The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1917-12-23

scarcity, and has become, toward them
at least, an instrument of injustice
On the other hand the consumer,
dealing in market or with some re-
taller, has been obliged to pay prices
he regarded as extortionate. He might
the more readily understand if ne
knew that investigators assert thar
sometimes six middlemen handle pro-
duce before it reaches him. At one erd
of the road is the producer, at the
other end the consumer, each amazed
and dissatisfied with the value Of a
dozen eggs, or pound of poultry.
or whatever the commodity exchanged.
Each, ignorant of the products cir
cuitous route, is the victim of cir
culnstances. One pays too much, the
other receives too little Hence the
columns of the metropolitan press now
and then vibrate to the invective of
these disgruntled customers directed
toward innocent and injured raiser3
The latter, blandly oblivious, have pro-
duced what they can, battling wiz
disease, accidents and unreasonable
weather, and accepted the commission
mans dole.
What is to be the future of the poul-
try grower? Can he continue as in the
past? Most producers feel that if they
would survive present day wages and
material and feed prices, they must be-
gin a system OF cooperation among
themselves and with consumers. They
observe that every modern business
protects its interests by cooperation
in some degree. They get together on
labor questions, on values of mate
rails and on special legislation bear
ing on their interests. No such wide
spread unanimity Of purpose seems
possible at present for poultry grow
ers. They will be satisfied with such
self-protection as the elimination OF
the middleman.
THE DIRECT ROUTE
The only relief seems to be the di-
rect route from producer to consumer.
Certain facts compel this belief. two
OF which are the number of agents at
present handling poultry from pen to
table, and their alleged Irregularities.
If, as alleged, six middlemen inter-
vene between raiser and user, this Is
five too many. The consumer. paying
the original price plus the commits
sion of many agents, thinks wrath
fully Of the producer who, miles away
in Connecticut, Maryland, Kentucky or
Texas. cashes a disappointing check
and wonders how much longer he can
continue in the game. For his cheek. be
it known. is not clear profits There
from were deducted carrier charge
MIDDLEMEN'S SERVICES
In popular opinion, middlcmen Pfc
facing the destiny of an outgrown in
stitution. Yet the honest middfeman
performs necessary and valuable ser :
vice for producers. Far be it from me to
inveigh against him. His warerooms are
the clearing house for poultry products
just as they reach him. At the ufin-
formed discretion of the shipper comes
the consignment of poultry. Weather
may be unpropitious, the demand at
that special time poor, and because
other producers also are shipping heav-
lily. poultry is avalsnching the market.
The products. direct from the farm or
ranch. come to him alive or dressed.
thin. fat or Indifferent to be sorted and
classified and to be held over or passed
to the wholesaler
These are the middleman's trials.
Yet in it all he is insured. He turns
over money. No.real loss comes to
him. He finds customers. When he
has collected his comm ission subtracted
freight and other incidentals, he RENTS
the remainder (sometimes more proper
ly the remains) to the waiting producer.
1t is the poultryman who bears all
losses. He stands as a fender against
mounting feed prices, fatalities among
his stock. high wages and ever -increas-
ing cos. of equipment, and accepts what
returns he can get.
Poultrymen are driven by existing
conditions to demand some ameliora-