THE CENTRAL EXCHANGE 141 



directors is not a figurehead. Since each director repre- 

 sents a district exchange and since the district exchanges 

 are scattered over the entire citrus producing area of any 

 consequence, it follows that these weekly meetings of the 

 Exchange are in reality a clearing house for the ideas, de- 

 sires and accomplishments of the whole California citrus 

 industry. At these meetings it is possible to feel the pulse 

 of the growers themselves, for even a local issue of any 

 real significance is certain to pass through the association 

 directorate to the district exchange and thence be trans- 

 mitted to the central exchange, from which in turn it per- 

 meates through all of the associations. 



A meeting of the board of directors of a great business 

 corporation is not usually thought of as having much re- 

 semblance to a peoples' forum, but the weekly meetings of 

 the Exchange directors are open to any member who cares 

 to attend. Of course only the directors can vote, but any 

 exchange member who has an interest in that particular 

 meeting or has a general interest in the citrus industry 

 may be present and take part in the discussions. Conse- 

 quently, instead of consisting of a group of seventeen 

 directors, the meeting is a gathering of 100 to 175 who 

 are on hand to hear what is going on in the citrus world. 

 There will be found among this number managers of the 

 district exchanges and local associations, directors of these 

 bodies, and individual growers; in fact, anybody who is 

 seeking information on things citrus. For the purpose of 

 encouraging a large attendance of citrus men at these meet- 

 ings they are held in a large room at the Exchange offices 

 whose generous dimensions suggest a small auditorium 

 father than a committee room. 



In a study of this kind there is no need of arguing upon 

 the wisdom of the Exchange in adopting this policy of full 

 publicity and genuine 'democracy. These weekly meetings 



