PROCEEDINGS OF NINETEENTH FRUIT GROWERS' CONVENTION. Ill 



Let us control our own interests. All manner of representations have 

 been made to prevent us from so doing. We have been shipping our 

 fruit through Mr. Earl. Now, Mr. Earl, who possesses business qualifi- 

 cations — and I admire him for it — is not a dishonest man. I do not 

 wish to be misunderstood, but I notice he is making all the money he 

 possibly can out of the fruit business. I told Mr. Earl that he ought 

 to charge less than he has. He said he had a fine office and many 

 clerks, who were paid by the year and got good salaries; that they move 

 about from place to place, and that he could not do it cheaper. He 

 figured on so many expenses that I came to the conclusion we did not 

 want the same agent that Mr. Earl has. 



If the growers of any locality can put up a good quality of fruit, there 

 will be no trouble in getting good agents who will be responsible to them 

 for their actions. All they want is to unite. 



Mr. Adams: The gentleman is not speaking on the question of the 

 resolutions, and is covering a very wide latitude. 



Mr. Stephens: I will state that I differ somewhat from the Chair- 

 man, because it has an indirect bearing on the question. Those factors 

 of which I have spoken have a bearing on the main question. I hold 

 that the green fruit sales can be done through local organizations, and 

 although some of the fruit is now under absolute control, the remainder 

 is enough, if secured by them, to exercise a wonderful influence in 

 prices. Now, gentlemen, if I understand the object to be accomplished 

 is concentration, I am with you. Get together, organize, and cooperate. 

 Buy your shooks and supplies in common. It is less expensive than 

 acting individually. Get together, and if I can do anything, I will do 

 it with pleasure. 



[Mr. Stephens then resumed the chair.] 



Mr. Adams: The only thing is that you are asking the State 

 Exchange to pay your bills, instead of doing so yourselves. The State 

 Fruit Exchange has succeeded in the formation of about twenty of these 

 institutions, which represent an investment of over $100,000. 



The resolutions offered by Mr. Sprague on Thursday evening were 

 then put to a vote, and adopted unanimously. 



Mr. Stephens: How shall this committee be appointed? 



Mr. Adams: I have a motion to make, which I think will be satis- 

 factory. I move that the presiding officer of this convention be a mem- 

 ber of that committee. 



Mr. Stephens: I would favor that some other gentleman be named, 

 for these reasons: I am, most of the time, occupied with my own per- 

 sonal business, and cannot devote the time and attention and energy 

 to the objects to be accomplished under these resolutions that others 

 could. My ideas might not be the ideas of others on the committee. 

 What I have said here are the lines on which I would work, but I am 

 willing to make concessions. 



APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEE. 



The convention named the following to constitute the committee: 

 Messrs. R, D. Stephens, of Sacramento; B. F. Walton, of Yuba City; 

 A. R. Sprague, of Antelope; C. J. Berry, of Visalia; and F. M. Righter, 

 of Campbell. 



