article concerning the
German empire.
AT this point long dissertation upon
the methods employed in Germany was
inserted, after which Cooper proceeded:
What has been the policy of Califor-
mia? Our Supervisors and Assessors
value the land for taxation by CHASING
them as pasture land, barley and wheat
lands and fruit lands. If the owner
plants trees on the barley land, it is
raised to the value OF fruit land ana
not only this, but it costs money to
plant trees. This is added on additional
improvements. Every encouragement
that is practical or possible should be
given TO the industrious producing
classes. The power and greatness of
this nation depends largely upon the