The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1900-08-04
Special 1nttres.
mHE UNITED MILK PRODUCERS AS

BALTIMORE, August 1st, 1900
To the Editors of The Union:
We note with pleasure the editorial reference
to The United Milk Producers Association con
tanned in your last weeks issue, and while we
appreciate your acceptance of our statements
as to what this Association stands for, and its
possibilities in the endeavor to open up more
profitable market for the producer, we feel
that the extreme caution exercised by you to
avoid any responsibility for the views quoted
in the said editorial is hardly warranted.
While it is not the province of a newspaper
to stand before the community as sponsor for
any business institution, its method of conduct
ing business or its mercantile standing, we take
it that it is the province of q newspaper to ex-
anime carefully into any proposition which
claims to be for the betterment of the public at
large, and especially when such proposition
looks to the immediate benefit OF the class VINO
form the larger proportion of the patrons OF
such paper. q
Ideas move the world. Communities stagnate
and the people are pauperiZed because of their
lack of, and slowness toadopt, newideas When
a new and fresh idea, therefore, cryStaliZed into
definite form, is projected, which claims to have
the farmer; which is substantiated in its claims
by arguments that cannot be gainsaid; which is
so clear in its outline that its utility is at once
apparent and which, after having been put into
practical operation, demonstrates all that is
claimed for it, and more; when such concep-
ton, around which clusters the interest, the
welfare and the prosperity of the entire farm
ing community. is brought before the public, it
would seem to us that it is the province of a
b benefited or harmed by its operations, to look
carefully over the ground, examine thoroughly
the claims made and weigh fairly and imparti-
ally the arguments advanced in order that 1t
may be in position to either endorse as practi-
cable, or condemn as not feasible, not the men.
or the association. who are to carry it into
effect, but the possibilities claimed for such an
institution when properly conducted
In other words we claim
First-That if the farmers, the milk producers,
who supply this market, fail to reap any profit
from their business, it is for one of two reasons
Either there is no profit in the business, or the
business is improperly conducted. ~
Second-That if there is any profit e. ID de-
was taking about when he said IF You WISH .
good servant, serve yourself" The dairymen
and vendors have been the supposed servants of
the producer. Instead of being servants, how
ever. they are the masters of the producer, and
hard masters. That they are deriving profit
sition is made for the farmer to become his own
servant and do his own work in the matter of
serving the consumer direct, their fierce opposi-
ton and hostility is at once encountered.
Fourth-That the only way in which the pro-
Queer can reap any profit is by eliminating the
mlQuleuan, WHO at present aDSOrDS Lne prOnG,
and dealing direct with the consumer himself
Fifth-That through an Association of this
character, composed of milk producers, man
aged by milk producers and for the benefit of
milk producers only, the farmer is afforded an
unrestricted market for his products at an es-
tablished and regular price. and that only
through such an Association is it possible for
him to get out of the clutches of the middle
man and come into direct contact with the con-
sumner.
Sixth-That an Association of this character,
with its immense plant and ability to convert
milk into all its various marketable forms in
vast quantities. opens up to the producer new
avenues of business which could be availed of
in no other way.
Seventh-That the states of Wisconsin, Hi
nois and Pennsylvania are at present supplying
Baltimore with butter that alone aggregates
100000 lbs. per week. and with other dairy pro-
ducts which. added to the butter, would together
require 100000 gallons more of milk per week to
supply than Maryland now produces. That
these states have taken from the very doors of
the Maryland farmers their own home market.
Why? Because our farmers have been salts
fled to move along in the same old rut and toilet
the middleman, who is simply seeking his own
profit, handle their business and establish and
control their market.
These are statements of fact which we are
circulating broadcast and which, in our judg-
ment, it is the province of a newspaper, having
the interest and welfare of its patrons at heart,
to investigate and either approve or disapprove,
so that when its reading public, appealing from
our statements, wants to know If the same are
borne out by the records, such paper is in a
position to speak advisedly and from absolute
knowledge.
All that we desire is to get the facts before
the people,.
UNITED MILK PRODUCERS ASSOCIATION,
WIN. b. CROWTHER,
Aug. At President.