The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-10-23

and profits or losses, such 1ecords to be open to public official such as the Department of Agriculture, and requiring the filing of periodic reports, would benefit the whole industry and re- move the suspicion and distrrst which now char acterize the relations between producer distrlbu- tor and consumer. Even with our close acquain- tance with the industry whole we have posi- tive knowledge of business only and know very little of the real conditions which con- front the dairymen From this limited knowledge we believe that he justified in demanding more for his milk We know his costs have in- creased and we believe his profit has been made quate. We blame ourselves for not keeping in closer touch with his problems and letting him know ours and acquainting him with the costs. and profits of distribution, and above all, urging him to consider how tally his interests are con cerned in keeping down retail prices to the con- sumner in order that milk consumption may be in- creased rather than reduced and that milk may continue to hold its enviable position of furnish ing more flood value" for the money than any other food product
 But even had there been established com plete understanding between and our dairy patrons, that would not have resulted in last ing settlement of the milk question" for the consumers viewpoint would have been left out of the reckoning. Therefore, we assert that some such law as have suggested is desirable and all the facts in the situation should De made matter of public record the end that the interests of all may be protected.
 Third, we suggest that the public give some thought as to whether its interests are not inJur- ed by acquescing in the notion so alluring to cer tain types of politicians to make the milk ques- ton" an instrument whereby their political ambi- tions may be furthered. In some years this ten dency is more in evidence than others, but hardly a year passes that the attempt is not made by to create political capital out of the milk question" These efforts always result in inject ing added bitterness, suspicion and distrust into the relations between those directly and indirect ly affected but they either accomplish nothing or accomplish something for, the particular interests intended to be favored to the detrment of the in terests of those whose support is not needed. The people should also consider whether it is wise to permit public officer acting under law which is intended to reduce the cost of living and which defines the measures he may lawfully adopt to accomplish this purpose to so identify his official position with the interests of one group that he ignores the interests of larger group The fact that the recent controversy between producer and dealer reached such an acute stage was largely due to the manner in which the pro ducers interests were represented by the Comms- sioner of Foods and Markets, who at all times obstinately ignored the, broader responsibilities which the law imposed upon him. When the set clement was finally made. with the Commission CTS approval it differed from the settlement made some three days earlier by President Brill of the Dairymens League only to the extent of leaving unsettled the disposition of seasonal surplus milk production, and of eliminating from the Commit tee which will arbitrate prices for January. Feb ruary and March those members who under the Brill plan of settlement would have been appoint ed by Governor Whitman Mayor Mitchell and Health Commissioner Emerson, the Merchants Association and others. Such appointees would have had in mind the interests of the people as a whole and finding by such Committee would have carried more weight coming from more representative body than the Committee directly and exclusively representing producers and distr- butors. The loss to the producer. distributor and consumer was prolonged by the Commissioner s activities for three unnecessary days, with the only result that he gained for himself in some quarters the credit which otherwise would have gone to dairyman who had publicly criticized him.
 In conclusion urge the elimination from the Milk Question of ignorance, partial or com plete; of false and bogy issues, of politics and personal ambitions and the substitution thervtor of continued public attention to the real issues; fair newspaper treatment of both producer and distributor the adoption of laws for the benefit of the consumer and the industry as whole. re- quiring the public recording of costs and prohts CT losses of producers and distributors; the cstab- fishing of the plan of monthly prices for both buying and selling; the interchange between the producers and distributors of information ernbrac-
 ing all the factors of the business, that the in dustry may be stabilized, the consumption of milk
 increased and better relations established between producer distributor and consumer.
 BOrden'S Farm Products Division.