Los Angeles herald., 1906-03-13
ERuIT GROWERS, OPPORTUNITY

FRUIT GROWERS OPPORTUNITY
Citrus fruit growers of Southern Call
fornia are to be congratulated upon
the success of their conference IN Los
Angeles yesterday.
They not only declared themselves
in favor of the Hepburn bill and de-
manded a law providing that the rout-
ing of shipments may be done by the
shippers, but they organized protec-
tive league to follow up their demands,
even to Washington, and to guard their
interests hereafter.
All this is in perfect accord with the
suggestions made by The Herald and
the results of the conference will
be wide spread and of more than pass
ing moment and influence.
The citrus fruit growers are and
should be a power in Southern Cali
fornia. They represent the largest
single interest in this state, aside from
the railroads, and all other interests
are more or less dependent upon their
prosperity. This fact is recognized just
as thoroughly by the merchants and
people of Los Angeles as by the orange
growers themselves. Hence the grow
ers will have, in this city and section,
all the sympathy, assistance and en-
couragement they may need to procure
their rights.
Judge Wellborn, in his now famous
decision in favor of the shippers, de-
clared that justice and the equities
were on the side of the shippers and
growers and therefore he denied the
plea of the railroads to do the routing
The supreme court of the United States
declared the law to be with the rail-
roads and justice and the equities were
manfestly not taken into the account.
The effort of the citrus fruit growers
will be directed Immediately to the
work of getting the law and justice
together on a basis that will be fair to
both the shippers and the railroads.
This should be done by quick appeal
to congress and the president for an
enactment covering the case and indie
DeluGlll VI llt I1tDBulll bllls
Further than that, the citrus fruit
growers should carefully consider the
fact that for many years they have
innocently supported the railroad Re-
publican machine of California, which
has ever been opposed to their interests.
At every election they have stood
solidly by the nominees of that machine
for state and congressional offices, until
they are at last awakening to discover
the representatives of the railroads
entrenched in public positions and pre-
pared to do the bidding of corporate
power.
The remedy is simple enough. Gust
from office, at the conclusion of their
terms, every Republican in California
who holds a public place. Sweep the
state clean of it's railroad machine
politics and officeholders. Destroy the
legislative and executive power of the
railroads in the state government and
put none but trusted friends of the
people on guard.
CITRUS trulC growers can feaully dC-
complish this object if they willard
they needn't form a third political
party to do it, either. Through their
new and splendid organization they can
nave the help of all Democrats and of
people of every political faith who
want to see the railroad Republican
machine relegated to private life. The
decent element of the Republican party
is large ana it is also patriotic when it
can be convinced. as it now is, that
public interests are being throttled by
a powerful organization in their own
ranks that is dominated, manipulated
and managed wholly by the railroads
Let the citrus fruit growers press
their advantage to the utmost. Carry
their message TO congress and insist
upon recognition. Perfect their organ
ization until it includes every fruit
grower in Southern California. Educate
the people to an understanding of the
situation in this state with respect to
the railroad Republican machine DOM
inaton and get ready for the election
next fall.
Things are going to happen in Cali
fornia this year and public sympathy
is solidly with the citrus fruit growers.