The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-02-06
A PROFIT OR NO cows.
The MIX Situation rs Seen by City
Man Who Turned Farmer.

Man Who Turned Farmer.
To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN--Sir: The
milk strike 10 over. and what have the
dairymen sained7 Nothing but to show
the people Of the United States that we
farmers are a changed lot o. men and
will stand up for living wag and stand
together.
1t was stated in a nevspap," that there
were two causes for the Oh price OF
milk between the COW and tie consumer.
one the farmer and the otht the dealer,
and before the Investigate was over
they would show that the farmer was
to blame. DO people realize what toll
we must put on the eight cents we re-
ceive for the quart OF milk to pay for
Its production:
I speak as a city man. because have
only been farming eight years. took
a course In agriculture at Cornell and
came back on the old homestead, think
ing OF the wonderful outdoor life, OF
being free and Independent and able to
make as good a home for my family as
my city friends. The life Is all that I
expected. but a man can't live on fresh
air and scenery, but must see some way
to meet expenses and lay up a little for
the future.
My farm Is a dairy farm and consists
OF 35o acres OF land. We run herd Of
fifty mich cows and II means constant
care and very competent labor to swing
It. II Is a business and must be run as
such. Any business ia run TO make
money. and when that business Is a los
ing proposition you had better quit. We
have made our plans TO change our type
Of farming and sell our cows, to try and
returns.
was one OF the first men in this COM
munity TO Join the Dairymen's League
because through that organization saw
a way TO keep the cows and make a fair
profit from them.
When the last strike was called we
had about two-th!rJis of all the patrons
OF our local condensery and decided to
stand for a living wage without the re-
naming few The notice to hold our
milk was given January /, and much 10
our surprise all the montague men stood
with US and to-day they have all Joined
This has shown the people at large tina,
tho dairy farmer Is desperate and that
he will have a living wage for his prod
uct or go out OF the business
Through tie league. which .s over
5000 strong. we hope to be able 10
straighten this situation out and save
the thousands OF dairy cows from the
slaughter house. The farmer to-day Is
business man and he will have prof,
or quit. The cows on our farm are all
fat and viii go for beef n we don't see
light through a square deal.
wish that some influential men in
New York could come to the meeting
OF our own local league and talk with
could get n great many new IDEAS OF the
milk situation and might be able TO heir
gave that great industry. Please reInem-
her that a great many good cows have
been sold already this year and that q
high percentage Of calves are killed as
soon as born. II was not an uncommon
thing for men to kill the bull calves OIL
veal them, but most men would raise ali
the heifer calves from their best cows
Now they are killed and their hides sold
The whole thing leads to that eight
cents quart for milk. and the farme,
must fight It out and see why he only
gets eight cents for the same milk that
the consumer pays IS cents for. We
only wish that The consumer might ben
eft by the low price paid US. but It is
the same old story OF the middleman.
{. NORRIS THOMPSON
MANSFIELD, Pa. February &.