32 



OFFICIAL REPORT OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE 



There is some evidence that this is so. The last State Fruit-Growers' Convention, upon 

 a full representation of the facts, and a full discussion and understanding thereof, 

 passed strong resolutions in favor of establishing the market, including one to raise a 

 little money then and there for promoting that end. The resolutions, if I remember, 

 passed unanimously, but when the time came to raise money I was told by Professor 

 Fowler — for I was not present — that the crowd nearly smashed the doors down in its 

 struggles to get out. I did not doubt it, for I had seen conventions do that very thing 

 before. 



For myself, I have served the public in this matter because various conventions of 

 producers have asked me to. I did it cheerfully, faithfully, and to the best of my ability. 

 The pleasure of so doing cost me $50 or $60 a year in expenses for some years, but I have 

 had a lot of fun out of it and no worry and am perfectly satisfied. But I have had all 

 the fun I want, and if the growers wish to be represented further they must get some 

 one else. As a fruit-grower my interests in the matter are insignificant, and no possible 

 gain during my expectation of life would pay my expenses in the matter for a single 

 year. As a citizen of California, I am heartily in favor of all that tends to square deal- 

 ing and good government, and shall always, I trust, be ready to be helpful in public 

 measures to that end. Except from such motives I don't care a rap whether there is 

 ever a Free Market or not, and never did. 



Vote of Thanks. 



Prof. CHILDS. I move that the Committee on the Free Market be 

 discharged* and the thanks of this convention be tendered to Mr. Adams 

 for his efforts, and that a committee of three be appointed to examine 

 the paper and bring the salient points before the convention. 



Motion carried. 



Appointment of Committee. 



The Chair appointed Wm. Johnston, Edward Berwick, and Will A. 

 Coulter on said committee. 



CO-OPERATION IN MARKETING PACIFIC COAST 

 DRIED FRUIT. 



Address by PROF. C. W. CHILDS, of San Jose. 



Ladies and Gentlemen: President McKinley, in his annual message, 

 says that " Combinations of capital organized into trusts to control the 

 conditions of trade among our citizens, to stifle competition, limit produc- 

 tion, and determine the prices of products used and consumed by the 

 people, are justly provoking public discussion and should early claim 

 the attention of Congress." 



The recent United States Supreme Court's decision in the pipe-makers' 

 case indicates what verdicts may be expected from the courts against 

 the bad features of trusts. No economic tendency is at present receiving 

 so much attention from our political economists as is the unmistakable 

 drift toward concentration of capital in corporate bodies, commonly 



*An inadvertence : the committee being the creation of a distinct body, the report was 

 made by request. 



