Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-09-26
Contest Between Large and
Small Creameries of Iowa
Is Vital One
EXPECTED
DECISION
SOON
Commerce Commission Due to Decide
on Large Concerns Petition for Re-
dueed Freight Rates-Lower Rates
Fatal to Cooperative Concerns and
Small creamsriss.
Special to Times Republican.

Special to Times-Republican.
| Des Moines, Sept. 26.-Crearnery and
dairy men of Iowa are waiting for the
decision OF the Interstate commerce
commission in regard to the lower rate
on cream asked by the big centralized
creamery plants The hearing on the
| case before the commission was held
In Chicago few days ago and 1t is
claimed that the hearing constituted
the first chapter in what promises to
T be "a fight to the death between the
big and little creamerles. Inasmuch as
the fight is one that vitality concerns
the farmer who is the producer OF the
cream, and inasmuch as Iowa Is a
dairy state and one OF the big dairy
states Of the country. the question
lis one Of absorbing interest Further
more the conservation of the fertility
of the soil is concerned for the keep
ing OF. cows is one OF the most sure
methods of keeping the soil fertile
That the subject is one Of i'm portance
is evidenced by the discussion that is
now going on in the trade papers de-
, voted to the creamery business. The
Chicago Dairy Produce says:
with the closing of the hearing Of
the cream rate case in this city last
week, ended the first chapter of prob
ably one of the most sensational and
unique hearings ever held in this or
nfI }VSy txs ~ nf aFt ny1
that those who are interested in the
same industry and who should be in
terested in promoting and projecting
that industry. are arrayed against each
other in what might be called a life
and death struggle, yet this comes
pretty near describing the situation ex-
listing today between the CO. Operative
and centralizing creameries, and no
man can look far enough into the flu
,ture to tell what the outcome will
be-
That paper believes that it would be
possible for the big and little cream
cries to do business in the country
together, the big creameries combining
their attention to those sections where
creamery patrons are scattered and
where no other system can work 1t
is Gained that the hearing at Chicago
had the result of getting the little
creameries of the country together and
thus their. stand against the big cream
cries will be all the more determined
While the creamery men Of the coun-
try are thus engaged in bitter fight
the. farmers who IRE the real produce
ers. and most vitality concerned are not
represented except that the interstate
!corlmcrce commission insisted on hear
ing all evidence that would tend to
show the interest Of the farmer. But
the fight that Is going on between the
big and little creamery men of the
state is not going to be of particular
benefit to the farmer or the dairyman
The line of demarkation between the
big and little creameries is very dis
tinct. The little creamery has all its
cream brought in by team and wagon.
The big creamery has practically all its
cream shipped in by rail- tho some from
the Immediate community may be
hauled in The interests of the two con-
Germs are therefore very vital the min
ute the big plant invades the territory
OF the little fellow, and are important
all the time. The little plant wants the
freight rates high because the big
plant ships stuff in by rail and he does
not. The big plant wants the rates low
so he can compete with the little fell
low. The sympathies of most of the
dairymen seem to be with the LITTLE
creameries because 1t Is claimed they
are able to make better butter out of
cream that is brought in by wagon
49,. 4. alya Nf
that which IS shipped in by rail- and
because furthermore the little cream
cry can afford to pay higher prices for
the. cream. Where the big plant gets IN
ahead is in having such resources that
1t can pay a higher price than the mar
Ret warrants in the community Of a
little creamery till It drives the little
fellow out of business and then low
ering prices.
The hearty way In which progress
ives and standpatters alike join in the
receptior and llonors to Judge Taft and
the remarkable unanimity which they
show Cat least on the surface) IN the
conduct of the campaign is leading
politicians to look into the future.
When the Roosevelt administration
closes Iowa will be without any OF the
big "jobs" that are within the gift of
the president ana Iowa will Of course
want some Of these big jobs" Then
what will happen to the harmony deal
that is working thru the campaign
AS a matter of fact there has been un-
derhand work done during the prepar-
atoms for the Taft reception but no
one is paying particular attention to
that more than to see that the schem-
ers don't get their own way
II ex-Congressman Lacey loses out
for the nomination for senator as 1t
seems at this time he will, it is claimed
he will want something from the adj
ministration. 1t is possible that there
will be no opposition to their being ap.