PROCEEDINGS OF NINETEENTH FRUIT GROWERS' CONVENTION. 31 



was glad of it, because that was what he wanted to see. I understand 

 he said that he knew more about the fruit business than we did, and 

 thereby assumed that he was better qualified to manage our business 

 affairs than we are. I only speak of these facts to show the methods 

 that are being employed to crush out competition. 



It is obvious that the object of those in control of the Fruit Growers 

 and Shippers' Association is to compel all shipments to be consigned 

 through them, and they nearly accomplished their purpose in the season 

 just passed. The methods employed to accomplish their purpose were 

 to use enough of the consigned fruit to glut the markets of the inde- 

 pendent shippers and growers, which would necessarily entail loss to all 

 consignees, but not to the shippers of the combine, for the reason that 

 they would get their commissions from the shipments made through 

 them. The effect of this, if carried to ultimate success, will be to drive 

 out all buyers and thus deprive the grower of an opportunity to sell his 

 fruit here, for no man outside of the combination would care to buy fruit, 

 knowing that a sufficient quantity of consigned fruit would be dumped 

 on top of his to insure loss. The scheme is prolific of ways in which 

 profit will accrue to the combine. For instance, through the Bureau of 

 Information there can be obtained a very correct idea as to what will 

 be the condition of the Eastern markets a week or ten days in advance, 

 thus giving an opportunity to buy from the growers here for a paying 

 market in the East, and compelling them to consign to a losing market. 



Now, as to the Bureau of Information: Is there not something pecul- 

 iar about the way it works? It was given out that we should have this 

 bureau, in order that every member of the organization should know the 

 destination of the cars and of the fruit, that they might be guided; and 

 yet, if we take these reports from that bureau, we see: So many cars to 

 New York, so many to Chicago, so many to Boston, so many to Pitts- 

 burg, and down at the bottom we read: nine, ten, or eleven cars to 

 " other points." Where are those " other points"? Nobody knows, ex- 

 cepting those who are controlling the association. Nobody knows where 

 they go. I think I can tell you. In order to break down the " opposi- 

 tion," as they are pleased to term it, they went into localities from 

 which they received no consignments and bought fruit, and those " other 

 points " were places reserved for them. Those " other points " were their 

 markets exclusively. Now you can see what a great benefit to the 

 grower this " Bureau of Information " has proved to be. 



Mr. Block: Have you received a communication from any one, 

 requesting you to give him the prices you received ? 



Mr. Stephens: I have received a communication from the Secretary 

 of the State Board of Horticulture. 



Mr. Block: I mean from the Secretary of the Fruit Growers and 

 Shippers' Association, Mr. Maslin. 



Mr. Stephens: I have received the prices in many instances from 

 shippers, but do not remember receiving any from anybody else. 



Mr. Weinstock: In the early part of the season; some time in June? 



Mr. Stephens: I do not remember. 



Mr. Block: Such a communication was sent out. Now, if you con- 

 sider this as being in proper form, to give the Secretary information 

 concerning prices, all right. 



Mr. Stephens: In reply to the gentleman I will say that I may have 

 received a communication from the Secretary, Mr. Maslin, but do not 



