New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-22

ment of Agriculture, and requiring the filing OF
periodic reports, would benefit the whole industry
and remove the suspicion and distrust which now
characterize the relations between producer, dis
tributor and consumer. Even with our close &C
uuaintance with the industry as whole we nave
positive knowledge of our own business only ana
know very little of the real conditions which con-
front the dairyman. From this limited knowledge
we believe that he was justified in demanding more
for his milk We know his costs have increased and
we believe his profit has been inadequate we
blame ourselves for not keeping In closer touch with
his problems and letting him know ours and ac-
ouaintng him with the costs and profits OF dIstribu-
ton, and above all, urging him to consider how
vitality his interests concerned In keeping down
retail prices to the consumer in order that milk con-
sumption may be increased rather than reduced and
that milk may continue hold its enviable position
of furnishing more flood value for the money than
any other food product.
But even had there been established complete
understanding between us and our dairy patrons
that would not have resulted in lasting settlement
of the milk question:" for the consumers viewpoint
would have been left out of the reckoning. there
fore, we assert that some such law as we have sug
pested is desirable and all the facts in the situation
should be made matter of public record to the end
that the interests of all may be protected.
Third, we suggest that the public give some
thought as to whether its interests not injured
by acquiescing in the notion alluring to certain
types of politicians to make the milk question an
instrument whereby their political ambitions may be
futhered. In some years this tendency is more In
evidence than Others but hardly year passes that
the attempt is not made by someone to create po-
liticsl capital out of the milk question" These
efforts always result in injecting added bitterness,
suspicion and distrust into the relations between
those directly and indirectly affected, but they
either accomplish nothing accomplish something
for the particular interests intended to be favored
to the detrmen of the interests of those whose sup
port 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 ne may lawfully adopt TO
complsh this purpose to identify his official posi-
hon with the interests of group that he ignores
the interests of larger group. The fact that the
cent controversy between producer and dealer
reached such acute stage largely due to the
in which the producers interests were rep
resented by the Commissioner of Foods and Mar
kets who at all times obstinately ignored the broader
responsibilities which the law imposed upon him.
When the settlement finally made, with the
Commissioners approval, it differed from the settle
ment made some three days earlier by President
Brill OF the Daiymens League only to the extent of
leaving unsettled the disposition of seasonal surplus
milk production, and of eliminating from the Com
mtee which will arbitrate prices for January, Feb
ruary and March those members who under the Brill
plan OF settlement would have been appointed by
Governor Whitman, Mayor Mitchell and Health
Commissioners 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 a more representative
body than the Committee directly and exclusively
representing producers and distributors. The loss
to the producer, distributor and consumer was pro-
longed by the Commissioners activities for three
unnecessary days. with the only result that he gained
for himself in quarters the credit which other
wise would have gone to a dairyman who had pub.
lcly criticized him.
In conclusion we urge the elimination from, the
Milk Question" of ignorance, partial or complete:
of false and bogy issues, of politics and personal
ambitions and the substitution therefor of continued
public attention to the real issues; fair newspaper
treatment of both producer and distributor; the adop-
ton of laws for the benefit of the consumer and the
industry whole, requiring the public recording of
costs and prohts or losses of producers and dis
tributors; the establishing of the plan of monthly
prices for both buying and selling the interchange
between the producers and distributors of informa-
ton embracing all the factors of the business, SO
that the industry may be stabilized the CONSUMPTION
OF milk increased and better relations established
between producer, distributor and consumer.
Borden's Farm Products Division