PROCEEDINGS OF THIRTY-SIXTH FRUIT-GROWERS'' CONVENTION. 



47 



appointed by the Riverside supervisors who are republican, all but one, 

 four out of five. In Orange County Mr. Bishop told me to-day there 

 were four republicans and one democrat on the board of supervisors. 

 They have appointed Mr. Bishop, a democrat, because he qualified for the 

 office. Now. a democrat can find a bug just as easily as a republican, if 

 he knows how, and he can treat it just as vigorously as a republican, 

 if he knows how, and vice versa, and we wonder now why we have stood 

 by this old plan so long. In Los Angeles County the best commissioner 

 the county ever had — I was one myself for six years — was Mr. John 

 Scott, a democrat, serving under the interpretation of the old law that 

 the board of supervisors could appoint one man. Mr. Scott served four 

 years most acceptably and held office under a republican board of five, 

 but that was an accident. As soon as the machine found it out they 

 immediately read the law and saw that the supervisors were obliged to 

 appoint three men and at that time Mr. Scott abdicated. The fruit 

 growers arc to blame for allowing this thing to go on so long. Politics 

 ought to be kept out of the office. When I was appointed State Com- 

 missioner the understanding was that no politics should be allowed to 

 interfere with the office in any way. The Governor and all his friends 

 have stood by that understanding, and when I went to select my depu- 

 ties I had nobody to consult but myself. The consequence is I have 

 got four boys, Mr. Bremner. Mr. Maskew, Mr. Moulton and Mr. Carnes, 

 who were appointed solely because of their ability. 



There are some troubles coming up to-night to be discussed with 

 regard to the new law. In Yolo County, in Sutter County and in other 

 counties — in one county farther north — there are troubles that will 

 have to be discussed to-night and passed upon. 



Now, I am going to quit talking to you within the next minute and 

 give you a chance to listen to Mr. Bremner and others — Mr. Moulton 

 will talk to you — and give you a chance to discuss the troubles that are 

 going to come up under the new law, and when we get ready to go to 

 that point we expect to see a difference of opinion ; I hope there will be, 

 because I am not certain myself. Suppose there is only one man passes 

 the examination, which is the case in some of the counties right close to 

 Sacramento; one of the most able men in the county has passed the 

 examination and no other man got through. Under the law he is 

 obliged to be appointed. He will not agree to give up his own private 

 business, perhaps an}' considerable portion of it, at least, and attend 

 to the county's business. The question will come up whether that man 

 should be appointed unless he will agree to make the county business 

 paramount to his own. and I hope when we get to it we will pass our 

 opinion on that feature of the new law. That is the only puzzling 

 thing now before the State Commissioner. You will see that it is going 

 to be a troublesome matter to handle. Now Mr. Bremner will address 

 you a few moments. (Applause.) 



ME. BREMNER, Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Con- 

 vention: Perhaps there was something of a joker in this program. It 

 may be the subject of the examination was introduced so as to bring 

 out all the old commissioners, thinking, perhaps, I was going to tip off 

 the examination, that I had some underground telegraphic communica- 

 tion with the examiners, and would tell you all about the questions. 

 I hope I will tell you something that will be a benefit to you in taking 



