Middletown transcript., 1904-07-16
OF INTEREST TO MILK PRODUCERS

Through the United States there ar
now in operation 1900 co-operativ
creameries and cheese factories which ar
considered successful. and nearly 400, ,00
farmers going to them there is also il
the United States 100000 cows, SO ou
government statistics tell US.
With one exception every standard
farm journal published advocates CO
operation among the farmers and this
one exception is a journal published and
owned by gentleman of the highest
standing. The writer can not positively
state ulty this journal does not advocate
cooperation, but it is well known fact
that its editor and owner is perhaps the
largest single owner of creameries in the
State of Wisconsin and / never have
known creamery man who did advo-
Cate cooperation or even admit that the
principal was beneficial. 1t is true that
there have been many cooperative COM
panies Tin name only started, and with
rare exceptions they have failed. There
has been and again will be many farmers
start farming and many of them fail but
is that anything against the farm? just
so of cooperation. We are not the only
people building creameries we do how
ever claim to be the only company doing
business who organizes companies which
are cooperative in method just as they
are in name, ,and every time community
is brought together on genuine cooper
alive principal, there you are sure to find
success, and the cause is very plain to
be seen, genuine cooperation is equally
not speculation, and just as soon as the
fact is known that Mr.. B. can make no
money out of Mr.. c.. raw material, but
that each man is bound to get paid for
just what his product nets in market,
and when it is known that Mr.. B. can
have knowledge of no trade secrets or
information in regard to the business
which is not also known by Mr.. c., just
so soon the value of cooperation shows
itself, and in every community where
such organizations exist there also exists
a feeling of fellowship never known
before and in the farmers pocket is more
money than he ever had before from his |
COWS. The writer in no degree wishes
you to think he is opposed to the middle |
man. He is not. They are very neces-
sary. What he is opposed to, always |
was, always will be, is the middle man |
using every means in his power to create |
a monopoly and when he has shut out |
all competitors which interferes, force
down the price of raw material below |
the cost of production. ! am opposed to
it on the principal that the day you
remove from the farmers pocket his
profit that day you begin to destroy the
very foundation of our existence-the
farm. All of US, presume, is in bust
ness for gain, and those of us live the
longest who's plan of business seeks for
portion of the prosperity of the farmer
not to impoverish him. 1t has repeatedly
been proven that it costs the average
farmer 80 cents to produce 100 pounds
OF milk, and when he is paid less money
for it each milking finds him poorer.
1t is not the policy Of the people whom
! represent to seek newspaper notoriety.
We will not, however, set by and be
mained. If our tub will not stand on
its own bottom amy man has the right
to cause its collapse. He should, how
ever, come out of his cover. When
learned the price dairymen here were
2 ting for milk, 1 also learn ed something
Of the quality of his COWS and the natural
for producing milk; that
brought me here, twas not my purpose
70 throw mud nor discuss the business
of any other man or men in the
butter business. l am, however, forced
% it in self defense and if the skeleton
IL the creamery closet in Middletown
must be taken out shall to the extent
I'm pushed, help rattle his bones.
Last week called your attention to
organized by me at Quarryville,
Pa, now wish to call your attention
o clipping from the Prattsyile GaseH
Jreen Co., N. Y, it speaks for itself:
CREAMERY MEETING
The annual meeting of the Prattsville {
Creamery Co., held at Erkson's Hall, on
tuesday, January 18th, was called to Or
Ter by President Philip Conine. sect'y c
}. A. Platner and Manager G. L. Persons
'eing present.
Manager Persons being called upon,
resented the following report. i