Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1913-11-14
MILK PRICES
ARE TOO Low
Sympathy for Farmers at Con.
ference
EDUCATION, NOT LEGISLATION
Inquiry About the Indictments in
6oston-campaign to Show Food
Value of Milk-Harm Done
Dairymen.

Boston.-Experts in the milk bust
ness had conference at the Cham
Der of Commerce last week at the call
of the Chamber. Its purpose was to
sound the sentiments of the produc-
ers, dealers and consumers and TO
bring them together on some plan for
the improvement of the milk business,
through legislation, education or what
ever may be deemed expedient to Sc
cure fair price to the farmers, fair
profit to the dealers and fair cost to
the consumers for good and clean
milk.
Representative George H. Ellis pre-
sided, and associated with him on the
committee of the Chamber of Com
merce were John P. Bowditch and
Walter E. Smith.
In opening the conference Chairman
Ellis said that the committee will not
try to dictate what legislation ought
to be enacted, but he said that the
Chamber realizes that the milk busl-
ness in Massachusetts is dwindling
away, and the Chamber wants to do
what is found to be advisable to i'm
prove conditions. He said that the
Chamber believes, however, that the
small producers of milk ought to be
encouraged, and it hopes to bring to
the attention of the consumers the
food value of milk.
George R. Bedinger of the Milk and
Baby Hygiene Association said that
his association will give wholehearted
support to any measure which it feels
it can support. On the question OF
food value Mr.. Bowditch declared that
on the basis of thirty-fve cents for
pound of steak the price for a quart
OF milk should be twenty-seven cents
but the consumer would drop dead
before he paid that"
Charles F. Whiting, milk contrac-
tor, agreed that there is lack of I'M
derstanding and this can be overcome
only by bringing the producers, the
dealers and the consumers together.
1t is important that the distrust which
rests on the milk situation should be
diapelled. Mr.. Whiting would not
make any definite Recommendations
for future legislation.
George Albree, a milk producer, re-
commended three lines of action. He
said that in the first place the Cham
Der of Commerce should investigate
to find out why there has been such
a long delay in the Federal Court in
determining the case on file against
the so-called Milk Trust in Boston. He
pointed out that an investigation was
started three years ago and resulted
in the indictment of several contrac-
tors in Boston and representatives OF
the farmers union. These cases are
still pending, and it is unfair, he as
serted, that the stigma should rest
upon these men if there is no ground
for the indictments.
Secondly, there is dual system Of
milk transportation in Massachusetts,
he said, and the Chamber should see
that this is abolished.
Third, comes the question of law
regulating the production, transporta-
ton and sale Of milk which shall CO.
ordinate the interests of the city,
State and Federal Government.
Wilfred Wheeler, secretary of the
State Board of Agriculture, was en-
phatic in his statement that the farm
ers cannot produce milk at the prices
for which they must sell it. The Leg
islatures of the past two years have
done more harm to the dairymen than
can be repaired in ten years, he de-
clared, and today the farmers are de-
cideGly opposed to the Ellis milk bill.