Evening star., 1916-09-19
BUT TW0DEALERS
AT MILK CONFERENCE
One Tells Producers He Will
Conduct Negotiations Only
in Writing.

A committee representing the milk
producers of Maryland, the District Of
Columbia and Virginia, met this after
noon beginning at 1870 o'clock in the
office of ]. c. Welliver in the Munsey
building. for the purpose of comforting
with the milk dealers of Washington in
the hope that the dealers may be induc-
ed to pay the producers a higher price
for milk Out of the sixty-five dealers
in Washington at the beginning of the
meeting only two of them appeared.
although it was hoped that as the aft
ernoon continued others might be pres
ent.
It was understood that most of the
dealers are averse to meeting with the
producers to discuss the possibility of
the dealers paying more than they now
pay the producers. one well known
dealer. in response to an invitation to
be present, answered member OF the
producers committee to the effect that
if the producers had anything to say
to this dealer he wanted it done in
writing and would reply in writing.
May Make Negotiations Impossible.
This attitude. it was said by the pro-
ducers during the meeting, almost
makes it impossible to have a confer
ence of any Importance between the
dealers and producers, and the fear was
expressed that the absence of other
dealers from the meeting indicated that
this might also be the attitude of the
abSentees.
The producers discussed the possibil-
ity of holding big public meeting
about two weeks from now and enlist
tVNtr in, has nrf Of hair ntf TON IN
get higher price for their product
the assistance of the consumers league
and other organizations, especially of
women. who might be supposed to have
a knowledge of the difficulties the pro-
ducerS face.
The producers declared that they can
not continue to sell milk to the dealers
at the price they are now getting, be-
cause so many increased costs of pro-
duction enter into their work, and they
discussed the possibility of obtaining
the consent of the public to the pay
ment for broken or lost milk bottles
as one method of lowering the cost of
milk distribution.
The dealers who were present at the
meeting pointed out that they also
were laboring under expenses as heavy
as their business will stand at this
time, although it was understood that
they were in favor of having the con-
sumner paying for broken and lost milk
bottles.
Ask 400 Producers to Meet Here.
After the meeting i, was announced
that the 1,400 milk producers of Mary
land. Virginia and the District of CO.
lumbia have been asked to meet in con-
vention in Washington at II o'clock
Saturday morning, at which time it is
intended to take up plans for having
3 mass meeting of the public so that
the consumer may be familiarized with
the merits of the producers complaint.
At such a gathering. it was said today
at the meeting, it is hoped to have pres
ent well known experts on the subject
of milk production and distribution as
well as many women of Washington
who are vitality interested in the cost
of milk in their homes.
The produceI,' said today at the meet
ing that they had no intention of un-
duly alarming the Washington public
as to a possible increase in the price of
milk. but that they are determined that
the dealers will have to pay them more
for their product or else they will
abandon dairy farming as not only un-
profitable, but as a business which now
in many cases represents actual loss.