The sun., 1916-10-22

First, as to some side issues which invariably
and which becloud the main issues. As one of
the largest dealers, we are made the victim of
the popular dislike visited on the "middle:
man." In the future we ask the fair-minded
newspaper editor and the fair-minded man in
the street to make some distinction between
the middleman who has invested no money,
or very little, in his business, who makes no
contribution to a legitimate enterprise with
which, more or less as a parasite, he is con-
nected and whose only reason for existence is
his ability to stand between producer and con-
sumner for his personal benefit, and the middle
man, who, like our Company, has an Sill ,000, 900
cash investment in the Eastern branch of its
fluid milk business alone, and which, in this
particular branch, employs Thousands of men
about 4,5oo,o 900, and which employs scores Of
veterinaries and inspectors to guard the health
Gifts customers and which deals with perishable
food product under the strict regulations of the
Health Department from the moment it is re-
ceived from the dairymen at upward of 100 differ
ent bottling plants and receiving stations
throughout New York and adjoining states until
it is delivered a st food for the people of this city
and it's environs. We have heard of no substi-
tute for this kind Of a middleman that offers
any. hope of lettering the existing method Of
milk collection, care and distribution short of
State or Municipal ownership. The State or
City would be the only competitor with whom
we could not hold our own, for the reason that
its losses would be merely an item that would
90 10 swell the tax puget. 0Ot II the Stato or
City takes this step it will have to take the
next step also and 60 into the business of pro-
ducing milk as we'll. Otherwise it may find
itself in the same position unhappily occupied
If the people want this solution they will have
it. 1t will not be the first time private rights
and ownership. acquired and encouraged with
public approval, have been annulled for the
good Of the community as a whole. but before
radical action of this kind is attempted it
would be we'll to know what, If any, are the
evils in the present system, and, If evils are
found, whether humiliation of an existing
industry is necessary to correct them and
whether the suggested substitute will really
operate to the advantage of the community
as a whole.
Is the present method of milk distribution
or relatively, as compared with any substitute
method that can lawfully be devised? If the
present method cannot stand this test when
fairly made, it will suffer the fate, and rightly
SO, of hand labor, for example, when put in
competition with machinery. We believe that
no food product is handled 90 directly, efficiently
and cheaply as milk, and, further, we believe
that under existing laws against combination:
no substitute method can be devised that will
offer any hope of actual improvement to the
community as a whole. The great incentive
eom ssa.H%s 'H Se. s.ss,en 80 'n milk k , d;:tsib 'n e"s
each fighting the other for the favor of the
public as to service, quality and price, would be
lost when the State or the City became not an
imaginary AEuot oot III oSSudi monopoly
Second, as one of the largest distributors.
we come in for our full share of the opprobrium
that is .popularly supposed to attach to a
Crust" As a matter of fact, If there were a
better foundation for this charge an immediate
advantage would accrue to both producer and
distributor in the economies of lessened costs
and increased volume of business conducted
by the larger units. Government regulation
and continued competition among a few big
concerns would afford the necessary protection
to the producer and consumer. If any such
combination wants our fluid milk business at
a cost of the cash we have invested in it, we
will be glad to retire from this branch of our
business. However, in the face of existing laws
and perhaps of public sentiment, a combina-
ton of dealers is not practicable, and we will
therefore meet this so-called Trust charge
by saying that we welcome the opportunity Of
having it thoroughly Investigated SO far as
our Company is concerned in the proceedings
now pending before Referee Dykman or by
the Wickes Committee, or in any other inquiry
that may be instituted. In the proceeding
before Referee Dykman, the Attorney-Ceneral
for reasons which undoubtedly appear to him
to be sound has elected to investigate first the
Trust" charge against the distributors, al
though the proceeding was originally instigated
as a result of a charge that the D~airymen's
League was the guilty party, and despite the
fact that in the papers prepared by the Attor-
ney-Ceneral it does not appear that any one
made a Trust" charge against the dealers.
Moreover, from the newspaper accounts, a
casual observer would undoubtedly gain the
impression that the milk shortage was caused