SPECIAL FRUIT ORGANIZATIONS 237 



banks will hesitate and the business must suffer and 

 undergo an entire readjustment. 



What the jobbers have done in the way of credit in 

 the distribution of foodstuffs the fruit exchanges are 

 now doing in the distribution of fruit. It is simply ap- 

 plying the principles of a well-established business to 

 the handling of the various fruits. 



National League of Commission Merchants. There 

 are two or three fruit and produce organizations which 

 represent an affiliation of business men but which, as an 

 organization, do not attempt to do any commercial busi- 

 ness. The National League of Commission Merchants 

 represents an organization of this kind. Something of 

 its methods has previously been mentioned, but its 

 operations are so widespread and so significant that it 

 seems advisable to further describe them. 



The active membership is composed exclusively of com- 

 mission men handling fruit and produce. The object 

 of the organization, as described in Article II of their 

 constitution, includes the following: To unite growers 

 and producers against the enactment of damaging laws, 

 and in favor of desirable and favorable legislation. To 

 aid in collecting and disseminating information. To help 

 in improving business methods. To protect against dis- 

 criminations, exactions and damages to transportations. 

 To demand the integrity and financial responsibility of 

 the members and the protection of all, so far as possible, 

 from fraud, misrepresentation and injustice. 



The National League of Commission Merchants was 

 formed in Chicago, in 1893, and grew out of an effort 

 on the part of commission men of the responsible class 

 to forestall dishonest dealing among certain types pf 



