The Newtown bee., 1895-04-26
Editorial Ink Drops.
A CRITICAL TIME FoH MILK PRODUCER

A CRITICAL TIME FOR MILK PRODUCERS.
 A question of great moment now faces the farmers and milk producers of the Housatonic valley. Tie production of milk has been, and is, the leading indus try with the farmers of this section, and every progressive milk producer should come to the front at this juncture. What | Is the situation do you ask. It is just this: The price of milk paid the farmers in past years has been decided by an or ganization in New York called the Milk Exchange. This body, composed main- ly we understand of wholesale dealers, has fixed the price paid the farmers from month to month. The farmers have had the power to make the price, but not be- ing sufficiently organized, have not done so.
 This system has been very unsatisfac-
 tory to the milk producers, who during
 the past year or two especially have done
 much grumbling. Now the courts have
 decided against the exchange, and that
 organization as milk exchange has bit-
 ten the dust. One or two meetings to
 consider the situation have already been
 held In New York, and final meeting is
 called for April 29, in the same city. It
 Is important thst the farmers should be
 largely represented at this gathering.
 We would suggest that every shipping
 station on the Berkshire division should
 be represented by one or two delegates. Let the farmers "chip in,' and send a delegate, if no one is ready to volunteer to go.
 The farmers already have suffered too much from indifference ln the past. Let them come forward.now and look to their | interests. The price the farmer Is to re- ceive for his milk during the coming years may in a measure be in his power to determine. At any rate let him do all in his power to protect his interests.
 In this connection ringing note has come to our desk from E. G. Seeley, president of the Housatonic Milk Deal CTS Association, and one of the leading farmers and milk producers of RoxbuIy. MT Seeley, in company with his brother, Benjamin Seeley, and A. M. Smith, two of the largest milk producers in Litch- field county, have attended the prelimi- nary meetings in New York. MT See Iey's appeal has the right ring and we give it entire:
 There has been no opportunity like the present for the last 15 years for the farm CTS to come to the front and have some voice in regard to determining the price of milk. The road is now clear, no milk exchange in the way. There will be milk exchange organized in short time. If not with the producer, without him if not to his advantage, probably to his disadvantage, which may depend largely | upon the farmer.
 A meeting was held in the Mercantile Exchange building, corner of Hudson and Harrison streets, New York City, last Friday, April 10. Two plans were presented by the committee, which had been appointed for that purpose at previous meeting.
 Plan No. l, the more popular and in my judgement more practical for the farmers, Is as follows: Paid up capital of S25, ,0O0. %, divided up into shares oi s2o eae;. Solf shares Sl0. This stock to be subscribed for by producers and dealers, each share entitled to one vote. | Board of directors to be elected, capital to be invested, but only the earnings to be used. If not sufficient to pay expen- ses of the organization each share of stock to be assessed annually to an amount not exceeding $2. If more than sufficient an annual dividend to be de- clared.
 Plan No. 9: Join Mercantile Ex- change, include butter, cheese and milk and fix prices on bulletin board daily. This meeting stands adjourned till Mon- day, April go, o'clock p. m., in Mercan- tile Exchange building, corner Hadson and Harrison streets, New York City. It ia proposed at that time to adopt some plan, and proceed with the organization. MIX producers are urged to he present and take part in the discussion and de- cision.
 Farmers leave the blow, put on your coat ard attend this meeting. You are wanted.
 Wednesdays town meeting demon { Itrated the fact that a majority of the ax payers are opposed to any addition ( Il burden in the way of taxation. We'd