68 



TWENTY-NINTH FRUIT-GROWERS' CONVENTION. 



in short, all the agencies employed must be absolutely free from every- 

 thing which might hamper or hinder its effectiveness. 



At this time an appeal was made to the California Fruit Exchange to 

 take charge of their shipping interests. And the helping hand extended 

 to the call was the first co-operative assistance they received outside 

 themselves. 



Storage and packing facilities were next demanded, and the ware- 

 house of the old California Fruit Association opened its doors to receive 

 the growers' produce before the winter storms should force a sale to the 

 waiting speculators. It was like the parting of the waters of the Red 

 Sea when these growers thus escaped the speculating task masters of 

 California. 



Thus, another point was gained, and the question of finance next con- 

 fronted the needy growers. This was a cold business proposition, with 

 no sentiment to recommend its favor, but prices were depressed and the 

 markets practically closed by the market manipulators. 



A speculators' siege was begun, and storage, packing, and shipping 

 facilities availed little to appease the immediate demands of a hungry 

 stomach or the pressing needs of the family. No one understood this 

 better than the besieging speculators, but they had not reckoned on the 

 tenacious power of loyal, self-denying, co-operative associations like these. 



The co-operators' appeal unlocked the iron doors of the money vaults, 

 and the needed supplies (an advancement of one half the market value- 

 of the products as represented by the warehouse receipts) were at the 

 command of every member. 



It was a new order of things when every grower could do business in 

 a business fashion with a business institution. 



Thus, step by step, these growers with a returning confidence are 

 throwing off the shackles and crop mortgages which have bound them 

 to servitude, and out of the ashes of the past failures is being builded a 

 house of refuge, into which every needy grower can come — a place of 

 safety for him and his products. 



I have thus detailed the practical workings of local organization as 

 I have observed it. It is a system of education which lifts^i, community 

 out of helplessness, and makes every individual in that community an 

 integral part of the community, which is of tenfold more value to him 

 and the public than the increased money value of his products. 



Two things are an absolute necessity, namely: confidence and integ- 

 rity on the part of growers. Given these two conditions, and no 

 mercenary compact can stay the irresistible force of co-operation 

 among the growers in California or elsewhere. 



PRESIDENT COOPER. "The Pact," a protective organization. 

 .The Secretary has the paper and will read it. • (Paper read by Secre- 

 tary Isaac.) 



