Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-07-09

pay whatever fines may be assessed
against them rather than go to such great
expense and loss of time.
1t is assumed by the milk dealers that
with the establishment of such council
of national defense and the payment by
such an organization of all costs of de-
Tending prosecutions for selling so-called
impure milk that dealers all over the
country would be eager to ally them
selves with the organization, thus caus-
ing il to grow in numbers and strength
Prof. Ward to Testify.
Furthermore. the milk dealers propose
to bring to Washington al the first OPP
portunity Prof. Ward of the state hy-
gienic laboratory, University of Califor-
mia, noted meteorological expert. to tes-
tify In their behalf. in case of prose-
cution against a milk dealer for selling
so-called impure" milk, in the hope that
such a test case, because ii is tried in
Washington. the National Capital. will at
tract national and International attention.
and. aid in settling forever all questions
as to archaeological standards in milk.
The milk dealers who participated in
Yesterdays conference are today re-
porting to their organizations the de-
tails of the meeting. with the expecta-
tion of having a second conference of
a series next Thursday in this city.
Those who participated in Yesterdays
Milk Dealers and Producers Associa-
ton of Washington. DIR. Allerton S.
Cushman, their scientific adviser;
committee from the New York Sanitary
tific adviser DR.. Herbert d. Pease,
director of the department. of bac-
teriology of the Lederle laboratories of
New York. and the attorneys for the
milkmen of both cities. Henry E.
Davis and Matthew E. O'Brien.
Price Increase Not Discussed.
Mr.. Davis stated today in behalf of
the milk dealers that they did not dis
discuss the possibility of raising the
price of milk for the purpose Of Gre
ating A fund for the defense of ac-
cused milk men.
I'VE realize" Mr.. Davis said. tina t
we cannot make an agreement to
raise the price of milk without con-
flicting with the Sherman antitrust
law. We do not believe. however. that
the producers will have to have on
their farms archaeological laboratories
to make sure their products Will stand
the tests. The increased expense of
this will naturally bring about an in
crease in the price of milk"
The reason for the secrecy at the
meeting yesterday" Mr.. Davis said.
lis likely to have been enormously
conceived, and 1t was the idea of the
gentlemen from New York who par
ticipated in the conference. l believe
this secrecy. also. is likely to be mis-
construed by the public.
1.-The meeting was an initial one of
two committees. one from New York
and one from Washington. and the dis
cussion that took place may be best
racterized as one of ways and
means to enable the milk dealers and
producers to put their case fully and
truly before the courts and the pub
lie.
Erroneous Impression.
1.-The character and extent of the prose
cution of the milk men here and else
where has caused a most erroneous i'm
preston to arise that filthy or otherwise
impure milk is being generally sold and
consumed throughout the United States.
THE fact is that these prosecutions
have had their foundation in the as
sumption flor il is nothing more than an
assumption that the mere presence OF
certain classes of bacteria in milk makes
it either dirty as il is said, or unwhole
some.
The prosecutions have been carried
| on In a spirit and under conditions
causing a widespread belief that there