PROCEEDINGS OF NINETEENTH FRUIT GROWERS' CONVENTION. 35 



Judge Aiken : I would suggest that, though there are some in favor of 

 the preamble as presented, I do not deem it any part of the resolutions. 

 That should be stricken out, as I contend that it is not any part of the 

 resolutions; and, as it is nearly noon, I would suggest that we take a 

 vote on the resolutions. 



Mr. Stephens: The preamble in Colonel Weinstock's resolutions 

 foreshadows the substance, and if you will permit me, Mr. Chairman, 

 I desire to reply to this gentleman by saying that everything he has 

 said is true, with but few exceptions; but it is also true that the pream- 

 ble foreshadows the sentiment covered by these resolutions, and that is 

 why I take exceptions to it. 



Mr. Weinstock: Might I ask Mr. Stephens to point out the part of 

 the preamble he takes exception to? What part of the preamble does 

 he object to? 



Mr. Stephens: As a juror or a judge, I do not desire to condemn 

 myself, as I would do should I vote for this preamble. Can the gentle- 

 man understand? 



Mr. Weinstock: I cannot. 



Mr. Stephens: Then I will explain further. It condemns the con- 

 tentions of the past year, of which, in fact, I am a part. 



Mr. Weinstock : With your permission, Mr. Chairman, let me say to 

 you that I, also, was part of those contentions. Therefore, if you are 

 condemned by these resolutions, so am I. 



Mr. Stephens: Now, Mr. Chairman, I desire to say that in all my 

 experience in public debating, when debating any question, I have 

 never evaded any request that I possessed the power to grant. Nor 

 have I met any one so clever at not understanding what you mean by 

 what you say when it is against his side of the question, nor one who 

 can turn points about so well as my friend, Colonel Weinstock. How- 

 ever, I will again endeavor to make him understand the difference in the 

 way the passage of these resolutions would bear upon us respectively, 

 by explaining that if he raised no contentions, he is not responsible for 

 any contentions that may have existed within the past year. That is 

 why I desire to enter my protest against the passage of these resolu- 

 tions, and to put myself on record before those assembled here and the 

 whole State. I said last year that I was in favor of one auction room, 

 but at that time I was not notified that that vote carried with it the 

 surrender of all control of my property interests and my independence 

 as a man and manager of my own private affairs, therefore I now 

 protest. I would say to the gentleman that he is certainly mistaken, 

 and ought to know it, whether he does or not. He represented the 

 organization, and inaugurated no contention. I am opposed to the 

 preamble, because I am not here to surrender my private interests. 



Colonel Weinstock says to you, in that very pleasant way of his, that 

 no person is deprived of his right to select his own receiver, his own 

 auctioneer, or to manage his private interests. He tells us we are abso- 

 lute masters of our actions, and that if the resolutions now pending are 

 passed, and we abide by them, there will be no surrender of our rights 

 or private interests, and that we will have the right to do this and that 

 and the other thing, as we please. Now, let us see what the rights of 

 the growers were under the similar resolutions passed at the convention 

 one year ago. The arrangements made under those resolutions for the 

 " one auction " in New York compelled those who patronized it to ship 



