New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-02
Dealers Threaten Anti
Trust Suit to Win
Price Fight.
DAIRY LEAGUERS
PLAN INVASION
To Sell Direct Here, They
Say-Companies Defy
Farmers.

Milk producers and milk distribu-
.srs squared off yesterday for
finish fight upon the demand of the
producers for more pay for their
goods. The prospect was they might
nunish each other, but the heaviest
blows would fall upon consumers
here. Hospitals, hotels, public insti-
tutions. prudent housewives, users
of milk of every degree, made prepa-
rations TO do with less milk or even,
where it was possible, with no milk
at all.
The chief developments of the day
were:
The leading distributor an
nounced they would deliver to-day
and for an indefinite period there
after so per cent of their normal
gpply. Leaders Of the Dairymen's
League scoffed at these figures, say
ing not more than % per cent would
be on hand.
League TO Cut Price.
The league announced a plan to
sell milk through New York's retail
butchers at reduction of 2 cents
quart over the prices now charged.
Lotion Horton president of the
Sheffield Farms Slawson Decker
Company, made public a letter to
Attorney General Egburt E. Wood
bury demanding antitrust prosecu-
tion Of the dairymen and John Dill
lon. state Commissioner Of Foods
and Markets, who has acted as their
leader.
Unorganized dairymen from states
as far north as Maine began sending
their product to the distributors here
to replace the supply Withhold by
tie members Of the league.
Here is what the three big com
panies which together furnish New
York with one-half her 800,00O,OOO
quarts Of milk a year promise for
to-day:
Sheffield Farms-Slawson-Decker
Company so to 60 per cent Of nor
ma supply.
Mutual McDe mott Dairy Corpo-
rstion-75 per cent Of normal sup
ply.
Borden Condensed Milk Com
psny-50 per cent Of normal supply.
Dealers to Give Battle.
These percentages, officials Of the
companies stated yesterday, would not
decrease az long as the Dairymen's
League withheld its supply Of milk
unless some Unforeseen factor entered
tie hght and allied itself against the
distributors. In other words, from the
point o. view Of the milk companies,
hs famine" is not going 70 be fam
iIs a. all
But the dsirymen think otherwise.
lnsir ultimate object, az outlined yes
tsrdsy BY Commissioner Dillon, is 70
orgsnize a cooperative distribution plan
Tor the city that will eliminate the big
ges' milk corporations now doing busi-
tsts in New York Ar Dillon insists
mat his will come In the near future,
e1i that The plan OF selling through
osNhers, az the lower price. is sched-
usa 70 take place just a. soon as nee
siafy arrangements can be made.
Pssteurization an Obstacle.
The one seemingly insurmountable
S'stse.e IN the way Of carrying out the
l.sgpe's plan lies in the fact that the
ey Health requirements demand that
saiy pasteurized milk be sold within
sss limits of greater New York. With
70. sreeption Of about twenty small
organization plants in various parts
ne state. the big concerns that are
.Y;Dsing The dealers own or control
"s means of pssteurizstion.
RAM Tor the construction Of several
1g plants for the treatment Of the
~ milk are under confederation by
- Ffofpcerg' League. according % it's
.naais y IL admitted, however. that
'ssi weeks would be required 10 put
- smallest % these into operation,
ssNs j - hoped 20 end the present
sh' within week by the simple de-
"ss 'i shDttiug cf the supply Of milk.
me most important Of the pasteuri-
nta plants non in The hands OF the
tsimtrr are 81 Kingston. Thompson
n,fs and Little Falls. II n admitted
ihsir representatives., however, that
.sss and the other plants available 20
s tanners would not be sufficient 70
sthels any considerable percentage OF
ss milk required for the city's con
tsn.rs.
Dillon Charges Oppression.
.NpnfnissiDner Dillon declared that
S presert outbyrst was the result OF
sshrstiOn of oppression, during
.,,sh the man who owned the farm
~ btsn compelled 70 accept anything
xN ne 1airymeD decided 20 give him
" hn product. lie cited Instances
tsatisssd on page q. column