The San Francisco call., 1899-08-18
GRAPE GROWERS
|NDORSE HENRY
CROCKER'S OFFER
Action of Chamber Of
Commerce.

Henry J. Crockers offer to the grape
growers of California TO pay them SI2 ana
Sl4 a ton for their grapes, provided they
will sign a contract at those figures COW
ering a period of seven years, was 1orm-
ally indorsed by representative growers
at a meeting held in conjunction with the
San Francisco Chamber of Commerce yes
terday afternoon, at which the proposition
was discussed in all its various phases.
The meeting was called by the Chamber
of Commerce at the instance of the wine
growers. Mr.. Crocker being present to
explain any points in connection with MS
scheme which were not quite clear TO
those to whom his offer was addressed.
Captain Nelson presided, and after ex-
planning the purpose of the meeting ana
urging the necessity of doing something
to foster one of the greatest industries or
the State introduced Mr.. Croker.
Mr. Crocker briefly related his expert
ence as president of the Cah1ornla VINE
Makers Corporation and outlined the
proposition made by him to the growers
of the State. >,
Now, | am here to answer questions,
he said "and if there is any grower mere
who is dissatisfied with the contract as
prepared by me l hope he will state his
objections frankly
II. NJ. La Rue of Livermore was the first
TO accept the invitation thus extended.
He said many of the growers dlsllked the
plan of entering into contract Whlch
bound them to sell their grapes to Mr.
Crocker for seven years at stated price
but did not bind him to purchase them
at that price. In other words, II left him
at liberty to draw out at any time II he
should conclude that he had made bad
bargain.
The main objection, however, as stated
by Joseph Naphtaly, came from the
growers who were also Wlnemakers. Ihey
wanted some assurance that If they en-
tered into a contract with Mr.. Crocker
to sell their crops to him he would have
the grapes made into wine at their Win
cries, otherwise the investment repre-
sented in these wineries would be a dead
loss.
Mr.. Crocker, in answer to this conten-
ton, called attention to his circular
wherein he stated that he proposed, when
such a thing was feasible to enter into
contracts with the proprietors of the
wineries to crush the grapes at fair re-
muneration, and assure pro1lt su1f1cient lent
to enable them to realize interest on their
investment, but he could not make any
contract with a winemaker who was also
a grower until the. latter had first accept
ed his proposition to buy his grapes.
d. NJ. Delmas and Joseph Putnam par
ticipated in this discussion, which was
carried to considerable length. Mr.. Put
nam in particular was at first strongly op-
posed to the proposition on the ground
stated-that there appeared to be no as
surance that the winemakers who were
also growers We're sufficiently protected,
but Mr. Crocker succeeded in answering
all objections brought forward In a salts
factory manner. even to the matter of the
one-sided contract.
Mr. La Rue tried to get him to agree
to advance 10 per cent of the contract
price as the grapes were delivered, in
stead of deferring payment until the end
of the season, as is the custom, in order
that the poorer growers might have the
money with which to pay the pickers, but
Mr. Crocker replied that when the grower
delivered his grapes at the winery he
would receive a weight receipt which
Il foo nlrIn RI
which he would have no difficulty in bor
rowing all the money he might require at
the banks.
urged the acceptance of the entire prop
osition as made by Mr.. Crocker, which he
characterized as extremely liberal. A let
ter to the same effect from Thomas Adler
was read and the following resolutions,
prepared by Messrs. Delmas and Naph-
taly, were then unanimously adopted as
the sense of the meeting:
Resolved, That we, the grape growers and
,,inemakers of the State here assembled heart
ilv approve the contract proposed by Henry ].
Crocker to the grape growers of the State. be-
lieving that in the execution of such contract
lies the salvation OF the wine industry of
Resolved, Further, that having carefully con-
sidered the circular of Mr.. Crocker, touching
the relations which he proposes to establish
between himself and those grape growers who
are also hY ayd raT1rg listened IN TO
circular satisfied that the interests Of
the winemakers are fully protected thereby,
and we do hereby urge upon all wine grow
ers Of the State TO accept and sign said
tract.
A resolution of thanks was also extend
ed to the Chamber of Commerce and Cap
tain Nelson for favors shown and interest
manifested in the matter. Captain Nelson
responded by expressing the hope that Mr.
Crocker would succeed in converting all
the growers in the State to his scheme,
which he regarded as of certain benefit to
one of the great Industries of California