Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-04-05
THE CONTRACTORS YIELDING.
SiIk Producers Score One Point in the Bio
Fight al Boston.

bostOn, April "A material advance
toward the amicable settlement of the
milk war was made at todays con-
ference between the representatives of
the New England Milk Producers
Union and the contractors, and the net
result may be set down as a victory for
the producers, inasmuch as the con-
tractors, through their spokesman.
George o. Whiting. agreed to take
from the card the present clause. re-
serving to the contractors the right to
change the price of milk at any time
and to insert the clause which the pro-
ducers' favor. providing that the price
shall be changed only by agreement of
the two parties. This removes one of
the chief objections to the present
agreement, and is a reversal Of the po-
sition taken, yesterday, by Mr.. Whit
ing.
The deadlock over the questions of a
straight price and surplus, however.
could not be broken. The contractors
We're firm in their declarations that the
system could not be changed at the
present time, while the Producers In
ions representatives suggested various
plans in a vain effort to find some one
that could be agreed upon. Mr.. Whit
ing said the contractors We're willing
to consider a straight price plan to go
into effect next fall. but at the pres
ent time, in justice to the contractors
and the farmers who are living up 20
the present system, the contractors
would not consent to a change. II. A.
Whiting also asserted that the con-
tractors could not pay straight price
without loss either to the contractor or
producer
Mr.. ScammOn, on behalf of the pro-
ducers. suggested that the latter would
take the present surplus and subtract
10 cents or the average surplus, and
accept 3l.1 cents. last years net price,
as straight price. They would go
farther and let the contractors limit
each man to his last years production.
This last was met by the arguments
already stated and not accepted. Mr.
Hood, representing r. p. Hood & Sons.
said that he felt that the real point at
issue was not the surplus, but the
monthly price clause.
Mr.. Graustein of the Boston Dairy
Co., said that his company could not
continue in business unless the sur
plus clause remained in the contract.
ment to be arbtrated. G.. o. Whiting
expressed himself in favor of a signed
contract between contractors and pro-
ducers.
After having devoted several hours
to the discussion of the surplus and
straight price clause, without any pros
pect of an agreement. the meeting adj
journed until tomorrow morning at 10
O'Clock.
This evening. there was a large
number of callers at President Ward s
headquarters at the American house.
where the situation was informally
discussed by members of the union.
1t was said by some of those present
that the contractors had very good
reasons for wishing to have the sur
plus clause retained. as they in fact
made more money out of the surplus
than out OF their other milk. Not on
ly can this milk itself be sold but the
whey can be made into sugar of milk
which is very much in demand and the
curds can be made into cheese. and by
a new process can be worked into ma
terial similar to celluloid so that a can
of milk that cost them 81 cents brings
a return to them of about So cents.
President Ward. tonight. gave out
the following. addressed to the milk
producers of New England:
Hold back your milk. Now is the
time for producers to hold Stronge,
than ever. | consider every producer
of milk for the Boston market Il mem.
Der of the union and I ask all to stand
together in this controversy"