Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1917-02-06
.DAIRYMEN CAN'T AGREE
FAIL TO ORGANIZE TO REMEDY
MARKET SITUATION.
Willamette Valley Creamerymen
Charge Portlanders With Attempt
To Double Gross Them.

Creamerymen of the Willamette
valley and Portland failed to organ
ize with view to readjusting the
market situation at their meeting FRI
day. Accusations were freely made
that the Portlanders were attempt
ing to draw the countrymen into an
organization and the same time so
manipulate its affairs that the Port
land creamerymen would be able to
control quotations and markets. Dec
larations to this effect were made on
the floor and a similar statement
was made by ]. D. Mickle, state food
and dairy commissioner.
Argument was precipitated by the
submission of proposed constitu-
ton which representatives of the
country industry termed ready
made" Several Of its provisions
were eliminated upon grounds fur
nished by Mr.. Slaughter, manager Of
the Capital Cooperative Creamery In
Salem.
One of these provided for three
inspectors of elections. Another pro-
vi6ed for an executive board of five
neil, and giving the president Of the
proposed organization power to ap-
point to fill vacancies on the board
caused by death or otherwise. Slaugh-
ter contended that this would give
too much power to the president.
Slaughter also contended that giving
the executive board power to fix sal
aries would give the board virtual
control Of the organization.
Another provision was for a mar
keiing committee with power to reg
ulate quotations on butter, cheese
and butterfat. Slaughter declared
this gave too much power to the com
mittee and the provision was cut out.
ID. Nash of Nashville, A. Slaugh-
ter and W. o. Powell Of Monmouth
were members of previous commit
tee appointed two weeks ago to at
tend a meeting in Portland for the
purpose of making an agreement II
possible, for permanent organization.
They reported that little had been
and Nash declared that
if the Portland men had shown good
faith they would have been willing
to enter into an agreement whereby
prices in Portland and prices In the
country could be standardized.
Slaughter, commenting on tins
point, said:
sour duty is to find out the fac
tors that enter into the working OIL
the market and the underlying meth
cd of making prices in the proposed
butter exchange. The fellow who con-
trolls the supply and the demand con-
trolls the price situation. Supplies IN
the northwest are controlled largely
bv certain interests that are able TO
control market quotations. As long
as the Portland creameries are max
ers and sellers Of butter there can DC
no compromise by the country cream
cries Our business is TO sell butter
I see no way. to harmonize with them
The only way is to organize our
l. ~
ereameries and control the sale Oh
butter outside Of Portland. The PORT
land creameries are not able to con-
troll unless they buy from the outside:
If an organization can be perfected
outside, we can bring the city men
into agreement.
Slaughter told how big interests
work in that they may pay price Oh
8 cents in one place and 6 cents IN
another and declared that the same
scheme is being worked by the Port
land men. He declared that the thing
the Portland ereameries want TO 90
;s TO get away from the cooperative
svstem by establishing q marketing
board.
Mr.. Faust replied that the coop
erative system is all right, but IN"
4 does not go far enough. lie DO
elared that the country ereamens
should bring their butter to Portland
and sell according to the P1ees Oh
the marketing board.
The concluding action OF the meet
ing was the appointment OF a com.
mittee, beaded by F. @. Deekeeaeh OF
salem, to investigate further the pos
sibility of such an organization. Whe'
the committee is ready to report an
other meeting will be called; MI
Deekebaeh's associates are W: Y
Powell Of Monmouth, R. c. Won Len
Of Philomath, John r. Norris Of fo'
est Grore and wingo Reese Eggies'o
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