The sun., 1916-10-22

W6rO n SettIcment SdtlSIdCSOTy " dNs
or losses, such records to be open to some
public official such as the Department Of
Agriculture, and requiring the filing OF
dustry and remove the suspicion and DISTRICT
which now characterize the relations between
producer, distributor and consumer. Even
with our close acquaintance with the industry
as a whole we have positive knowledge OF our
own business only and know very little o. the
real conditions which confront the dairyrna,.
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
ours and acquainting him with the costs end
profits Of distribution, and above all. urging
him to consider how vitality his interests are
concerned in keeping down retail prices 70 the
be increased rather than reduced and that
milk may continue to hold its enviable position
of furnishing more food value for the money
than any other food product.
But even had there been established a COM
plete understanding between US and our dairy
patrons. that would not have resulted in a last
ing settlement Of the milk question" for
the consuner's viewpoint would have been left
out CT the reckoning. Therefore. we assert that
some such Law as we have suggested is desirable
and all the facts in the situation Should be
made a matter Of public record to the end iha.
the interests Of al! may be protected.
Third, We suggest that tho public give sornc
thought as to whether its interests ars ret in
jured by acauicseing in the notion SO alluring
to certain types Of politicians to make the
milk question an instrument whereby their
%politica! ambitions may be furthered. In some
years this tendency ia rrore in evidence t.an
others, but ,1ardi" a year passes that the attempt
is not MADE b. someone to create political capital
cut Of the milk question:" These eff rts always
result in injecting added bitterness. suspicion
ard distrust into the relations between those
directly and Indirectly sfe ctcA hnt tko, o,tbs,
accomplish nothing or accomplish SOMETHING
Fer tire particular interests intended tc pc ia
vored TO the detriu,ert CT the intercSia al ticsc
whose support is not needed.
The people srcuId also consider whether Il is
wise to permit Il public officer acting ,ntc~ p
law which is intended to reduce the cost OF iiYinr
and which det.ncs the measures he r,ay law
fully adopt to accomplish this purpose TO 50
identify his Official position, with the interests
c. one group that he ignores the interests o. a
larger group. The fact that the recent cc7-
troversy between producer and dea.e- racrH~A
such an acute stage was largely due e ttr
manner in which, the producers Interests y-e-r
represented by tho COMMISSIONS. Of Food a,a
Markets, VINO AT all times chstinatciy ignored
posed upon him. When tho scltle1rx,. .ac
finally made, witH TIC Commissioner, a.
proval. IL differed fror, the settlement male
some three DAYS earlier b. President E,.,i q
the Dairymcn's League only to the extent &C.
leaving unsettled the Disposition Of seaoon2i s,r-
plus milk production, nd OF ci;r,iratioe ry5n-
the Committee which will ~ar!,itratc nr;c,5 f.
January, February and March tt-occ lie,,hcrs
who under the Bill plan Of seti.e."cn: ,9ui1
have besT appointed BY Coyer1or Nhi' man,
Mayer Mitchell and Health Commissioner r.,cf-
son. the Merchants Association and ottc.s.
Such Apprentices would have had in n,iud TIE
interests OF the people rs n whole ard q finding
by such a Committee wouid have carrie
more weight as coming from y more
representative body than the Committee d.
rectly and exclusively representing prcilccrs
and distributors. The loss to he srocjico-,
distributor and consumer was prolorg ed b. the
Commissioner activities for three unnecessary
days, with the only result that he gained for
himself in some quarters the credit which other
wise would have gone to n dairy man who mad
publicly criticized him.
In conclusion We urge the elimination from
the MILK Question" OF irroraoce. partial or
completed; Of false and bosy issues. of politics
and personal ambitions and t.,r ev5s.;tution
therettr OF continued public c.'cr,,on 70 tIc
real 's1rHs; fair newspaper treatment Of Doth
produce and distributor; the edootior Of laws
Tor the benefit % the consumer ans the iriustrr
as a whole, requiring the puh'ic recording OF
costs and profits or losses ct producers end
dia,ribItors; the establishirg Of tive sirn OF
rrcnthiy prices for both buyinr ard sci il, .. the
irtercha1ge between the producers an: d.
triEutors OF information emrrac:r2 ~ Ia?
factors Ct t'ne bnSincss, SO ih-t tI,c ir!...,,
nay be stabilized, the consumption of nilk
increased and better relations established BE-
tween producer. distributor and consumer.