34 PROCEEDINGS OF NINETEENTH FRUIT GROWERS' CONVENTION. 



Mr. Stephens: Now, Mr. Chairman, I was only making comparisons 

 with the fruits shipped from my own locality, and I have not been able 

 to supply them from the other side. Before this convention met, if I 

 could have spared the time, I would have gone through the catalogues 

 and compared the different sales and prices of each organization. I 

 have some percentages that I can give in regard to that, but what the 

 fruit of other sections brought I cannot give. Here is the West Shore: 

 They sold 442 packages on the 22d of September, at an average of $1 45. 

 The Erie sold 391 packages, at an average of $2 18. My fruit sometimes 

 brought lower prices than that of others. 



A Member: Would not statistics embracing the entire season be more 

 reliable to draw conclusions from — I mean the entire receipts. 



Mr. Stephens: I cannot give any of the outside points' shipments. 

 The percentage of my fruit in each car was small. I would have some- 

 times from 25 to 400 packages. There might be 1,000, but there were 

 probably 250. The balance would be from other growers. In some 

 instances other growers got higher prices than I did. 



A Member: You have the reputation of getting better prices for your 

 grapes than any other grower in California, and your shipments would 

 hardly be a fair comparison. 



Mr. Stephens: If I had the time, I could show you that other growers 

 fare as well, without taking into consideration my fruit at all. I will 

 state right here in regard to prices, that while the gentleman raised the 

 question as to higher prices on the West Shore than on the Erie, it did 

 not bring enough to make $3 63 on the West Shore equal to $3 77 on 

 the Erie, nor $2 17 to $2 40, nor $2 14 to $2 26. As I stated, I have 

 no regular order to go by. I am of the opinion that the other side seems 

 to be very anxious to make some explanation. Mr. Chairman, I will 

 yield the floor to hear what they have to say. 



Mr. Block : I take it for granted that you will allow that I am talk- 

 ing for the benefit of the fruit-growers of this State, and I hope my 

 friends will give me some attention, and I will request my friend Mr. 

 Stephens to give me his attention. 



On behalf of the fruit-growers of this State; on behalf of the unfortu- 

 nate neighbors of our friend, Mr. Stephens, who, he says, are mortgaged 

 for from $500 to $50,000; on behalf of those poor families, Mr. President, 

 I appeal to the gentleman to join us to furnish bread for every family 

 that stands in need of it. He says that he has got to work from morn- 

 ing until dark, and that he has no time for anything else. I appeal to 

 him not to re-organize, not to start a new organization, but to take my 

 place in the California Fruit Growers and Shippers' Association as a 

 director, and when he has taken my place that he will stay with us. I 

 will stand aside, and will say nothing. He may say that two persons 

 out of nine control that organization. I am satisfied that other gentle- 

 men will step aside. Put your shoulder to the wheel and help us. Say 

 a thing and do it. That's what we want. Suppose one finds fault. 

 What satisfaction have you? There are fifty different colors to select 

 from, and but one that will please you. Bring us that one. We 

 can't stand this. Point out the faults, that's what we want. I like 

 people who know what they want, and do it. Now let the gentleman 

 speak on this. Why should we take the bread out of the mouths of our 

 neighbors? Let us have confidence in each other, and I for one will let 

 Mr. Stephens take my place, so that he can carry out his ideas, but 

 don't find fault with us. 



