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thing in the wrong way. If we approach the railroad company in a 

 spirit of fair dealing and argument, presenting the truth as we know 

 it to exist, I believe they will listen to us. But we must impress upon 

 them the fact that we are now — to use the language of a distinguished 

 American citizen — confronted not by a theory, but by conditions. 

 These conditions are that we cannot ship green fruit by this refrig- 

 erator system and leave any profit to the fruit grower. If the 

 green-fruit shipments are driven out, then our dried-fruit shipments 

 will be correspondingly increased. In my judgment the salvation 

 of our industry rests in the profitable shipment of our fresh fruits, and 

 we are absolutely in the power of the transportation company. Mr. 

 Smurr admitted here in your presence that he had given a rate of freight 

 grown in China and Japan of just one half the rate on fruit grown in 

 this State, in that way discriminating against our industry. Is it not 

 logical that if that company could give a rate across this continent to 

 freight from China and Japan at $140 a car, that they could give us 

 rates for less than $250 a car, across the same continent, thereby build- 

 ing up the industry? These are considerations for our committee. We 

 have increased the green fruit shipments since 1890, 137 per cent. We 

 have added to the freights of that company and to the business of that 

 company since 1880, 34,000 cars. William H. Mills, one of the repre- 

 sentative men of that company, and a man who generally speaks by the 

 card, said in a public assemblage not more than two years ago, and in 

 my hearing, that the law of freight rates depended largely upon the 

 volume of traffic, and said that the time was fast approaching when that 

 company would make concessions to us, based upon that law of transpor- 

 tation, that as the volume of traffic increased, the rates would decrease. 

 Since that time we have more than doubled our transportation of fruits, 

 but there has been no concessions made. At what point will that com- 

 pany concede that the volume of business will allow them to apply the law 

 of transportation which gives a lower rate where the volume is increased? 

 If it does not begin when there are 20,000 carloads produced, when does 

 it begin? Now, we should urge upon this company in a business way, 

 in a friendly way, not in a hostile way — we should urge upon them 

 the importance of this industry. They are selfish men as we are selfish 

 men. They can afford to take our fruit across the continent and dis- 

 tribute it in the East without any profit, rather than see the industry 

 perish. I am speaking now of the green fruit industry, because the 

 other will live in spite of them. They can afford to so reduce our rates 

 on fresh fruits so that we can ship them at a profit, even if they ship 

 them at a loss. Have they not contributed largely to the condition of 

 the population in this State by the argument that horticulture was to 

 be profitable? Now, in good faith, they should help to make good that 

 promise. They should not induce people to come here and engage in an 

 occupation that they themselves make unprofitable. They have gained 

 an increased passenger traffic by these representations, and the traffic 

 of distribution throughout the State has been largely increased — all the 

 work and the result of getting our State settled with horticulturists. 

 That is the broad view of the question. It is the fair view of the ques- 

 tion. We have the right to demand this of them, and they have no 

 right to refuse it. I don't know where we can help ourselves if we 

 cannot get this relief. But the relief will come. They will not ruin 

 a the goose that has laid the golden egg." [Applause.] 



