Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-01-01

Over 100 milk producers OF kennebec
county gathered at what was proba-
bly, the biggest dairy meeting ever held
in the county, at 10 o'clock Saturday
morning at the Senate chamber at the
State House in response to the call is
sued by Richard Pattee Of Laconia, n.
H., secretary Of the New England
Mil prodrcers' Association. The
meeting was called for the purpose or
forming in this county branch or the
New England Milk Producers Asso-
citation, which has its headquarters at
Springfield, Mass.
Alton s. Pope of Manchester presid-
ed and Frank L. Merrick of Water
VILE acted as secretary. c. 0. Purin-
ton of Bowdoinham represented the
N. E. NJ. P. A. and explained the pur-
poses of the association after which
representative men were called upon
to voice the opinions Of their commu-
mites. Practically all of the speakers
believed that cooperation and organ
ization were necessary to put the dairy
mems trade on profitable basis
All the dairymen present signed the
enrolment blanks and the organiza-
ton Of the Kennebec County Associa-
tion was perfected, the following OFF,
GERS being, elected by the county COM
mittee: President, George H Wheeler
Of Waterville; vice president, Peter
Thaanum of Winthrop; secretary, Clar-
ence f. Rowe of Vassalboro; treasurer,
Everett Withee of Augusta. Others on
the committee of organization are:
Everett S. Hunton Of Benton, E. W.
Rogers Of Belgrade, c. ]. Bragden of
Hallowell and w. r. Ayers of Augusta.
In opening the meeting Mr.. Purinton,
in the absence Of County Demonstrate
or Arthur L. Deering, explained its
purpose and spoke Of the necessity of
organizing. He explained that the milk
men of each. town will be organized
and each town will have regular del
egate to the county association, that
the county leaders will be grouped by
states and all will have a representa-
ton in the New England Association,
which has as it's aim the better pro-
duction. standardization and market
ing of the farm products Of New Eng
land. And he said that similar meet
ings were being held in each Of the
county seats Of New England.
that dairymen in that section were
ready to organize as a market district
and to take hold Of the organization as
a county.
Peter Thaanum said that Winthrop
dairymen were already organized.
E. P. Merryfeld of Waterville spoke
in favor of local organization anC
stated that he would do all in his pow
er to support such an organization.
Mr.. Stetson of Watervile stated that
he thought the farmers of Maine haC
come to the point where they knew
what they wanted and needed but
they had not understood how to get il
until within the past few years. He
said that the farmer did not want
charity and did not want anything
that he did not give a just equivalent
for. He pointed out that every class
was organized except the farmers.
Ex- Governor William T. Haines oil
Waterville stated that the meetings
were efforts to organize the farmers
of New England in a way to result In
cooperative work in the sale of milk
and cream and he said that wonderful
progress had been made in tn. CAST
two or three years in sections where
the dairymen were organized. "The
question is" he said, what you VIII
get for a quart of milk. The New
England farmer cannot produce a
quart Of milk for what he gets for it
There Is no question If there is any
body Of men who need organization
for the protection of themselves. it is
the dairymen of Maine" He spoke Of
the humbug and jugglery of pnitk and
cream caused by the fact that the
number of cows is growing less while
the population Is growing larger an6
he said that as far Is nutriove ele-
ments were conceEneL nothing would
be as cheap as milk n Is cents pei
quart. And he said heswas heartily In
favor of the program Of orssizatIOr
as laid out.
Peter Thaanum Of Winthrop said
that If it had not been for the New
England Milk Producers Association
the dairymen would never have got
the advance in the price of milk and
he spoke in favor Of organization.
Other speakers at the meeting were