PROCEEDINGS OF THIRTY-SIXTH FRUIT-GROWERS ' CONVENTION. 91 



whether we should be there or not. The master of the National Grange, 

 ex-Governor Batcheller of New Hampshire, has pushed this matter 

 earnestly. More than one page of his speech each year in his annual 

 message has been devoted to the parcels post, and in the discussions it has 

 occupied a larger space than any one question for four years. Ex-Gov- 

 ernor Bell of Vermont, another member of the executive committee of 

 the National Grange, is also in line and working and has worked, and 

 while occupying the position that he has in the grange, has missed no 

 opportunity to push to the front in an effective way the demands of 

 the producers of this country for that great convenience. Aaron Jones 

 of South Bend, Indiana, another member of that committee and past 

 master, is a sterling farmer who visited California and spent some time 

 at my home. I have had frequent correspondence with these gentle- 

 men and we have exchanged views in regard to this question, and I 

 tell you that there is no reason why the farmers and the fruit growers 

 of California shall not make their voice heard, and I tell you when 

 the representatives of those two organizations, through their legislative 

 committee, stand before the committees of congress, when they stand 

 before the world, publishing the name of every man there, and no man 

 has any right to question or dispute the right of the people to publish 

 the record. Let the people understand this and it will right itself in 

 a little while. There will be no injustice, there will be no wrong 

 done any member of congress, nothing that is unfair. On the contrary, 

 it will save them from misrepresentation and from any and all wrong- 

 doing on that side of the question. 



I have occupied more time, Mr. Chairman, than I should. I had no 

 thought of speaking at this time, but I will offer, before the close of 

 the meeting, some resolutions touching this matter and voicing, as I 

 hope, the sentiment of the fruit growers of California upon this subject. 

 (Applause.) 



A recess was here taken until 1.30 o'clock p. m. 



AFTERNOON SESSION. 



The President called the convention to order at 1.30 o'clock p. m. 



PRESIDENT JEFFREY. We will now have the pleasure of listen- 

 ing to Mr. Ashley on the subject, "San Joaquin County Grape Growers', 

 Association. ' ' (Applause. ) 



MR. ASHLEY. Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen: I want you to 

 be a little lenient with me. I am not a public talker. As to my subject, 

 I want you to be a little lenient on that, because while I have been grow- 

 ing grapes nineteen years, we have only been in this work one year. 

 There are lots of things we do not understand. If there is anything in 

 what I say that seems to be at all out of the way, understand it is from 

 a grower's standpoint and nothing personal is intended. 



