New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-10
Farmers Confuse BrilPS
Messages with billions
Release Orders.
REPORTS OF SERIOUS
FRICTION DENIED
CITY Gets SO Per Cent Nor
NAL Supply-Jump Is
Expected To-day.

Because Jacob s. Brill, president OF
the Dairymen's League, sent out mes
sages which were confused by the
farmers with messages from the exec
utive committee through Commissioner
John J. Dillon, releasing milk to deal
crs who had signed six months con-
tracts, yesterdays supply showed onig
n 10 per cent increase over Sunday
deliveries. At the highest estimate
the city received SO per cent OF us
normal supply. a shortage OF more
than 100000 quarts.
There are two explanations for what
n. leaders OF the farmers strike call
this unfortunate crossing OF the
wires"
"The milk producers have become
SUSPICIOUS Commissioner Dillon SAID
Yesterday afternoon at his Office, 2O4
Franklin Street. "All during the
week. my correspondence shows, agents
for the Big Three distributors were
trying to fool the farmers. They trav-
clled through the dairy counties
spreading rumors that the companies
had signed the contracts and that II
would be all right TO send milk TO New
York.
Occasionally a producer was per-
suaded TO release milk for shipment
By the end Of the week warnings had
been issued that no milk was to be
shipped without official notice from
he Dairymen's League:
81 understand President Brill went
20 his home in Poughquag Saturday and
wrote letters instructing the farmers
20 ship no milk until he notified them
officially. They received his letters
about the same time kilograms came
rom this Office. signed by either the
executive committee or myself. IN
.tructinc members Of the league 70
release milk TO the ninety dealers who
had come 10 terms with us.
Naturally, some Of the farmers did
not know what 10 do. Rather than run
q chance of shipping milk without
proper authority, they did nothing a.
II don't know why Mr.. Brill sent out
those letters. | wish somebody would
ask him. The matter of holding up and
releasing milk is in the hands OF the
oxecutive committee. The president
lad nothing 10 do with instructions TO
the farmers up TO Saturday.
At the Hotel Manhattan last night
Mr. Brill gave his explanation of the
Misunderstanding through Mark e.
Dubois. a Poughkeepsie newspaper man.
at happened that a regular form let
ter such as is sent out b. the thou
sands from President BrilPs home Of
ice reached the farmers at the same
time as the kilograms from Commits
.ioner Dillon's Office" he said. "Mr.
Brill had no intention Of interfering
with the work OF the executive com
mttee. lie wants 10 see the farmers
sin this fight. lie is doing everything
in his power 10 cooperate with the eX-
ccutive committee.
But he has differed from Mr. Dillon
on certain matters of policy and
method" Mr. Dubois added later, in
answer 70 questions about rumors of
friction in the administration of the
league.
"As far as have been able TO find
out, Mr.. Dillon is the whole league and
the entire executive committee. His
only authority lOi AlS dSNlOHo Az Ni.t9N
capacities is his appointment as selling
agent All the farmers desire to win in
this fight is a fair price for their milk
They do not want TO spend Sl0,00OO0O
and months of labor in experimenting
with cooperative distributing stations.
That idea is as foolish as the Borden
plan to keep cows within the city limits
"Dillon is a one-idea man. He runs
on a single track until he goes 20
smash. Mr.. Brill believes an attempt
should be made TO placate the large
dealers. Dillon goes after them with
club. Ask the big dealers if they will
come TO terms, provided Dillon keeps
dis hands of, and see what they will
answer"
William A. Levy, secretary Of the
Levy Dairy Company, served notice that
ne would hold the league responsible
for the failure OF producers near Ira,
Y. Y, 10 deliver milk yesterday owing
20 the mix-up on kilograms.
Commissioner Dillon expects TO see
the supply climb to 70 per cent to-day
officials Of the big Three" firms gave
no indications Of surrender 20 the
league yesterday.