The record-union., 1899-05-24


as to pay an agent $500 to $1,000 a
month to do it for him, or to drive out
with a fine team and tell him what TO
do. He went East and selected his
own agents and had made money from
his fruit and would still do so, If al
lowed to, but he might not be allowed
to any longer.
There is a difference in shipping de-
ciduous fruit and other kinds. Other
kinds can go without ice, and pay the
freight rate only, which is $1.2o, the
same as Postoffice rates. Fruit grow
ers here have to pay $3.50 freight to
New York, S1.25 to Chicago and S1.6O
to Boston and in addition have to pay
for refrigeration.
The profit of the refrigerator cars is
what places in our way so many diff
culties. The commission man can thus
outbid the grower and can come into
composition with him. Let us handle
our own fruit if we want to sell 1t.
They would not permit the growers to
handle their great interests as the
growers have allowed them to do with
the growers interests. They nave
built up their own interests and it is
easy for them to control the situation.
They can dictate to the railroads and
competing lines of railroad. They have
all the control of the goods and ship
them whenever they wish. II the
growers do not take their affairs into
their own hands they will soon have
no remedy. The power rests with the
growers.
They can introduce this year, notW tn
standing the answer Of the railroad
company, a competing line Of refrigera-
tor cars, but they must guarantee to it
the business before it will come here.
They should form an organization as
suggested and sign an agreement 10
abide by it. If there is no other way,
they should make a small sacrifice Of
property that would not be as large as
their taxes, and get a refrigerator line
| and they will find the railroads be-
| tween here and the East will be glad
to be relieved from the grip of these
men and receive in full their transpor-
tation rates
| SO long as the growers remain under
this control, SO much more the screws
will be tightened and they will finally
| lose their homes. The commission men
| have absolute contempt for the grow
ers, and say they cannot combine, and
have no business talent, and cannot
carry on their business successfully.
That is why they are Indifferent, and
are not here. Will the growers organ
| ize? If they will, they can do many
| things. If each grower will sign an
agreement and abide by it, the action
of the convention will encourage a new
refrigerator line to come in, and will
avert the ruin of the fruit-growers.
Upon the conclusion of Mr.. Stephens
remarks, the report Of the COMMITTEES
was unanimously adopted.
OTHER MATTERS.
Mr.. Gordon of Fresno suggested that
in order to get down to business and
make a substantial start toward the
organization agreed upon, these present
| be requested to sign an agreement
binding them to assist in the organiza
| ton.
Mr.. Sprague submitted the following
pledge for signature by those present.
and it was adopted by a unanimous
| vote:
I'VE, the fruit growers of California.
hereby pledge ourselves to secure a
strong central organization of fruit
growers, and to this end we hereby
4 subscribe the sums set opposite our
names toward an organization fund
to be used by an Organization Comit-
tee appointed from this body; such
money to be returned to subscribers
out of association treasury funds when
it shall have accumulated"
| Mr.. Barton said he hoped there would
be no hitch in the matter Members
from the citrus growers and from the
raisin- growers associations We're pres
| emf t0 ciUQ arc0i1a Room ont m tho ooy7
vention. He trusted that every person
present would agree to enter an organ
ization, and not stop. If it would
take $40 per man to organize, $40
would not be too much, and if some
of those present were not able to pay
$40, let them pay So, or whatever they
could. Above all things, he urged or
! ganization before the convention ad-
| journed.
Mr.. Gordan said it was known all
over California that there was trouble
between the growers and the refriger-
ator car companies, and if an organiza-
ton was not effected every grower in
the State would be the loser. He said
he would willingly give $50 rather than
see the convention adjourn without
organization.
1HS CiOWu DeSaH " lHlII out, anu
Mr.. Stephens and others implored them
to stay until the organization was ef-
fected. In the meantime W. E. Lovdal
was circulating the pledge, which was
receiving numerous signatures.
At this point in the proceedings a
motion that when recess be taken it
be until 7:30 p M was carried.
The subscription List was circulated
and signed by most of the growers
present.
Mr.. Stephens presented the following
and moved that it be adopted:
I'VE the fruit t-growers of California,
in convention assembled at Sacramento
on this 23d day of May, 1899, know
! that the present refrigerator car COM
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