The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-12-05
WAR AMONG THE
GROWERS
Russ D. Stephens Attacks
:. the State Shippers
::-:.. Association.
Says. 1t Is Working to Crush
Out the Independent
-. Producer.
Exciting Controversy Marks the Clos
ing Hours of the Sacramento
-. Convention.


this morning with a few remarks from
President Ellwood Cooper, replying to the
resolution adopted day or two ago IN
dorsing him for Mckinley Cabinet posi-
ton as Secretary of Agriculture. He said
he would be glad to have the position dur
ing one administration, and believed he
had the physical power and mental ability
to do the work faithfully and well.
IA f:st-class warship costs about 81, $780,
900. Ons-hundredth part of that sum
properly spent would find a remedy for
fruit pests which destroy annually $780,
600, 900 worth of fruit" he said, land then
many more warships could be built"
The report of the committee on CO.
operation was taken up. This was fol-
Il owed by the sensation of the day, and,
in fact, of the entire session. r. D.
Stephens charged that the Fruit growers
and Shippers Association have SO manipu-
lated things as to crush out independent
shippers and glut New York and Boston
markets"
Mr.. Block said it was the first time in
fifty years of business life that he had
been. charged with being bribed. He is
one of the associations directors.
Mr.. Stephens said he made no such
charge, and that possibly Mr.. Block had
been imposed upon.
Mr.. BLOCK In continuing his remarks,
sale he. did not believe Chairman Vein
stock was guilty OF any such manipuIa-
ton, and he did not believe that the or
ganization could be used for any such
purpose. He said he did not believe there
had been anything wrong, but it was pos
sibIe that some mistakes might have been
made
Vice. President D. T. Fowler stood by
= the Shippers and Growers Association.
:: He said he thought Mr.. Stephens re-
marks proved the weakness of his own
position. He said the association had
:. been dealing with agencies over which it
had no control. On the contrary, it had
been :trying to cultivate the New York
and Boston markets. The association
was formed of members within the Fruit
growers Association, and he felt they
were. high-minded, honorable men, and
had not manipulated things to crush out
:the Independent shipper. He was not in
sympathy with wholesale charge made
on. the floor and not substantiated. There
were difficulties beyond control, and
these were on the other side of the CONT
nent..
Sol Runyon of Sacramento supported
Mr.. Stephens. He said he believed that
some things Stephens said he could prove
to:6e facts. Mr.. Stephens had put 1t lond
. enough. but not strong enough Mr..
Runyon said he was an independent ship
per. He did not mean to make any per-
sonai charge against Mr.. Weinstock. He
did not think that Mr.. Stephens deserved
the brunt of criticism and he did not think
there was set of men in the State who
could.remain in session four days and do
. as little for themselves as the fruit-grow-
ers. Applause and laughter. -
j. P Anstatt of Yuba City said that If
the fruit-growers would turn the business
over to their wives they might dc better.
Laughter.
go forth that he had attackeds Colonel
50 Weinstock's honor. He regarded Colonel
.Weinstock as gentleman and friend.
.He( Stephens) had been charged by Mr..
Fowler with muddyiug the stream when
hewas not guilty. He did not mean to
attack the honor of any member OF the
association. He reiterated that the New
York and Boston markets were glutted
for the purpose of destroying the inde-
pendent shipper. If not so, why were
cars. of fruit held back at Chicago, through
the medium of certain Intern ediary,
which he knew to be the case, to the detri-
:rneHt of the independent grower and
shipper who was trying to save his homer
Fruit-growers could make a much larger
profit If they would but act together.
Others spoke, saying it was wrong to
. charge the directors with misleading.
Colonel Weinstock appeared in the hall
at 1905 o'clock, and his appearance was
.appfauded. He had been telephoned to
come. The convention adjourned to 1
O'Clock.
The first thing at the afternoon session
Was the reply of Colonel Il. WeinstoCk to
the charges of Mr.. Stephens. He said he
found himself in a sort of defensive posi-
ton, but he did not know why.
:Mr. Stephens seems to find fault that /
did not send in more comprehensive re-
port of the Growers and Shippers Asso-
cation and that l have not been in more
regular attendance here" he said.
He did not know why men who are not
members of the associations themselves
should be made acquainted with the bust
ness of that association. Mr.. Stephens
had not read to the convention all the re-
port he had sent in. Colonel Weinstock
then read his report to the State board
from the printed report of the board and
said he did not know of anything he could
add to it on the matters brought up. Re-
plying to the charge that the New York
and Boston markets had been glutted by
the Growers and Shippers Association he
said that Mr.. Stephens position was in
comprehensive to him. This year Omaha.
st. Louis and other Western cities were
very poor markets, but last year they
were good. The result was that the ship
per had to send his fruit to the far East
ern market. If there were any Cutting,
the fault was as much with the independ-
ent shipper as with the association.
Il am satisfied that if Mr.. Stephens
could be would wipe is association out,
for the reason that it gives growers and
shippers light and order, where he wants
darkness and chaos" he said.
He. did not believe the fruit-growers
wanted the association wiped out He
thought he had been put in defensive
position without cause. He challenged
Mr.. Stephens to speak out if he knew any
thing of personal dIscredit to him, or for
ever after hold his peace.
N. w. Motberai asked Colonel Vein
stock if something could not be done to
reduce freight charges. Colonel Vein
stock explained that the railroad said the
rates could not be reduced, for the reason
othat California had the lowest continental
rates of any fruit section il this country.
Mefnber at last years convention
promised to send in specific grievances,
but none had been sent III, and there haa
since been nothing for the committee,
swithin whose province the matter came,
to :dO.
Numerous questions were asked Colonel
Weinstock by Messrs. Wilson, French and
others, seeking to learn if he knew where
NtAey shipped their fruit and that certain
firms West and East knew when and to