Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1917-10-03
WHY?
Mr.. Editor:

Why did H. P. Hood & Sons re.
quire farmers to furnish their own
cans? Hood claims it was the doings
of the New England Milk Producers
association. Richard Pattee, manag-
er of the association, claims there
was no such agreement. Why did
Hood neglect to send our price cards
until September 9Th, when they had
been in the habit of sending the same
the last of the month previous? Why
was there no option given the farm
ers for September while there was a
premium in August of a little over
two cents per 100 pounds, if farmer
furnished cans? When the writer was
informed September Is that there
was positively no option for Septem-
Der, beginning the 18th, he immedi-
ately telegraphed Mr.. Pattee, asking
if that was the agreement. An an
sWer came from Mr.. Pattee in about
two hours stating there was no such
agreement and in about two days a
letter from him positively denying
such an agreement in plain language.
In this letter he advocated farmers
owning cans but did not advocate so
abrupt change. Had it occurred to
you farmers that it might be "a move
on the part of Hood to discredit the
milk association? Hood has commit
ted numerous acts in the past year
which could not very we'll be inter-
preted to anything else but direct
stab at the association. 1t is moth
ing but reasonable to suppose thiswas
the motive by all good students of
the way of the world. Concerns in
other lines of activity have done much
worse by associated effort. Such an
offense by Hood would be tame, in
deed, beside incidents in the Colorado
coal strike and Michigan copper strike
a few years ago. Concerns were
known to hire guards with the under
standing that they deliberately aim
to start trouble with strikers, Unions
have had long hard fight to make a
living. Such tactics as the Hood
company is apparently guilty of is vir-
tually praiseworthy judging from the
company's standpoint. It should be
conceded by all that fair dividends
should be paid. Each of us would try
to do that. [ don't mean they should
cut watermelons. l don't know that
milk is always advanced in the mar
ket when farmers prices are raised.
An advance often means curtailed
consumption and a surplus that may
| mean loss at times and some cut in
fat dividends at least if not FROST
bitten watermelons. Under the old
Or individual marketing plan, there
existed many forms ofcontract, meth
DDS of sale and prices, and of course
it is perfectly natural any concern
would buy as cheap as possible under
such conditions. You farmers would
do likewise if the milk association
falls down, associated effort and col
lective bargaining is dead in the milk
! business.
1 would not, then, blame Hood,
whatever he would do, even to doing
the farmers. Hoods company is not
dishonest, but is sharp dealer. So,
if you don't stand by N. E. M. P. A.
and be loyal and thereby kill collec-
tive bargaining, you have only your
selves to blame if you get trimmed in
milk deal. N. E. M. P. A. is Miss
Opportunity who will never come
your way again. She may have sis
ter who may by your earnest wooings
and designings and by long and per-
sistent efforts come your way in long
years hence. Farmers, you had bet
ter jealousy guard this chance to
meet the buyers half way on a sharp
deal. Why did Hood pay ten cents
per 100 pounds for milk in excess of
announced August prices? Doesn't
it look like another stab? The milk
association cannot lay claim to it. I
thank Hood for it, however, though
qualifiedly.
C. E. Perry,
Irasburg, Vt.