Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-05-08
Leaders of This Maine
Industry Discuss
Methods to Improve
the Situation State,
Loans Not Approved
But Fair Market Is
Sought : Resolutions
Adopted

Tho dairymen of Kennebec county
rr' IN the Senate chamber at the
state House Monday forenoon in re.
spouse 70 n call quite general over
New England, issued by Secretary
Richard Pattee Of the New England
MIX Producers Association.
George f. Wheeler of Watervi,1e
Uo1dod, saying at the outset that it
was very necessary at this time to
aeuHs" tho people to the seriousness
o.. f#' dairy and food situation.
rotary Arthur w. Stotson of
~ r0vlIe read several letters from
SECRETARY pattee urging Immediate ac-
' Tho purport of ono of the letters
1l- 'hdt New England should be moro
Importing in the way of food
tH.re the letters read by Secretary
was one from John A. Roberts
Nr"hN, the commissioner of ag,i-
''l' VINO was Of the opinion that
u.0pi" - morally will cooperate. if
'' understand what is wanted, in
'HE agricultural conditions better
Frank S. Adams
I.lnk :. Adams Of Bowdoin. chief of
m rtcnu OF animal industry Of the
'airy COW hadn't advanced in pro-
'..n 10 tho increase of feed stuffs.
.s aid that the whole trouble with
milk situation was that the farm
fiu't get enough for their product.
lId that all kinds OF other labor
'rc getting concessions and priv
and many only worked eight
row. If the eight hour schedule
: Il. 1,
.1l require two shifts of workmcn
.HI under these conditions people
~ have to pay pretty high for farm
ducts. ne told those present not to
a.' 10 plant turnips among other
'.r-s He said thcy Guild bc planted
ana werc very satisfactory for
r.I
'r. Adams also said that he was
ut ~ Bath the other day and he was
rpsised - scc how the revival of the
0Wppins Yards had increased the diff
fr OF getting workers for the
The Woili in the shipyards was
.N. .pngenial and much better pay
.". -.NoN tho WorkmCn than theS
.5 set ON the farms.
49, ought the dairymen ought to get
tr.ccs for their products. He sal |
uh had been held over the pro
I- ivy the creamery men that there
.urrlus hut so far he had seen no
.l. tlis season and the price for but
'. ',a gone 10 very high figure.
Chairman Wheeler suggested at this
'...t HAT there had been in the present
'c-r or two a 80 per cent increase in the
~ feed stuffs and only IL per cent.
I-. ~i. Us. =, iu tho pricp of milk
QUESTION of Financing
F'-~ts :. Emery of Monmouth said
'rl, hc aid think that the farmers were
''' so well contented to be financed by
'.c State as they would he to he assured
(, 'atr market price for their products
u rnc rl.
'''rnau Wheeler then said that the
'.'r of $50 to the farmers by the State
WAS nat helping out at the right end but
a. what was needed principally was
a~o hclp al the transportation end. Ma
'1'n True Of Litchfeld said that there
mo farmer who was reliable who
'"uJ not get money most anywhere AMI
" l" WIS not reliable he could not get
money from the state, so he did not think
'a' the proposal for the State to loan
re flrmcrs money would help out a great
Geat
Charles s. Pope
Charles 5. Popc of Manchester. one of
~" largest dairy producers in the State,
urged an active campaign for the purpose
~ showing the food value of milk. He
~ not think that the darymen in general
co4A afford to produce milk at the ex-
'"'nr rate with the present price Of grain.
Hon. George e. Maeomber
hon George f.. Macomber of Augusta,
VINO conducts large dairy farm as a
s'de Inc. said that he could not tell what
the milk cost him out on the farm but
he rather thought that there was too
murh q a discrepancy between what the
producer gets and what the retailer in the
uiE centers has to pay. He understood
'aa' milk was selling in Boston and other
'f''s as high as Is or II cents quart.
i'' believed that if the middlemen were
G'f" away with 1t would help out the
SITUATION He thought the public ought
not 70 object to paying fair price above
tire cost
In a general way Mr.. Macomber
'h0usht that all kinds of industry at
we present time were in about the
same boat. in state of doubt. and I'M
certainty and he thought that there
was some unnecessary cause for alarm
created by the newspapers.
IN answer to an inquiry by Mr.. Ma
C'mher Mr.. Adams said that the pro-
queer received about five cents quart
~ The farm and the question arose as
~ whether dairying was paying or not.
y good many of those in attendance
thought that It was not at present.
Richard 3 Clough of Monmouth said
mat many farmers were selling their
oairy cows and he cited a case where
number Of valuable dairy cows had
'''n sold from one farm because their
owner could not afford to keep them on
account Of the high cost of grain.
II developed in the course of the dis
'lsSion that farm laborers just now
were being paid IS cents an hour al
hough some paid 81 a day and threw
IN the dinners. 1t also appeared. that
Hhout two-thirds of the dairy herds
were kent at a loss.