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



As a remedy, I would suggest a plan that guarantees to each grower, 

 large or small, equal advantages of an enlarged trade connection at a 

 minimum cost. More particularly I would recommend a subdivision 

 of all territory into districts, the members of each district buying, or 

 controlling, a suitable mill located at a common center, and by a 

 directorate collected by them, controlling the management and expenses 

 of that mill, and each paying such a price per ton for treating, as 

 the directors may determine. The product of each mill to be under the 

 control of an association manager, who shall sell the output to the best 

 advantage, and report, less commissions, to the district mill, which in 

 turn will settle with its members. Aside from absolute control in 

 marketing the product, and suggestions from time to time as to the 

 output, based upon trade demands, the association managers shall have 

 no voice in district management. The manager shall be appointed by 

 a board of directors composed of representatives from the diflerent 

 districts. This board of directors shall fix commissions, and shall have 

 general direction, through the manager, of all sales. At the termina- 

 tion of the fiscal year, the association profits, less expenses, shall be 

 distributed to the district mills, in such proportion as each mill con- 

 tributes in value to the total sales of the association; and each district 

 member, in turn, to receive from his mill his proportion, in the ratio 

 that his product bears to the entire mill output. I have suggested here 

 merely a basis for economical, effective, and cooperative management, 

 which can be applied with little detail, and will enable us to get at the 

 root of the evils of this industry, summarized, viz: 



First — Absence of a good, uniform system in preparing our fruit; 



Second — The excessive expense of selling individually the finished 

 product, when manufactured by the grower, and the consequent insta- 

 bility of prices; or, the absolute subjection to, and dependence on, the 

 dictates of a public mill; 



Third — Absence of organization, whereby the grower is denied that 

 close touch with the trade necessary to success. 



The Remedy — Organized cooperation. 



For the past three years the trade has paid the importer in Los 

 Angeles from $2.10 to $2.50 per gallon in cans (depending on size of 

 package) for what is claimed a pure quality of Italian oil. By the 

 tariff act of 1897, an import tax of 50 cents per gallon was imposed. The 

 tarift' and the importer's price are the same to-day; but within the time 

 mentioned the local product has declined from $3.50 to $1.85 per gallon, 

 and always to meet foreign competition — an argument of the jobber that 

 has not yet lost its effect upon the unsuspecting and defenseless grower. 



It is my purpose, Mr. Chairman, to lay on the altar of this Conven- 

 tion the evils of our particular section, with a word of warning, if any 

 there are who have not suffered from similar indiscretions, and to 



