New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-04
Farmers May Waive
League Recognition
to Win Price.
SUPPLY GROWS;
NO SUFFERING
Swami to Aid Compromise
State Starts Inquiry
Riots in Country.

Instead of closer approach to 4
milk famine, the second day of the
farmers strike brought New York a
possibility of settlement Of The dis
pute which has deprived large dis
tributers of 100000 quarts daily
from normal sources.
Mayor Mitchell intervened as
potential peacemaker yesterday by
listening to the stories Of both tho
dealers and the producers.
These conferences were followed
by an announcement from John j.
Dillon, State Commissioner of Foods
and Markets and authorized agent
for 1900 farmers, that the Dairy
mems League might be willing to
waive the principle of collective bar
gaining provided the distributing
firms agreed to pay, for six months,
the prices demanded by the league.
Mayor Aids in Farley.
Representatives Of Borden's Com
densed Milk Company, the Sheffield
Farms Slawson Decker Company,
the Mutual-McDermott Mix Corpo-
ration and other firms will meet the
Mayor at 10 o'clock this morning to
discuss the compromise.
Although admitting that the
Mayor had opened, apparently, tho
way to settlement, Commissioner
Dillon explained, however, that his
suggestion of yielding on recognition
of the farmers organization was
only tentative. It would have to be
ratified by the members of the
league, he said.
District Attorney Swami aided the
movement for peace by announcing,
in his opinion, the Donnelly anti
trust statute will not interfere with
an adjustment Of milk prices satis-
factory to both sides. His statement,
81 will be responsible for the Dom
nelly act" was interpreted by both
factions in terms of probable immu-
nity.
Dealers Ask Investigation.
Edward Lazansky, counsel for somS
Of the milk dealers, wrote TO Governor
Whitman yesterday asking for an in-
vestigation TO determine whether Com
missioner Dillon has exceeded the pow-
ers Of his Office in the action he took
with the dairymen.
Statistics offered as estimate. Of
milk received at the railroad terminals
yesterday agree that somewhere be-
tween 80 and so per cent of the regu-
lar supply arrived. Unless the distrib-
uters are disappointed in deliveries
from new sources, approximately tho
same amount will come in this morn
ing. There was no suffering reported
Yesterday at hospitals and other public
institutions
Patrons of delicatessen shops and
small grocery stores who arose early
had little trouble in getting milk. But
the supply Of the small dealers was
it was impossible to find q bottle OF
milk for sale IN large areas, regardless
of whether the prospective purchaser
started his search in The Bronx, on
the upper West Side, or on Mulberry
Street.
Commissioner Dillon admits that the
distributors are receiving 25 per cent
deliveries from regular sources. He
predicts an increased shortage to-day.
Reports from the Health Department
inspectors that 80 per cent of the milk
supply arrived here shows that the big
firms have succeeded in tapping new
sources to tide them over the strike
emergency.
State to Start Inquiry.
Deputy Attorney General Merton f.
Lewis is expected to arrive here to-
day to begin an investigation Of the
milk shortage under the Donnelly stat
ute. which forbids in New York State
combinations in restraint Of trade TO
control prices. No announcement con-
cerning the plan Of the investigation
was made by Attorney Gerenal Egburs
+. Woodbury. yesterday.
Reports from the milk producing
counties upstate indicate that the men,
bers of the Dsirymen's League are re-
naming loyal TO the directors and to
Commissioner Dillon. A Tribune corre-
spondent who accompanied Milk In
spector Louis Tolins from Middletown,
n. Y, to Newton, n. j., through one
OF the richest dairy sections, found
that only one of eighteen large plants
received milk from farmers yesterday.
In Tioga County. striking milkmen
tarred the cows owned by . producer
who attempted to run q gantlet OF
pickets to the receiving station Of .
large New York firm. Only five cans
were shipped from Csyuga County. One
dealer appeared in court At Pough-
koepsie TO prosecute eight neighbors
who stopped his wagon and emptied SIX
milk cans iulended for shipment -