The record-union., 1899-06-18

also, so that there Is virtually DUH one
buyer in the State now. The combine
will make many present concessions to
prevent the carrying out of this plan,
but the growers viii. If. they accede,
suffer in the end. The only way at
present is to have control of the fruit
themselves. As he said, the growers
can go ahead il they wish. He had
no objections. He hoped they would
help themselves and get the growers to
combine, and then he would furnish
them with cars. The majority report
does not demand control of the fruit,
but wishes to aid the growers. If they
put half a million into the car Line and
lost 1T, the other half of the million
dollars of profit saved from the COM
mission men would enhance the value
of their property. SO they would lose
nothing.
The combine is banking on the inabil-
ity of the growers to combine, as in
the past, and if they whiffle around now
and fail to do so, there can be no bet
ter evidence that the combine judges
rightly. They have now and will have
for two or three years, the control of
80 per cent. of the fruit. They cam
block the market and get the growers
fruit rejected. All the committee asks
is unanimity of action. The combine is
united and practically gets every car
out of the growers. The growers will
have an opportunity to sell them fruit
this year and next, perhaps, but they
will bind on their shackles more firmly
if they let this chance slip. The only
way is to stand firmly together. He
thanked them for their attention. They
had the power to reject the report if
they wished.
MR.. TABOR'S IDEAS.
R. Tabor of Auburn spoke of the need
of harmony He realized, he said, the
arduous labors of the committee for the
good of the growers and the ability CT
Mr.. Stephens in organization, but he
realized also that the growers had
right to their opinions and were not
bound to adopt the report simply be-
cause the gentlemen had labored so
hard He believed it was opposed to
the interests of the State. He was not
grower himself, but was managing
several estates for the owners, and,
therefore, felt interested. The refriger-
ator line may be a good thing, and it
may be a good move to get it, but the
first thing necessary is to have harmony
among the growers and a head to man
age things. Under the minority plan
| the grower does give up his whole crop,
| but it is necessary for the common
| good to give up some of his rights. He
| believed the plan was feasible, and, if
adopted, would be a success. The
growers of Placer County, after a eau
Gus had resolved to support the minor
| ity report, with the utmost kindness
toward the committee, but trusting to
their own judgment and acting for
what they thought We're the best inter-
ests of all concerned.
| IDAHO HEARD FROM.
| N. T. Smith of Boise City said there
was not so much difference in the re-
ports. The growers now practically give
| a contract to the commission men. In
Idaho they have more cars than are
needed and could get a rebate of SO.
He thought as soon as the association
| found itself to be in a position to say
to the lines what it would pay or to
establish lines of it's own, Idaho, Ore
gon and, Washington would stand ready
to come in under the minority plan, and
make strong organization and get
plenty of cars. In Idaho $40 car is
charged, with a rebate of $25 to Chi
| cago.
| SAW A DIFFERENCE.
Mr.. Astin of Placer could see much
| difference in the reports. One was to
buy or hire cars and the other was only
to hire them. The minority report
leaves things as they now are. He
thought the stockholders were respon-
| sible in the one case and the other
We're not.
! MR.. FOUNTAIN SPEAKS.
| Mr. Fountain said he had not thought
it would be necessary to speak of his re-
port The work of the Executive Com
mittee ended in a compromise as they
| did not come together in their ideas.
He had no use on earth for fruit
shipper The minority report proposes
| to wipe them out. The dealers East are
| hungry for fruit and as a consequence
some markets are gfutted to the loss Of
! the growers, for whom the dealers do
not care. 1t cannot be stopped as long
as shippers big and. little insist on send
| ing their fruit where they please. He
wanted this done away with and fruit
| marketed under THE direction of one
| head. Otherwise growers can never do
well. This is the reason of the cannery
combine, and If there was organization
| it would fail and ask growers what
| they viii sell for. He bolted from the
committee because it would consider
nothing but the car line plan.
| Eastern dealers do not come here to
| buy because they know they do not
| have to, and can wait and buy it
| cheaper at home. Why should the
| growers buy cars that others can use
| in competition to them, and to their
loss? They could not force the South
ern Pacific Company to haul their cars,
| but they could not, as it had forced out
| the Gcodell and c. F. T. lines If the
company would do as it had once prom
| ised. and did for a time, giving plenty
| of cars and a better system of land
| ing fruit than any refrigerator cars
had ever done, it would be all right.
ADVOCATED COMPROMISE.
| Mr.. Gordon of Fresno said he had
| listened with much interest to the dis
cussion of the reports. He was very
sorry there We're two, as there is moth
| ing that pleases the commission men
better than discord in the growers
| ranks. 1t will be $25OOOO in their
| pockets if this convention breaks up
without organizing. The profits of re-
| frigeration, he understood, were over
| 81 100000 year. If the fruit-growers
organize this year, they will save them
selves that million in year. The Raj
| sin-Growers' Association pools all its
products, and no grower has any power
| over his raisins after he has done so.
He hoped a compromise would be
L. fxrr< &c