The Harrison times., 1911-06-03
MILK PRODUCERS IN LEAGUE
Rapid Progress Made by Dairymen's
Association In Several Of the
Eastern States.

The Dairymen's league has made
rapid growth since the formation OF
the permanent organization. The num-
Der of local branches are about three
times what they were at that time,
writes Abner Minker in the Country
Gentleman. We now have branches
in Sussex and Warren counties, N. j.;
Litchfield and Fairfield counties,
Conn; Berkshire county Mass;
Wayne county, Pa; Orange, Sullivan
Ulster, Putnam, Duchess, Columbia,
Rensselaer,, Washington, Montgomery,
Delaware, SChoharie, Greene, Otsego,
Broome, Chenango, Madison, Oneida,
Onondaga, Cortland, Chemung, Tomp-
kins and Allegany counties, N, Y.
1t should be remembered that this
is large organization covering large
fleld-the largest of any similar organ
ization-and like long train it should
not be expected to start off at full
speed 1t must start slowly, be con
seryative, gain concessions gradually,
but when under full speed its momen-
tum is wonderful and rash or false
move will wreck it. Every milk pro.
ducer should avoid surplusing the
market Send the Improbable COW to
the butchers block, for she only
makes the surplus which tends to keep
down the price of the profitable COW
We cannot expect to get something
out and put nothing in. 1t takes time
energy and little incidental expense
Nothing can be gained by retreat. It
becomes more evident each year that
the milk producer must work out his
own salvation. The failure, and in
some cases the refusal, Of the dealer
to recognize the farmers in this bust
ness transaction leaves the farmer the
alternative to organize and act inde.
pendently. This is not as it should be
in equity and from a business stand
point. The farmers must join hands
TO protect their interests. They need
organization effectually to promote or
defeat legislation as it affects their
interests. Every milk producer should
consider carefully the proposed reci-
procity treaty with Canada with re-
spect to the removal of the duty on
milk, cream, butter and cheese, and
its effect on our market, and then let
their representatives in congress hear
from them. We keep men in the field
continuously organizing, and speakers
are sent to any locality to form
branches Of the organization,
To my thinking, it appears that the
milk producers of this state and coun-
try will be seriously affected by reci-
procity. AS Canada imports none of
the milk or its products from this
country, it is proof that our markets
are the better. Canada now finds 1t
profitable to export large quantities of
milk, cream, butter and cheese to this
country under the present duty OF 6
cents per pound on butter and cheese,
70 cent per quart on milk, and IL
CeulS On CIedlu' ue ltluONdl VI
these duties would make our markets
still more attractive. 1t would force
some Of the butter,producing sections
out of the business or into the retail
liqud,milk markets, and result in
further depression Of price to the pro
ducer, thus forcing many of them out
Of the business, especially those pro.
ducing the most sanitary milk. The
milk production business is now in a
most deplorsble condition, and under
the most favorable conditions one-half
cent quart cannot be figured as
profit; in fact, it is now difficult to
show any profit whatever, The duty
on cream is now out of proportion to
the other milk products, and should be
restored to the Mckinley rates.