PROCEEDINGS OF TWENTY-SIXTH FRUIT-GROWERS' CONVENTION. 61 



tion; and at the same time there was no temptation for me to sell them 

 on the outside, for there was a moral obligation to sell them to the 

 association. I believe that was the sentiment with all the growers in 

 the association. The differences have been with the methods that have 

 been pursued by the organization in the matter of changing the 

 original contract to the New Jersey contract. I know, by speaking to 

 the growers and by being a grower myself, that they are unanimously 

 of the same opinion in their desire to hold together this organization. 

 Mr. GriflBths, one of the largest growers in Fresno, said he didn't believe 

 there was 1-| per cent of the raisins outside of the association this year. 

 This year the conditions were good for obtaining a high price — a good 

 price — for raisins, and in order to force the growers to sign this New 

 Jersey contract which was objectionable in many respects, and in order 

 to punish the outside packer and in order not to hold the umbrella over 

 him, the raisins were put down to a lower figure. After Mr. Kearney 

 came from New York he said he proposed to break the market and put 

 the price down to 2 cents, and the market was broken. It was generally 

 supposed that if this course had not been pursued the trade would have 

 taken all the raisins and taken them at a good price. 



MR. DORE. Now, in reference to this memorial to the Legislature. 

 I am heartily in favor of it if it applies to cooperative organization. 

 The California Raisin-Growers' Association was a cooperation for the 

 growers. If the contract can not be made strong enough for that 

 organization to hold the crop, I am in favor of having a law that is 

 strong enough to hold the organization, so that we won't have to go to 

 New Jersey for a contract to hold the producers of California. 



The Convention then adjourned until 1:30 o'clock p. m. 



