New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-10-03
They Declare They Win
Kill Cattle IF Prices
Are Lowered
Reply to Swann's
Prosecution Threat
District Attorney Charged
That Association Forced
Schedules Up

Threatened By District Attorn.-
Swami with prosecution under n.
Donnelly antitrust act, the Dairy.
mems League, which controls 90 per
cent of the milk producers supplying
New York City, yesterday afternoo,
delivered a virtual uitimatum 70 ii,
public 10 the effect that 10 could
choose between buying milk or beef
R. D. Cooper, president OF the
league, said that If the price Of milk
now paid to the farmers were lowered.
the farmers would be forced %
slaughter their stock. Nr. Cooper and
several officers OF the farmers 0rgani.
zation were in the Office Of the Dairy.
mems League, 10 West Forfeit
Street, where they had been IN confer.
ence most Of the day. They read with
interest a statement issued by NJ
Swami embodying the result Of his in.
vestigation into the milk situation.
The statement contained charges by a
number of retail milk dealers that the.
Dairymen's League had practically
held them Up for higher prices
Mayor Mitchell. recOgnizng the seri.
business Of the milk situation. yester.
day appointed committee 90 conduct
an Investigation into the price boost.
ing.
The statement compiled by Judge
Swami alleged that the Dairymsn's
League officials met In Syracuse on
September 20 20 fix the price Of mix
at its present price.
Says Farmers Determined Price
eve held a meeting In Syracuse
said Mr.. Cooper. "but b. is not right
70 saw that we fixed the wholesale prize
OF milk. We had written % the q.
rectors and county league presidents
asking them for figures and other N.
formation on the cost Of milk produc.
ton. The meeting was merely clear
ing house Of price information. The
price was not determined by u', but.
by the data received from the farm-
ers."
Mr.. Swami took a different view 0,
the situation, however, and, after ia.
terviewing a number o. retail mix
dealers and adding their reports 20 the
data and testimony compiled by Deputy
District Attorney James h. Smith be
said he would soon have maierlsl
enough on hand TO lay before the grand
jury.
League, so far as | am able 70 judgs.
does not constitute violation Of the
Donnelly antitrust law then don't
know what a violation OF the !sw
means" he said.
Mr.. Swami said that Lotion Horton.
president OF the Sheffield Farms Com
pany. one Of the big three" retail milk
companies, several small dealers and
officers of the New York conferences
board had supplied the information
which his Office thus far had in rs pos
session. He said the Da.rymen's League
was organized in 1907 under the laws
of New Jersey. that . had issued about
100000 in stock, and .1a- % had never
obtained a certificate trcm me Secfe'
tory of State Of New YORK authorizing
il 10 do business in .h.s state. me
league. he declared, claimed % act
agent for the farmers. selling MIX ana
naming prices which thousands o.
farmers were 70 get for milk.
Hoover Refuses Assistance
Mr.. SWANS statement alleged that
s. c. Shedrick. president OF the New
York Milk Conference Board, repre-
senting the milk dealers; |. E.n.
Nathan. secretary, and George W.
Alger. attorney Of the board, went w
Washington after the Syracuse meeting
Of the Dairymen's League and appealed
to Food Admin strstor Hoover Tor as
sistance. Mr.. Hoover refused 20 m
terfere az that time.
The officers of the conference board
the report continues, consulted N yan
with the Dairymen's League ohcias
for a week trying 20 bring about 4
reduction in the farmers demands
IL is charged that the league demana'
ed that the dealers cut down thent
surplus OF milk by not buying MIX
from farmers who were r0r members
OF the league. a.,
How completely the league controlled
the milk production for New YORK CiV
is entertainiugly illustrated 10 the re
port. Dealers were fatty told thai
unless they signed the contracts SUD.
mitted By the league they would gel
no milk and would be forced 20 20 oD'
of business.
Among these victims were Charlie,
Cook, president Of the Cook " TX sne
Cream Company. OF 29i and 20
Graham Avenue, Brooklyn, and 20
ward Watson, treasurer OF the Hgi
Ground Dairy Company. i5i Madison
C.rapt Rro0k'-u