The record-union., 1899-05-24
so much by their advice and assistance.

so much by their advice and assistance.
Carried.
Mr.. Sprague said he appreciated the
compliment and the situation of the
growers reminded him of the case of
firm manufacturing school furniture in
Wisconsin, which sent out statesmen TO
sell their wares. The exactionS of the
statesmen grew so that the firm was
more and more hampered until the ul-
innate result was the bankruptcy of the
firm There is a large dried fruit in
terest in Northern California that
should be looked after and this organi-
cation can ultimately include it in its
work
DR.. Coffin called the attention OF the
convention to the fact that in Santa
Clara County there is an association
known as the Pacific Fruit Association,
formed for the purpose of handling
dried fruit not only in Santa Clara
County, but all over the Pacific Coast.
He saw little use of organizing another
association of the kind when one al
ready existed. The association, he said,
proposed first to control the prune crop
and subsequently reach out and take
in all the dried fruit on the coast. He
hoped the convention would consider
the association already formed.
Mr.. Sprague said the work of the
prune combination would be very easy
if more associations like the Santa
Clara one could be formed and would
work together under the central or
ganization. There need be no clash and
all could work together and attain the
desired end
Mr.. Benchley, on behalf of the Ana
helm fruit growers, thanked the con-
vention for its compliment and said he
should go home and tell them that the
people in this part of the State were
alive and disposed to progress. The
convention was on the right road and
would meet with success.
Fl. K. Pratt of Los Angeles compli-
mented the convention on its start to-
ward permanent organization. He said
that at the first attempt to form an
association in Los Angeles only nine
persons We're present; at the second
meeting there were forty, and at the
third there was a rousing meeting.
From the small beginning, he said, the
association had grown until it at pres
ent handles four-fifths or more of the
fruit which leaves that section of the
State. He said he was in this part
of the State for the purpose of buy
ing fruit, spot cash, and that he did
not desire to do business on any other
basis. In his opinion the convention
had been a decided success.
| Mr.. Stephens said that he had lately
met a man who told him that the
| fruit growers had not the business
ability to succeed, and that the Fresno
! raisin-growers had gone all to pieces.
He was glad to see that Mr.. Gordan
was here, and had stated that 50 per
| cent. of the raisin- growers were stay
ing together. The growers must ex-
pect to hear such stories from the COM
mission men, in an endeavor to break
down confidence.
Mr.. Gordan said he thought he knew
the gentleman alluded to, and that he
had alwaS been an enemy to the raj
sin growers association They had
made several failures to combine
through wrong methods and because
! they were not sufficiently reduced. Now
the growers supply the raisins and the
buyers pay the money, and the plan
is success. The growers now get
the money that formerly went to the
factors. and the grower will be all
right henceforth. This is the day of
combinations. and the growers should
have long ago combined If they do
not, they vii soon be redued to peon-
age. The growers themselves are to
blame, and the remedy is in their own
| hands. He was glad to see this meet
| ing a success, for if it had failed it
would have injured every one else But
this committee must work hard and not
lag or be discouraged by prophecies of
failure, for they must expect them
! This year some of the most skeptical
men in his vicinity. who held aloof last
year, were the first to come in and
| join the association. The expense of
handling the raisin crop last year was
one-half of a cent, but the price was
more than a cent pound more. Pay
! good salaries for the best men that
can be obtained. 1t pays to do So
And growers must make up their minds
to stay by the association. If not they
had better not start.
Mr.. Sprague urged the signers of the
pledge to be insistent and to work for
the good of the organization, as by in
| sistence only could they expect to sue
| ceed.
| EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
| At this point the committee ap-
| pointed to name an Executive Com
| mittee returned, and Mr.. Calvin re-
ported as such committee the follow
| ing named persons:
Alexander Gordon, Fresno; W. r.
Fountain, Newcastle; F. A Chad
| bourne, Suisun; r. D. Gibbs, Stockton;
| W. E. Lovdal, Sacramento; r. D. Ste
pens, Sacramento, ex-officio member.
| The report of the committee was
F! adopted by unanimous vote.