FARMERS TRANSPORTATION ASSOCIATION 11 1. ORIGIN EXHIBIT 12959 [Copied from the files of the Associated Farmers of Kern County, Inc. under subpena on 1/27/39. E. Eugene Tucker/ec.] APRIL 6, 1938. ASSOCIATED FARMERS, Professional Bldg., Bakersfield, Calif. GENTLEMEN: The writer, at the request of your Mr. Tucker, attended a meeting in Los Angeles April 5th at 12:15 P. M. There was no meeting at 10 A. M. as advised by Mr. Tucker. Mr. Osborne of Imperial County presided and there were present representatives of Associated Farmers from all of the ten Counties of Southern California with the exception of Santa Barbara County, whose men were unavoidably detained. The writer explained to the Chairman that he was not a member of the Associated Farmers but had been requested by Mr. Tucker to attend and to report back to Kern County officials. In addition to the above representatives of Associated Farmers, there were two representatives from the Merchants and Manufacturers Assn. of Los Angeles and Mr. Rawlinson and Mr. Bridges of Bakersfield, making a total of approximately 25 men. The meeting was called primarily to speed the putting into operation the methods of completing the details for truck transportation of farm products from the various Counties into Terminal Markets as had been previously outlined by Mr. Osborn in a general way to the Kern County Associated Farmers. Mr. Osborn gave a resume of conditions affecting the Associated Farmers in the past and what they were at the present time and what was hoped to be accomplished in the very near future. It was the consensus of the meeting that with Hay and Potatoes moving into terminal markets very shortly, prompt action should be taken and after much discussion by practically all present, it was determined that this matter of Truck Transportation of Farm Products should be handled by the Associated Farmers of Southern California and it was agreed that each County would name one man to represent it's County to act as a director of the Truck Transportation division of the Associated Farmers of Southern California, comprising the ten southern counties and that the time and place of meeting of these directors would be determined in the near future and proper notification would be made to each County Association of such meeting. [Notation in margin:] 10 A. M. Friday Los Angeles C of C. The mechanics of "Certification" of truck owners and drivers was discussed to a considerable extent and it was finally suggested that this matter be left to the new Executive Board above outlined. The general consensus of the meeting was to the effect that the present situation in Southern California was much better than it was a month or two months ago, but that the farmer's transportation of his products to market was the most vital thing to be contended with at present and that prompt action was necessary. The writer was instructed to bring the matter forcibly to the attention of the Kern County officials of the Associated Farmers and to urge prompt action 1 For general testimony relating to the Farmers Transportation Association, see pt. 58, pp. 21429-21440. All documents, unless otherwise noted, were received from the files of the Farmers Transportation Association under subpena. in appointing the member to act as a director on the Transportation Committee and to have the directors of Kern County Associated Farmers discuss prior to the next meeting suggestions from Kern County as to methods of handling details, so that the director so named could come into the meeting with that County's ideas. If you desire further information, the writer would be very happy to help you in any way possible. Hoping that the writer may have been of some assistance to Kern County Associated Farmers, I am, Very truly yours, WCC: C EXHIBIT 12960 (Signed) W. C. CLARK. W. C. Clark. [Copied from the files of the Associated Farmers of Los Angeles Co., Inc. under subpena. CEC: BF.-2/3/39] Mr. W. T. GRAHAM, APRIL 11, 1938. Manager, Antelope Valley Hay Growers Assn., Ltd., Lancaster, California. DEAR MR. GRAHAM: The story in Saturday morning's Times covers our Friday meeting of Associated Farmers on the transportation matter about as completely as is possible at this time. The situation stands that Mr. Osborne will open an office somewhere in Los Angeles within the next few days, and the organization will start certifying trucks from the Imperial Valley as soon as possible. In Los Angeles County we are committed to do our own certifying in the Antelope Valley and other sections which may be handling agricultural products into the city, and we will aid in personnel to the extent of the services of Mr. Barrett, Mr. Lincke and myself. Other counties have agreed to furnish two or more guards each for Hynes should the situation there require this additional force. I believe that it would be all right to proceed with a meeting of Associated Farmers in Lancaster calling in the poultry and other interested groups as soon as such a session can be arranged. The transportation project should be advanced far enough in the next few days, so that we can give the hay growers a very complete picture. Sincerely yours, AC: km ARTHUR CLARK, Executive Secretary. EXHIBIT 12961 [Copied from the files of the Associated Farmers of Kern County, Inc. under subpena on 1/27/39. E. Eugene Tucker/ec.] Mr. HUGH OSBORNE, APRIL 14, 1938. President, Associated Farmers of Imperial County, Court House, El Centro, California. DEAR HUGH: In regard to the Farmers Transportation Association, please be advised that I presented to our board of directors at their regular meeting last evening, a report covering action taken at the Executive Committee meeting held in Los Angeles last Friday April 8th. Our directors are in full sympathy with the object of the program you are trying to put into effect, and would like to cooperate as far as possible. However, they feel it is entirely out of the question to attempt to raise in Kern County at the present time sufficient funds to maintain even for a short period, one or two men in the city of Los Angeles. We have no large number of small farmers, nor any large operators who market their produce in Los Angeles, to whom we can appeal for funds to carry on this work. 80% of our produce reaching Los Angeles is sold in Kern County and transported to market by the buyers. Due to our desire to cooperate as far as we are able with the other counties interested, our board of directors, after hearing the report and discussing the matter, adopted a motion to the effect that the Associated Farmers of Kern County agree to join in the expense of establishing an office in Los Angeles, providing that the other nine counties join in the program and Kern County's expense does not therefore exceed 10% of the office expense estimated in Los Angeles April 8th to approximate $200.00 per month. Our directors agreed to cooperate to this extent until such time as a change comes into the situation that would no longer justify the expense or, on the other hand, would demand some further action to protect the interests of Kern County. Very truly yours, AIT: m A. I. TUCKER, Secretary. 