Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1910-04-21
PRICE THREE CENTS
A MIX War Raging.

= WIN 49, hfe6HAs
As a result OF tine conference between
the milk producers OF New England and
the city dealers held in Boston last week,
that metropolis is threatened with a milk
famine the hrst Of May At the confer
ence B. A. Manchester represented the
Mix Producers unions from Montpelier
to Randolph, inclusive; while Bethel sent
II. q. Barnes and Royalton was repre-
sented by James II. Stacey.
More than 90 farmers from as many
different sections Joined the directors Of
the Boston Cooperative company in tell
ing the contractors in no uncertain terms
that last winters price OF milk must be
continued through the summer, or milk
will be withheld after May 1.
A resolution passed unanimously by
the directors was;-fThe Boston price OF
milk, effective May l to Sept. !, must be
the same to the farmer as last winter; all
bills must be paid by the contractors by
the 18th Of the month following the one
in which the milk is received; half mill
shall be deducted from each can shipped
and paid over to the farmers company,
and this shall be part OF the individual
contracts" This resolution followed q
report of the special representatives sent
to the meeting.
The situation is sized up as follows by
the New England Homestead, published
at Springfield, Mass. :-"Not 10 the his
tory OF the milk industry have farmers
presented so unanimous q front rs now.
Nor have farmers ever so generally kept
accountsof their dairy business as now.
They are keeping tab on the outgo and
income, and are astonisbed TO see how
much they have been losing ct selling
milk at prices in the past. They would
have gone bankrupt except for some other
revenue from the farm which supports
the family and pays milk losses. Any
number of farmers are ready to open their
books and show figures that indicate
cost OF to cents quart to make milk ~
required for the Boston market.
"a significant feature, II II comes TO a
point OF holding back milk after May 1,
as seems probable now, is that the distant
territory In northern Vermont, New
Hampshire and New York was out in
force at Boston. These representatives
we're the loudest proelaimers of the con
tinued price through the summer, or mo
milk Thus, dealers will have no easy
task before them to get the milk Here
tofore they have gone into the back terri
tory and used those farmers as clubs to
beat the nearby producers into submis-
sion. The y. G. M. p. @. has forestalled
that possibility by organizing the back
country, and all agree the situation is
mighty uncertain for Boston milk con-
tractors unless they pay the same price
for milk they did last winter. II should
be emphasized that farmers are not ask
ing for an increased price over the winter
price, but simply for maintenance OF
the present price.
'All the contractors, except the II. p.
Hood company, we're represented at the
conference, although they declared it was
a possible violation OF the Law which says
com mbinations cannot be made I'm restraint
OF trade. Mr.. Hood in reply to a tele-
phone call declared be did not know
about the meeting and that be would
meet the producers at o'clock in the
evening or at IL o'clock the following
day. Not until several OF the II Hood
territory representatives had declared
against such tyranny was II finally agreed
to stay over and present the same resolu-
lion about price and conditions to Mr..
Hood, who gave the impression that he
would not acoede to the farmers de-
mands.
"Systematic arrangements are being
made all along the lines for taking care OF
The milk after May /. Separators will be
brought into play and calves and hogs
given q show on the farm.
"Contractors are given just 4S hours to
accept the farmers proposition, after
" hich time all negotiations are OF, and
he B. G. NJ. p. g. will take steps to thor
oughly systematize the placing Of milk
llter May /. Back in the milk strike OF
1901 no time was given farmers to place
heir milk elsewhere. Now, however,
hey will have 10 days or two weeks to
make other arrangements"