The Oskaloosa herald., 1918-12-19
MILK PRODUCERS
WILL ORGANIZE
Mr.. HARPER OF oTTuMWA
STARTS SOMETHING.
WILL GIVE ADDRESS SATURDAY
Outlines Dairy Products Situation and
Asks Cooperation Committee Ap-
pointed to Bring About Perm
anent Organization.

anent Organization.
VIM. Harper, president OF the Ed
gerly Drug Company of Ottumwa and
one of the right hand men of State
Food Commissioner Deems of Burl
ington during the war, was in town
Saturday afternoon for the purpose OF
analyzizng the milk and dairy prod
ucts situation before an audience OF
milk producers. He made an appeal
FOR more COWS, more milk and more
milk products. ..........s ....ss.s.
To Organize Mahaska. ..
First and foremost, Mr.. Harper knows
what he is talking about when he
tackles the milk problem. Next he is
live wire charged with high volt
age. It's an inspiration, just to hear
Mr.. Harper talk. He is big broad
guage man, one Of the twelve cylinder
slass, always with plenty of reserve
force. He not only goes some himself
but he sets others going.
And that is what he did Saturday In
Oskaloosa. Here is the result. The
milk producers of the county are go
| ng to have an organization that will
| look to the business end of their inter.
| estt. A meeting will be called in the
| hear future to complete the work
started by Mr. Harper.
Milk Situation.
In the first place Mr.. Harper ex'
9lained the situation. Dairymen sell
| ng herds and going out of the busi-
| less because other fields apparently
offered better money. The production
| If Iowa in butter fats alone during the
| )ast year is several million pounds
short of a year ago and Iowa one of
he leading dairy states of the union
rhe cutting off Of production is send
ing prices skyward as though shot
from an antfcraft gun.
People are resorting to the use oi
substitute and in instances the milB
supply is reduced to a minimum. Mr.
Harper would have the consumption
If dairy products increased. He show
ID how, even at present prices or bet
er the dairy products constitute oul
cheapest and best food.
He would protest the producer
,gainst the profiteer, the fellow who
collects from the consumer and the
one largely to blame for the attitude q
The consuming public. He showed the
cost of production, cost of handling
| ,ost of distribution, ctc., and made
he situation so clear that child
night have understood the argument.
Committee Named.
Some twenty or more OF the larger
milk producers of the county and those
Interested in milk handling heard Mr.
Harper and were moved to actor
through his address.
Motion prevailed that special com
nittee be appointed to take the neces
,ary preliminary steps and make ar
.angements looking toward the per
'ecting of an organization for tho
urthering of the interests of mill
production and distribution. The fol
owing were named, c. c. Caldwell o
lincoln. chairman; A. E. Cameron
1pring Creek; Hugh Jones, Jefferson
md A. L. Rice, of Spring Greek.
Support not Lacking.
The project will have the support o.
he county food administration Of The
farmers Bureau of the county.
Another meeting of the producer:
will be called as soon as the necessary
arrangements can be made looking
oward permanent organization: The
milk production of Mahaska is big
.ge thing than most people imagine
because almost each and every local
ty, produces it's own supply and II
Independent The larger places take
he surplus, whatever 1t is. Taken II
he aggregate the milk production o.
he county is a factor of considerable
,ize in the make up of the food PROB
ems of the county.
c. C. Sheppard Presides.
Chas. c. Sheppard, Mahaska County
Food Administrator was chairman ol
Saturdays meeting and introduced
Mr. Harper. and made few prelimin
,ry remarks in explanation OF the call
'rg of the meeting and Mrs. Harper's
presence in the city. Mr.. Sheppard was
n full sympathy and accord with the
ment and purpose of the meeting. He
| Is in intimate touch with the food stu
at,or in the county and recognized
the importance of the milk question
rot for the milk producer alone but
for the people and the consumer as
uIit.