2. LABOR RELATIONS PROGRAM EXHIBIT 12962 [Copied from the files of the Associated Farmers of San Bernardino County, Inc. under subpena. FLW/mlr-2/2/40] ASSOCIATED FARMERS OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY, INC., 302 Court Street, San Bernardino, May 4, 1938. 1 More and more it is becoming apparent that the farmer group in the State of California is the spearhead in the fight that is being made to preserve the rights of all to pursue any lawful occupation, trade or calling without paying tribute in one form or another to those who would destroy the security of men and institutions by coercive and unlawful methods. Here in San Bernardino County, thanks to the vigilance of straight-thinking, high-minded groups, the advance of the horde who would control by violence and intimidation has been repelled. At a meeting of representatives of the nine Southern California Counties held in Los Angeles a short time ago a new organization was formed to be known as the Farmers Transportation Association. This Association, while not affiliated with the Associated Farmers of California, has mapped a course that will dovetail the activities of our organization. Members of this new organization-and they stand as one man-will not mince matters. Hugh Osborne, Vice President of the Associated Farmers of California, has been made Chairman of the Executive Committee of the new organization. Offices have already been opened in Los Angeles, and units are being formed in the ten Southern California counties. The plan is to have every truck operator and truck driver in Southern California who engages in over-the-highway transportation properly identified. They will be asked to fill out a questionnaire, establishing certain specific questions as to licenses, ownership, etc. Registration offices will be established in each of the Southern California Counties where these operators and drivers may apply for an identification card after the questionnaire has been filled out. The farmers themselves will not deal with anyone who is not able to produce a card of identification. One of the stipulations in the questionnaire is that the operator of the truck will do everything humanly possible to deliver cargoes from the point of loading to the point of destination. Also it is definitely agreed that union men will not be discriminated against in this respect. From that point on the driver of the truck is guaranteed protection. This is the job of the Farmers Transportation Association. The members will play with the racketeers at their own game. The farmers mean business. They are not going to stand for their products being kicked around from pillar to post! During the past two weeks the Associated Farmers of San Bernardino County and the Farmers Transportation Association have worked hand-in-hand in the Chino district where the Teamsters Union made an attempt to force the Dairy Delivery Company, engaged in hauling the farmers milk to the creameries in Los Angeles, to sign a five year closed shop agreement. The employees of the company are satisfied, having voluntarily set the wage scale under which they are now operating. The union at first set out on a very determined effort to force the signing of the contract, but when they were met by the firm opposition of the farmers themselves they at once backed down. A union delegation from Los Angeles, finding that they were to be met at the milk shed in Chino by a like delegation of approximately sixty Riverside and San Bernardino county farmers, came only as far as Pomona-then turned tail and scurried for cover back in Los Angeles! The farmers were assisted in the convoying of the trucks carrying their milk to Los Angeles by the real support of the Sheriff's Offices of both San Bernardino and Los Angeles counties, and the Los Angeles City Police Department. A vote of thanks to these officers! To date, the efforts of the union to force the ten remaining non-union employees of the Loose Fruit Exchange house in Los Angeles to join the union and force the Exchange to sign a closed shop agreement have been to no avail. The union has threatened to close the Exchange by strike and picket line-also to declare a boycott on "Sunkist" brands. The farmers have replied, "Go ahead," to the bluffs hence, the house remains open. Very truly yours, /s/ ROBERT W. PHILLIPS, Secretary. EXHIBIT 12963 [Copied from the files of the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce under subpena November 30, 1939. MJL-VS] LOS ANGELES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, INTERDEPARTMENT, To: Mr. Rosecrans. From: Mr. Harman. November 21, 1938. I had quite a long talk with Hugh Osborne of Imperial Valley last Friday, in connection with the situation that is going to confront our distribution problem and the rights of citizens on our highways. With the defeat of Proposition #1 the militant and racketeering labor leaders have grown bolder and their statement now is that they have the entire situation in hand and under control and are going to see to it that there is no transportation throughout the State on our highways unless every individual connected with such transportation is a union man and abides by the mandates and dictatorial conditions as set down by these leaders. They are making no bones about this and are out to carry on warfare to gain their ends. There is nothing in the Constitution or the laws of the State of California that makes it mandatory that any employee shall join a union or that he shall pay tribute to any such organization in order to hold his position, nor is there any law which gives any organization the right to stop transportation, beat up truck drivers or destroy products because such individuals do not comply with the high-handed demands of these dictators. In other words, as we all understand it the Constitution and laws of the State give the right to every citizen to conduct his business and to come and go along our highways without molestation provided he is acting and operating within the laws of the State. If anything is done to prevent such lawful traffic, it is incumbent upon the law enforcement officers of the cities, towns, counties or State to see that such persons are protected in their lawful procedure. While I am not accusing any of our law enforcement officers of being derelict in their duty, apparently they are not in a position to fully protect such persons who desire to conduct their business as they have the right to do, and it becomes necessary for private enterprise to pay out large sums of money to hire people to guard against such depredations. |