TWENTY-FOURTH ANNUAL FRUIT-GROWERS' CONVENTION. 63 



As a detail of organization, I have been asked the question whether 

 it is better to have one organization for the whole State or a series of 

 organizations scattered over the State, with a central association com- 

 posed of delegates from the local organizations. We should bear in 

 mind that we are much inclined to be creatures of habit, and we natur- 

 ally adopt the political idea of local organizations represented in a 

 central body. While this principle is entirely sound in matters of local 

 government, with independent local conditions which must have first 

 consideration, it would not, in my judgment, be at all applicable to a 

 fruit-growers' organization. There is weakness in divided and scattered 

 councils, and in the diverse views of so many judges. Truth is found in 

 the homely saying that "too many cooks spoil the broth." I am con- 

 vinced that there should be but one organization for each division of 

 the fruit-growing interests within the limits of California; the divisions 

 to be, first — in priority of organization — citrus fruits; second, raisins; 

 third, prunes and dried fruits; fourth, nuts; and fifth, deciduous fruits. 

 Each organization should be given absolute control of the crop, and its 

 officers should have the cordial and unwavering support of its members 

 so as to most thoroughly centralize the power, for the stronger you make 

 the head of your organization the greater influence and success you will 

 secure. This principle has been adopted by the raisin-growers, and 

 although we have members and packing-houses from Woodland to San 

 Diego, we find no difficulty in having every pound of raisins invoiced 

 from our office in Fresno and every grower paid for his crop from the 

 same office. It may appear later on that the management of these 

 various fruit interests could be carried on more economically by merg- 

 ing them into one organization. That subject, however, can with safety 

 be allowed to wait awhile. It is better that we learn to walk before we 

 attempt to run. 



There is one feature of our raisin industry that has given us serious 

 trouble and has proved a difficult problem to solve, and that is our rela- 

 tions as growers with the packers and selling agents. Although the 

 packers as a class have found the raisin business very profitable — their 

 large gains in packing charges, commissions, etc., having been swallowed 

 up in unprofitable speculations in raisins and other fruits — they were 

 very much opposed to organization by the growers, and used much influ- 

 ence with many of those whom they had helped financially. However, 

 we proceeded with the organization and loosened their grip on the needy 

 growers by arranging with the banks to let the growers have money on 

 orders on us. 



As the virtual owners of the raisins we last season made contracts 

 with the packers to pack and sell our raisins for an agreed price, but 

 the working of the system gave rise to so much friction — the packers 

 never having been subject to control previously — that at the beginning 



