TWENTY-NINTH FRUIT-GROWERS' CONVENTION. 



69 



THE PACT. 



By MARTIX JOXGEXEEL, of Courtlaxd. 



The desirability and necessity of organization among farmers and 

 fruit-growers have been repeatedly brought before the public, and 

 nobody now denies that this offers the only solution the farmers have 

 to better their condition. In view of the fact that all other classes of 

 men have formed organizations and have succeeded in deriving immense 

 benefits therefrom, it may well cause wonder that the farmers are about 

 the only people who have not organized. It is very true that attempts 

 at farmers' organizations have been made in the past, but with indif- 

 ferent success. As a general rule, the farmers themselves are blamed 

 for these failures, and are accused of the lack of sticking qualities. 



In several instances the intense competition between the producers 

 has prevented them from realizing that the men opposed to them are not 

 their neighbors who sell the same product, but the middleman, the can- 

 ner, the shipper, and the commission man, who buy their products and 

 sell them to the consumer. Every one who has lately read the San Fran- 

 cisco "Chronicle" is acquainted with the way the commission men 

 have been conducting business. The people of San Francisco have 

 been compelled to pay enormous prices for vegetables and fruit, while 

 the farmer gets very small returns, the commission men making most 

 of the profit. 



The main trouble, as we believe, has been the difficulty of forming 

 an organization on principles broad enough to keep the farmers together 

 and at the same time run it in such an economical way that nobody 

 will think that he is paying out a good deal of money and not receiv- 

 ing very many, if any, benefits for the same. 



We take this opportunity of bringing to the notice of all farmers and 

 fruit-growers of the State of California the existence of a farmers' organ- 

 ization, which was formed in May, 1903, at Courtland, Sacramento 

 County, California, and which is known in that locality as "The Pact." 

 We believe that "The Pact" is based on principles which may lead it 

 to become a general pact all over the State. 



At the present time "The Pact" is simply an organization for farmers 

 on the Sacramento River to come together and talk over their conditions, 

 to suggest methods by which they can be improved, and to act as one 

 body whenever a concession has to be asked for from outsiders. At the 

 present time "The Pact" has followed the policy of not engaging in any 

 commission or buying business whatever. So far, our organization has 

 been a small one, still we have accomplished some good results; enough 

 to more than pay its members for the small dues, and to make us hope- 

 ful that "The Pact" is going to be a success and is going to stay with 

 us. As an example, we will state that in former years the farmers on 



