The San Francisco call., 1908-07-23
VINFYARDISTS FORM
STRONGASSOCIATION
Grape Growers of State Organ
ize to Protect Industry From
Prohibition Legislation
Andrea SbarbOrO Is Elected
President; Viii Levy Assess
ment of rs Cents an Acre

To protect their industry from the
legislation OF the prohibition move
ment and to further develop the market
for wine, nearly $50 grape growers from
various counties Of California met in
the California building, Union square,
yesterday afternoon and organized the
Grape Growers association of Califor-
MIA. Every grape grower viii be as
sessed on basis of 25 cents per acre
OF his vineyard, and il was suggested
that an involuntary alliance be formed
between growers and wine makers.
whereby vineyardists who have not paid
their assessment viii be prevented from
selling their grapes and wine makers
who do not aid the movement will be
unable TO buy Of the growers.
Andrea Sbarboro, president of the
manufacturers and producers associa-
ton, and a large owner in the Italian
Swiss colony, called the meeting TO or
der and was subsequently elected per
manent chairman of the association. J.
p. Overton Of Santa Rosa was the tenn
pOrary chairman. Clarence J. Wet
more of LfvermOre was selected first vice
president; Z. c. Preiber of Napa, sec
ond vice president; J. p. Overton, treas
urer; II. +. Stol. secretary, and the fol-
lowing were named as directors: A.
SbarborO, A Z. Burnham. w. E CHS
holm, Windsor; c. T. Wendte, Liver
more; N. L. Tarpey. Fresno; Theodore
Gier, Alameda county; c. L. La Rue,
Napa: T. T. SWEET, Martinez; John B.
kerwin. Santa Clara; Clarence Wet
more, +. c. Preiber and ]. B. Overton.
The only question in the session that
was not discussed with unanimity was
the distinction made in the original re-
port OF the resolution committee in the
case Of wines of less than 13 per cent
Of alcohol. The original draft of the
principal resolution stated that the con-
gressional committee of the district of
Columbia had ruled that juice of the
grape containing less than 13 per cent
Of alcohol was not an intoxicating bev-
erage.
There are sweet wine makers in the
state as Wen as dry wine makers" sug-
gested Percy T. Morgan. president of
the California wine association. and
that paragraph cuts them out of this
meeting
Chairman SbarbOro advised that the
delicate point be not raised at that
time, but p c. Rossi declared that there
should be a thorough understanding at
once on The subject and Joined Morgan
IN request that it be referred back to
the committee on resolution.
The resolution was reconsidered and
the distinction between dry wines and
Z.
II was argued by Morgan and others
that half the vine land in the state
produces sweet wines which run higher
than IS per cent of alcohol, and that the
resolution IS ii stood would divide the
growers and injure the movement
Two resolutions We're adopted, one
outlining the work of the association
and the other requesting congress not
10 reduce the present tariff duties on
wine shipped from foreign countries
10 the United States.
The principal resolution states that
drunkenness is one Of the greatest
evils OF the American people, and that
for so years many people have striven
TO eradicate the evil; that it has been
proven that prohibition does not pro-
hbit, but that in countries where wine
is produced in large quantities and
consumed by the people generally from
their infancy intOXication is almost
unknown, and that in California and
other grape producing states wine can
be made Of as fine q quality and in as
great quantities as in France and Italy
combined, and that when the consump-
ton viii demand it there can be pro
ouced 100000 600 worth Of wine in
California
A. SbarbOrO spoke extensively on the
wine and grape industry as it might
be affected by the spread of the prohi-
bition movement and strongly advised
the use Of light wine as a table bever-
age.
J. L. Alton suggested that congress
pass bill 10 introduce the use Of wine
IN the army and navy, thereby creating
market for 6,000000 gallons Of the
product Ben +. Lamborn Of Alameda
recommended that growers establish a
cafe in grape growing districts. where
wine could be purchased
Delegates present at the wine Crane
growers convention were:
A