Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1910-05-05
BOSTON MILK wAR IS ON.
Shipments from this Section Praeti.
cally Cut Oft on May I.

TI0nuceFsf unions from MONT pelieF u
South Royalton took counsel together a
the Randolph Inn Friday in regard to th'
war they are waging against the contrae
tors OF Boston to force the latter to con
tinue the winter price through the sum
mer months or find themselves cut of
from the milk supply OF this section Al
well as from that of the rest Of New Eng
land. The producers present were firm
in their determination to refuse any com
promise offers OF the contractors, to with
hold the milk until the producers prics
is met by the contractors and to fight il
out on that line II 1t takes all summer.
The local situation with the White
Cross company since the conference oil
March 30 with its manager, q. r. Miller
OF Boston, who was unwilling to accept
the schedule OF prices, averaging S1.55 a
hundred, demanded by the farmers, has
re suited in the White Cross plant losing
about 5000 pounds OF milk day. 1t still
receives, however, 11,000 pounds daily
and the cream from 1000 pounds more,
bought at Mr.. Miller's schedule, which
averages Sl.5l 2-3 hundred for the six
months from April to September, inclu-
sive.
May 1st was the date set by the Pro-
ducers' unions TO cease putting milk on
the Boston car at the various stations
along the line but as the list was Sunday
the strike went inAo effect Monday. That
morning b. Al Manchester started out on
tour of inspection from Montpelier
down and found that instead OF carload
and half, as usual, only six cans of -
quarts each were put on. His statement
OF affairs is given below
THE STRIKE SITUATION.
In regard to the attitude of the farmers
generally towards the Boston contractors,
am glad to say that they are standing
firmly together in insisting on a fair price
for their product and in withholding that
product until the contractors come to the
producers terms. The Boston Co-opera-
tive company, to which we belong, con-
trolls so per cent OF Boston's milk supply
and we are in position to fix q just price
aud compel the contractors to pay II or
infiict upon them a loss that will be a far
greater drain to their profits than the
small advnnce per can they are refusing
to pay US.
A can OF milk, for which the contrae-
tors pay % cents, retails in Boston at IS
cents aud the dealers are making enor-
nous gains at our loss for at the present
cost Of production milk at 25 cents a can
leaves no margin OF profit. There is
good deal more money in making butter
and in raising hogs and calves than in
selling milk to Boston contractors for
what they are willing to give. In proof
Of this can quote Arthur Gilman Of the
Center, who, in raising high grade hogs
that brought ~ cents a pound, realized
so cents a hundred for bis skim milk.
The contractors are talking most Affect
ingly about the hardships the Boston poor
must suffer II we do not sell our mix be-
low cost % the B0sicn dealerG; but ! see
no occasion for our weeping copiously
over Boston's poor. II there are any
tears 10 De shed, it is up to the conirac-
tors 10 shed them; as they are the ones
really to blame for the milk drouth in the
city. Furthermore we farmers have been
engaged SO long in that kind Of charity
work that some OF us are now living on
hired or mortgaged farms and shall land
and our families in the poor
house IL we continue to feed Massachu-
setts paupers at our own expense. That
state is rich enough to take care Of her
own poor without our help. We want
none OF her assistance in the care Of Yer
mont poor, and only ask her TO look out
for her own without relying on us for
large Involuntary contributions.
When | went over the line Of shipment
Monday | found everyw here except at
Montpelier that the farmers were holding
70 their mutual agreement not TO send
milk to Boston after May /. At Mont
oelier I was surprised TO learn that Frank
H. Tracy, sheriff ot Washington county,
who had been in close sympathy with the
Producers union and apparently as
as any Of us to secure better
price, had changed front. 1t appeared
bat he had been down to Boston lately.
net the contractors, Hood Il Sons, and
lad decided to put his milk on the car as
usual. Another Montpelier man, r
fowne, has refused to make any more
hinments. At West Berlin s new pa
ron, A. Norton, whom the Hoods die
covered in their last close search for pa
rons, bad six cans ready for the car
Monday morning. including Sundays
milk but his ordinary consignment is
,nly three cans.
car now goes way into Canada after
milk, and Hood & Sons have hired q man
t 81 a day to draw 19 cans over Warren
TO Roxbury. This is rather
ong distance work and = less econoSnical
lolicy than to pay a decent price for
upplY within easy reach. Milk doesn't
.eep like fruit cake either and can't be
iauled many thousand miles. even
laeked in ice, without impairing It's
Iayor.
Stand frin, producers, and you stand 10
vim. let the contractors haul milk from
Greenland and over tire Rocky mountains
ntil August, and then perhaps they xill
e ready to consider more practicable.
satisfactory aud economicsl arrangement
Or winter. Ia the meantime guard
gainst such disposal Of your milk Is wili
vsntuaily land il in the Boston contrac-
ors' bands through middle parties and
hereby defeat your own ends.
B. A. Manchester.
Lion Foneles q Child.
In Pittsburg q savage lion fondIod the