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OFFICIAL REPORT OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE 



must try and succeed in organizing cooperation for the dried-fruit 

 interest, at least, of the Pacific Coast — in the largest majority which 

 we can possibly secure. If we shall gather together a sufficient per- 

 centage so that we may be able to absolutely control the price, as it 

 has been done in other interests, well and good. If we cannot get as 

 large an organization as we would like, do as well as we can. But let 

 us get some kind of an organization. Let us go step by step, and not 

 hazard the whole thing on one throw. I don't think you can obtain 

 subscriptions enough on the outside to carry this thing through. It is 

 a good deal easier to obtain a promise to pay out of the proceeds of the 

 crop; that is, pay a certain percentage, which will be sufficient, per- 

 haps, for the work, whatever it is. It is difficult to draw out of the 

 pockets of reluctant growers, in advance, a sufficient sum of money to 

 do the work with. I submit that it is well worth our while to consider 

 whether some plan of that kind cannot be arranged, by which, when 

 the organization has obtained sufficient headway to make it evident 

 that we shall have a very large output, a certain percentage of the 

 whole market valuation shall be appropriated to the purposes of organ- 

 ization, in so far as it may be found necessary for that purpose. Now, 

 this matter will appeal to you, I believe, and I speak from considerable 

 experience in the matter of organization, for I have spent two years in 

 going among the growers of this State. I believe this plan will appeal 

 more strongly to the whole people. If we have an output of two- 

 million pounds it is going to be a very serious business to maintain any 

 price much above that which we now receive, and the output is likely 

 to increase year by year. We must search for every possible means of 

 economy and present our fruit at the table of the consumer — at the 

 very table where it is consumed — at a less cost than they are getting it 

 for now, and save those profits which it is no longer possible to save 

 with the present manner of marketing our fruits. We cannot go below 

 the present cost of production with the present methods, and the great 

 field for economizing is in the marketing of our fruits. If the product 

 increases as greatly as is promised, we must economize from beginning 

 to end. We should have from the beginning the prices from the orch- 

 ard to the table of the consumer. I am no stickler for any particular 

 method of organization. I am heartily in favor of the methods pre- 

 sented by Professor Childs; and was heartily in favor of most of the 

 plans suggested last year. The way I understand this proposition is 

 that the fruit will be kept in the hands of the association and it will be 

 handled as the association sees best, and those in the center may take 

 advantage of whatever facilities and the best methods which present 

 themselves. I think a little too much emphasis was placed yesterday 

 upon the individual in the way of organization. I know very well the 

 success of the raisin organization is due, not to a single man, but to 



