72 THIRTY-FOURTH FRUIT-GROWERS ' CONVENTION. 



plaiise.) The first quastion that came up was the question of freights. 

 Of course we all wanted to get our fruit to market as cheaply as we 

 could, and I don't think there are many of the packers who have not, 

 at one time or another, approached the railroad with that end in view; 

 and we never accomplished a single thing. We did at times get the 

 promise of better service, but we didn't get the service. As far as the 

 rates were concerned, we were simply pu.shed to one side. It was a 

 question that they would hardly discuss with us. When we came to 

 them and said we represented about eighty per cent of the citrus 

 industry of Southern California we commanded attention, and you 

 know the result. 



A little over a year after the organization was formed, we obtained 

 from the railroads a reduction of ten cents a hundred, which amounts to 

 7.2 cents for every box of oranges shipped out of Southern California, 

 or any part of the State. That alone was worth more than the expenses 

 of the league will probably be for 'a number of years — even what we 

 have saved in a sjngle year. The expenses have been very light. I 

 think that about twenty cents a car a year has been all the assessment 

 that has been levied so far for the expenses of the league. 



The Executive Board, as they are called, have given their time for 

 nothing. They have met their own expenses in attending the meetings, 

 and they have done considerable work for the industry, and never have 

 asked any compensation whatever. 



Now, that is only one thing, and in connection with the reduction in 

 freight, we obtained a positive promise from the heads of the railroads 

 that we should have better time, better service, better equipment; and 

 this year I think every packer will agree with me that we have had 

 better service and better time than we have had for years. I am sure 

 that we could not ask better treatment than we have had this year from 

 the railroad companies. 



Another thing that I think it has accomplished is to bring the growers 

 or the packers and the railroad companies more in harmony. Now 

 when, for instance, a number of different men went to the railroads, 

 they kept taking up the time, and one man thought one thing and 

 another another. Through the Protective League we went with a 

 definite object in view, and we worked directly on that line, and that 

 only ; and that is one reason why I think we accomplished what we have 

 in part.. 



Now, what is the aim of the league in the future ? We are shipping 

 now from Southern California alone nearly 30,000 cars of citrus fruit, 

 bringing into the State over $15,000,000. Now, does not that represent 

 enough value to stimulate all to work in harmony to accomplish 

 something for the industry ? Why, any business enterprise representing 

 even a small proportion of that wwld be glad to spend a great deal of 

 money to have everj^thing pertaining to it looked after carefully. Just 

 what will come before the league in the future is a question. We have 

 got to feel our w^ay in regard to the things that are important ; but we do 

 know that' there are some things that we have to be in line on, so as 

 to take care of them when they come up. One of these is the question 

 of tariff. You all know how there has been a great deal of agitation in 

 the papers in regard to revision of the tariff. When that time comes 



