THIRTY-FOURTH FRUIT-GROWERS ' CONVENTION. 



73 



there is no question but what there will be some who will want the tariff 

 on citrus fruits. They will say that they want the fruits delivered 

 cheaper, and if they throw open the markets of the world so that they 

 can bring- in Jamaica fruit, IMexican fruit, and fruit from other sec- 

 tions, without paying' any tariff — they don't pay the taxes for the sup- 

 port of our Government ; but if they can come in for nothing, why that 

 will bring down the price of oranges. 



Do we want the price of our citrus fruit brought down*^ Do we want 

 these outsiders to come in and compete with us? We can't accomplish 

 anything if we don't have organization. We are now trying not only 

 to have the data for our own use, as to what the citrus industry really 

 should have in the wa^' of protection, but we are trying to get in line 

 with all similar organizations — vegetable organizations, orange associa- 

 tions in the South, and. in fact, every organization that is agricultural 

 in any way that needs protection, so that they will work in harmony 

 with us, and help us to obtain what we think we should have. 



Now, that requires a great deal of work, and the league has employed 

 a secretary who is devoting a great deal of his time to that very thing 

 to-day, and he can give you a great deal of data as to the response he is 

 meeting from all over the country in this line. It has been a revelation 

 to me to see how many associations there are throughout the country 

 who are interested right in this line ; and when the time comes, if there 

 is some one to take the lead, they will fall in line and help us accom- 

 plish what we want. 



Now, the question comes up naturally. How are we going to get every 

 orange grower represented in this league ? It costs some money to run 

 it. We have run it very economically so far, and we intend to in the 

 future. There is no money wasted; our entire expense to-day consists 

 simply in the hire of a small office which we have in Los Angeles, the 

 secretary, and a stenographer. Then, of course, there is the stationery 

 and incidentals, but the entire expenses of the league to date have been 

 very small — in fact, infinitesimal in comparison to what we have already 

 accomplished. 



Now, the only way we can get every one represented is by the packers 

 coming into the association. We can't go to every single grower and 

 ask him to join and pledge so much, because we want the thing exact 

 so that every one • will pay simply his share of the expenses ; and we 

 have thought the proper way, and the only way, to do that is by making 

 an assessment of so much per car. Our assessments have been ten 

 cents a car each time we have made them, and, as I said before, about 

 two assessments in a year, and we may have to have three. What we 

 want to ask of every one is to see that the organization that is shipping 

 his fruit is a member of the league, that they will every one come in, 

 so that we can have every one represented. The expense of carrying 

 on this work will be very light. No one will feel it, and at the same 

 time we will be in shape to accomplish a great deal of good for the citrus 

 industry. ( Applause. ) 



PRESIDENT JEFFREY. I now have the great pleasure of intro- 

 ducing Mr. C. C. Chapman, who will address the Convention further 

 upon this subject. 



