PROCEEDINGS OF NINETEENTH FRUIT GROWERS' CONVENTION. 105 



PROCEEDINGS OF THE FOURTH DAY. 



Friday, November 8, 1895. 



The convention met, pursuant to adjournment, at 9:30 o'clock. Mr. 

 R. D. Stephens in the chair. 



CO-OPERATIVE UNIONS. 



The resolutions on the formation of cooperative unions, offered by Mr. 

 Sprague, and laid over from the evening session, were declared in order. 



Mr. Sprague: I do not suppose it is necessary to discuss the resolu- 

 tions before this convention any longer, other than that portion which 

 relates to organizing for cooperation. The resolutions now before us are 

 calculated to secure the most immediate and effective effort to this end. 

 Now, as I understand it, the proposition that these resolutions contain 

 is simply this: to make use of such local effort as we can find in these 

 local organizations for cooperation throughout the State of California. 

 To be most effective, the thing must always begin with the people. The 

 people must be united, and proceed gradually towards the central point. 

 It seems to me that this is about the time to strike a blow in the interests 

 of the people. They are responsible for the movement, and all the organ- 

 ized work that has been done can be used, every bit of it. Much good 

 work has been done by the preliminary labors of the California Fruit 

 Exchange. It seems to me that a good plan would be to send one or 

 two men into each locality, who will undertake to stir the people up 

 right then and there. Just as soon as they are ready to make connec- 

 tion with the California Fruit Exchange, let them do so. This will make 

 it possible to form a solid, strong, State organization in a far shorter 

 time than it could be done in any other possible way. We ought to 

 secure the greatest possible number of local unions for cooperation. 



Mr. Berwick: I have heard with a great deal of pleasure the talk on 

 cooperation. I have been at several previous meetings where the same 

 thing was under discussion. I believe in the idea that example is better 

 than precept. People who live in outlying districts find it hard to reach 

 a stated place; but these people can adopt a simple method of coopera- 

 tion without forming any association, though it may be the beginning of 

 one. Many small places can afford to buy a carload of shooks, and the 

 neighbors could come and buy in small quantities whenever they wanted 

 any. One of our neighbors, who is a pretty good business man, under- 

 takes to supply our groceries for what they cost him. I think you 

 can give a practical lesson in cooperation in that way, and at the least 

 expense. 



A Member: I cannot understand how the gentleman who proposed 

 these resolutions wishes them to be carried out. There seems to be two 

 organizations — the Fruit Growers and Shippers' Association and the 



