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



immense profits made by refrigeration permitted the interests receiving 

 those profits to eventually control not only distribution, but also the 

 values to a great extent. All the growers ask is that they be placed on 

 an equality one with another. We do not want advantages, but we do 

 want equal rights and equal privileges. There is danger in the fact that 

 the season past has been a prosperous one, comparatively speaking. 

 Because of that fact we might remain nearly dormant and not make 

 any protest against this power, and the railroad companies would then 

 feel justified in renewing contracts with the refrigerator car interests 

 that now have an absolute monopoly of refrigeration. The great influ- 

 ence that was used against Mr. Earl by the other competing interests 

 did not crush him, for he not only owned refrigerator cars, but he con- 

 trolled a fruit company that was interested in the transportation and 

 selling of fruit. The fact was that Mr. Earl possessed a great advantage 

 over his competitors. That was because he was able to contend against 

 them, notwithstanding the millions at his competitors' backs. Mr. Earl 

 derived all the benefits and profits of refrigeration, while Porter Brothers 

 and the Armour line at that time are presumed to have divided the profits 

 of refrigeration one with another, and it lessened their power, and that 

 is why Mr. Earl was able to contend with these two great powers. 

 Understand, now, that I am not here to make any tirade against any 

 interests. They were thoroughly justified in doing as they did. Any 

 individual here would avail himself of the position should it be 

 offered him. They were in the business to make money and accu- 

 mulate capital, as we would do if we were doing business in the 

 same way. But it rests with the growers of the State to always look 

 after their interests, and you should endeavor to protect your interests 

 the same as they protect theirs. I am not here to criticise any action 

 taken by them, and if I should criticise any one it would be you growers, 

 because you should look out for your interests better than you do. In 

 continual vigilance on the part of the growers of the State depends their 

 prosperity. You must not expect those whose interests are diametrically 

 opposed to yours to look out for you. We do not want any renewal of 

 those contracts. We want the railroad companies to put on cars and 

 do the business, the same as is done in W^ashington and Oregon. 

 As I am informed, refrigeration does not cost the growers up there 

 one cent. The maximum is $35 a car. I have a catalogue here 

 showing that they sell Italian prunes in New York at less than 

 an average of 50 cents a crate, and it costs me 54 cents for trans- 

 portation alone to get them into New York. Of course, under those 

 conditions, we can not compete wdth Washington and Oregon fruit. 

 We do not want their rates raised, but we do w^ant ours lowered, so 

 as to put us on an equal basis with the growers of those States. Mr. 

 Earl said he did not want to remain in the refrigeration business, 



