Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-04-07
MILK CANS RATTLING.
Farmers to Ship But One-Fourtk Of
Their Usual Supply To-MorrOw,
TO MEET A THREATENED BOYCOTT.
Dealers Of the Two Cities Not Yet Fright
ened Into Defeat.
HOW THE MERRY WAR Is PROGRESSING


of additional farmers yesterday signed the
agreement of the Milk Producers Union of
Western Pennsylvania and Eastern Ohio,
and are now ready to turn all their product
over to f. @. Reed, the unions agent. He
is ready in turn to dispense the household
beverage to retail dealers. A new phase of
the movement was announced by Mr.. Reed
last evening. Beginning with Monday
morning, all dealers who wish to buy their
milk through Mr.. Reeds agency must first
get an order slip at his Office, No. GIG Lib
erty street. After that they go to the rail-
road depots for the milk. Heretofore the
dealers have been getting their milk at the
trains without any formality.
Although, as agent of the farmers, Mr..
Reed now controls $4,000 gallons of milk
daily, it is not likely that he will allow
more than one-fourth of that quantity 10 be
shipped into the city tomorrow. He does
not propose to be caught with a big supply
on his hands if the dealers try to boycott
him as some have threatened to do. Should
order slips be given out during the morning
for more than that amount, then a larger
shipment will be quickly telegraphed for.
THE FARMERS DETERMINED.
The farmers agent will charge dealers the
same price tomorrow for the milk as they
have been paying. After tomorrow prices
are not yet fixed. It is supposed big cut
will be made If the dealers try counter
movement with milk from Central Ohio.
j. D. Little, Secretary of the Producers
Union,. was rather wrathy yesterday owe
the allegations made by leading members of
the Dealers Union that the dealers had not
been treated fairly by the producers, and
that the latter had not given the former
proper opportunities to negotiate with them.
Mr.. Little sent for reporter of THE DIS
PATCH and then replied to this as fol-
lows:
'sIt is the dealers who have treated the
producers unfairly, and now they are squeal-
ing because we have put them in a hole.
Listen to this: On February 19 a delegate
meeting of the producers was held, at which
the constitution and bylaws were adopted.
OF this action the dealers were promptly
notified. They sent their executive COM
mittee to consult with US on March
18th. They said they would agree to pay
us II and 1S cents, declaring that price was
no object, as they desired our union to be
organized to protect them. They agreed
then to meet us on March 26 to fix matters
up. When we came together at that date
we could get nothing out of them. They
until October. We then offered to sign
articles with them to go into effect in Oc-
tober. They declined, saying they had not
the power to act for all dealers. We then
moved that the next conference be held on
April 2, and that the dealers committee
come fully empowered to act. On that date
none of the dealers showed up at
all. Instead, our President received
a postal card from the committee of
dealers explaining that they couldn't
get enough of the dealers together
to transact business. But since we
went right ahead without them they seem to
have been able to get enough together for
big meeting, at which these charges of un-
fairness were made.
AMONG THE DEALERS.
Two of the largest retail dealers in the
cities yesterday notified Agent Reed that
milk from him at the farmers terms, begin
ming tomorrow morning. One is on the
Southside, the other in Allegheny.
Mr.. William Dilworth, the leader of the
dealers, was met at his store on Pennsylva-
mia avenue, Allegheny, last evening, and
during the course of conversation on the
existing trouble, said:
"I have Just returned from the Fort
Wayne depot, where met large number
of milk dealers, who were after to-morrow's
supply of milk, The feeling among them
is stronger than it has been at any time
since the commencement of the trouble.
They are confident that in the end they
will be able to supply the most of
their customers wants. The majority of
mine have said they would be lenient and
allow me little time in order to meet their
demands. Such is also the case with all the
dealers in the city. have enough milk on
hands to furnish all the sick people and
babies among my customers. The remain
der will have to wait.
To-MoRRow's SHORT OUTLOOK.
"a milk dealer in Allegheny will not
give his name-win go after 8, 900 gallons of
milk on Sunday, and will, on Monday,
bring it to the city. This milk will be for
Tuesdays supply; SO it does not matter if
the milk does not get into the city before
Monday noon. We have enough on hand
at present to supply our customers on Mon
day morning.
''Several farmers have been in the city
and say that the agents of the creamery
company have misrepresented the facts in
the case, stating that the dealers in the city
sanctioned the movement. They did not
know they were cutting the dealers off with
out any warning. This, they say, was not
fair, and they would not accede to such de-
mands.
According to the laws of the association,
shippers who have contracts with dealers
are permitted to fill them. This in many
cases, will allow the dealers small supply
as a number of contracts have been made.
SLIGHT HITCH INDICATED.
1.-THE shippers do not agree with the first
order issued by the association, which is
that one-fourth Of the usual amount of milk
shipped be sent to them. This will throw
the remainder on their hands, to get rid of
as best they can. 1t does not pay them to
make it up into butter at this time of the
year. One said to me that he shipped 55
gallons of milk per day. The profits on
three-fourths of the milk will be over S25 in
a week, and he proposes to pay his fine,
which is the amount just named, and get
out of the association Immediately.
"Taking it all in all, think we can
make a winning fight, and can break the
association, or union, or trust, or whatever
If NAV he 3"