Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-01-17
WHAT IS WRONG WITH
CREAMERY BUSINESS
Creamery Men In Session
Here Decide 1t Is Too
Much Portland

When the managers of 35 creameries
meet all of them outside the city of
Portland, it is fairly good evidence
that something is wrong with the
creamery business and that that wrong
seems to be the treatment the country
creameries are getting from Portland.
This was the universal opinion ex-
pressed at the meeting held this after
noon at the Commercial club when an
honest and frank opinion was asked
of the managers as to what is the
matter with the creamery business.
The answer was that the trouble was
in the marketing end, and the opinion
was several times expressed that if
the creamery men are to continue in
the business, there must be organiza-
tion that will fight the wrongs that
have been done by the Portland houses.
After the election of j. d. Miekle,
dairy and food commissioner for Ore
gon, as temporary chairman, and c.
Won Lehe of Philomath, as temporary
secretary, Mr.. Mickle was asked to
talk on the situation.
There is need of this movement
for cooperation" said Mr.. Mickle,
'if you men expect to stay in the
creamery business. | believe you are
greatly responsible for the present un-
satisfactory conditions as you have
made no concerted effort to secure a
state market.
'You should have voice in the con-
duet of your own business, yet you
have no say as to the price your prod
uct will bring. That price is named
in Portland. You represent three
fourths of the total product in Oregon.
THE whole trouble with the cream
cry industry is in the marketing end.
There is something wrong. You know
it is in Portland and you know the
remedy. / will entertain any PROPOSE
tion for an equal show of all cream
cries. You have been oppressed. 1
want the country creamery to have a
fair show. You should demand what
is yours and light until you get it. "
A. Slaughter, president of the Ore
gon Buttermakers Association, said he
most emphatically agreed with the
ideas of Mr.. Mickle. He thought the
only remedy was to organize. Unless
something is done to remedy condi-
tions, it is only a question of the next
election when there will be placed on
the ballot measure calling for
state market, with subsidiary markets
throughout the state, he said. Mr..
Slaughter also referred to the fact that
a bill will be introduced in the pres
ent legislature for state market.
"These troubles have all been brought
about" said Mr.. Slaughter, "by the
way butter and butter fat have been
manipulated in the Portland market.
I do not believe in begging the Port
land Exchange for a crumb. After we
determine what is rightly ours, we
should tell them. If refused, to take
steps necessary to get them. -
One of the main complaints of the
creamery men against the Portland
market is the fact that butter will be
advanced several cents pound and
while the Portland men are unloading
at the advanced price, the country
creameries are shipping in. But when
the country creameries ask for the ad-
vanced price, they. are informed that
there is no more demand for butter and
that the market is flooded. There was
also complaint sounded by Mr..
Slaughter that the three Portland pap
ers had no uniform price on products
and there was no real market prices
quoted by which to guage prices,
Various opinions were expressed BY
the managers in session and plans will
be formulated whereby it is hoped that
Portland will not be able to manipulate
prices to the disadvantage OF the
eountryman.