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TWENTY-NINTH FRUIT-GROWERS' CONVENTION. 



dependent upon a convenient place for processing their raisins and 

 loading them in car lots. That would determine where the local asso- 

 ciations should be. There would be an immense association here in 

 Fresno, unquestionably; there would be several associations in con- 

 tiguous districts, in Visalia, in Hanford, in Fowler — well, you know 

 better than I do where there would be local associations. There would 

 be one or more great seeding institutions, to which the raisins could be 

 sent to be processed for seeding. The central association or exchange 

 would perform all those functions which are now performed by the 

 Raisin Association; that is, it would have control of all those things 

 which concern the whole field. As to selling, it would have, either 

 alone or in conjunction with other interests, its agents in every town of 

 importance in the United States and abroad, if raisins were sold abroad. 

 Those agents would be men largely on salaries — some brokers, perhaps, 

 but those brokers would be under the rigid supervision of our own paid 

 men, paid officials, in touch with the Eastern trade all the time. The 

 central organization would decide, after conferring with the representa- 

 tives of the local associations, at what prices raisins could be put out 

 safely, making no promises to the trade, but being judicious in the 

 matter of prices, so far as possible taking into consideration the foreign 

 competition, etc. Now then, if it were found that the foreign fruit 

 could compete favorably with our fruit at the price established, so as 

 to cause the importation of an undue amount of foreign goods, that 

 price would have to be lowered somewhat. If it is necessary, it can be 

 lowered under that system. By beginning with a price giving reason- 

 able assurance that you will move the raisins, and then keeping close 

 tab on all the markets, you will be in a position to crowd up the price 

 a quarter of a cent, or half a cent, and the stiffening of the price will 

 strengthen the courage of all the Eastern dealers. They will take on 

 larger quantities of raisins. This thing can be analyzed closely enough 

 to tell whether this plan would be successful or not. I feel very sure, 

 indeed, that it would; that the end which you seek to attain could 

 be accomplished with this more highly organized form, which the whole 

 commercial world is practically working under at the present time. 



At this time a recess was taken until Wednesday morning at 9:30 

 o'clock. 



