The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1917-11-15
Milk Producers of KenOsha
and Racine Counties Want
Repeal of Law Taken
Up at Special Session.
WILL LIVE up TO AGREEMENT

Milk producers of Kenosha and Ra,
cine counties, following the big meet
ing at Racine on Saturday have sent a
formal petition to Governor E. L.
Philip asking that he include in his
| call for a special session of the legis-
lature the matter of amending the state
antitrust law so as to permit formers
meeting together to fix a fair price
fol-, their products. Following the en-
dorsement of this plan at the meeting
in Racine, three hundred milk producers
present at the melting declared that
would make no effort, pending action
by the state Legislature, to violate the
recent agreement made between the
producers and federal and state offic-
ials.
The meeting was called with a view
of giving the consumers, producers and
retailers of milk chance to discuss
recent troubles. Frank T. Holt, of
Pleasant Prairie, President of Milk Pro
ducers Association, presided. Speakers
at the meeting included Mr.. Holt, At
| torney Thomas NJ Kearny of Racine,
Mayor Thiesen and State Senator
Charles II. Everett of Racine and As
i semblyman D. J. Vincent of this
county. Assemblyman Vincent strongly
presented the cause of the milk pro-
ducers and declared that they were in
many cases handling milk at loss.
He urged strongly the appeal to the
legislature for the lifting of the ban
against the farmers agreeing as to
prices on their products.
President Holt stated that there were
some of the producers who were not
in favor of the agreement arrived at,
| and he told them that the best posi-
bic arrangement had been arrived at
and that he federal government
would soon arrange matters so that
there would be complete justice done
to both Sides
He stated that he did not want the
farmers to think that they had been
! sold out. He also said that there
was no reason for the consumers to
believe the farmers were cutthroats
and bandits and that they only wanted
fair treatment and would not consent
to accept anything but what they are
really entitled to.
Mayor Thiesen was the first speaker
introduced and explained the workings
of the governor IS special commission
which had arrived at the price which
milk should be sold to the dealers and
| large consumers.
Senator Charles Fl. Everett of Racine,
said that the question of price for milk
was a most important one and one
which should be settled impartially.
] He said that he was inclined to favor
the farmers as he was acquainted with
the conditions. The farmers, up to this
| time. he said, had had little to say as
| to what they should receive for their
milk and that he felt sure that there
were no farmers in this state who were
seeking to secure what was unjust but
was insisting on receiving for his prod
uet Just what he is entitled to.
He told them also that this was a
good time to hold tight to what they
have, wedding out the poor paying COWS
and retaining the good milk cows and
thus improving his herd. He also told
them they would do well to hang onto
their good brood sows the coming
winter as pork would continue to bring
good price.
While it was announced that Attorney
General Walter Owen would attend the
meeting and deliver talk to the pro,
ducers he did not put in an appearance
but Attorney Thomas M. Kearney, of
Racine, read letter written by that
official and in which he said he woull
cooperate in securing an amendmont
to the antitrust act which would per-
nit the farmers to meet and fix prices
which were fair.
Mr.. Kearney also told Of some of
the abuses which the milk producers
had been forced to suffer under in the
past at the hands of the Chicago deal
ers and dealers in other cities. He re-
lated one instance some time ago in
which farmer was penalized 10 cents
per hundred for the reason he did not
sign up the contract on the date set
by the dealer corporation.
At the close of his address he dealt
with the delivery system now in vogue
in most of the cities of the country
and which brings the cost of milk to
the consumers to double the amount re
ceived by the farmer for his product.
He brought the matter of city delivery
of milk before the producers in order
that they might give the subject their
thought and deliberations in the future
in hope that there might be a solution
which would tend to lower the price of
milk to the consumer by cutting out
the wasted energy now used up in de-
livery.