The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-03-01
DAIRYME1N DEMAND GEN
 ERAL COOPERATIVE ACTION Leagues New Plan VIII Control Sur plus and Prevent Milk Strikes.

gal papers at Albany. the Dairymen's League has this week started what promises to be the largest and most far-reachIng cooperative movement n the history of American agricul- ture, if not of the world. This moveme is a direct result of the dairymen's recent and constant trou- ble with the dealers, and if success fuI, it will put all League members on the same basis by operating re turns from the milk; and it will take care of the surplus, increase the con sumption of dairy products and pre- vent future trouble with the dealers. The plans will vitally interest and concern every dairyman in Fairfield county.
 Ever since the close of the strike, the League officers have been working hard to comply with the general de- mand from dairymen from all parts of League territory that some general plan be worked out immediately to prevent future milk strikes. These plans are not complete in detail, but in general they include the organiza- ton of first, the Dairymen's League Co-Operative Association embracing the whole League organization in New York state; second, Regional Co-Operative Associations covering possibly one or several counties; and third, the organization of local Co., operative associations. Each of the regional and local associations will be directly responsible to the central organization, the Dairymen's League Co-Operative Association
 Details of Plan.
 These different cooperative asso- citations will sell or manufacture all of the League milk, and will pro rate to each member his equitable share from the total sum received from all League products. The cen tral association will proceed to build several very large central plants in different milk centres in the state. In times of surplus the milk received at these plants will be manufactured into the by-product or by-products which are paying the best at the time. These products will be put on the market under the Dairymen's $ League Brand and advertised. Local cooperative shipping plants will probably be acquired as soon as ar engagements are complete for handling the surplus.
 How It VIII Be Financed.
 
 great cooperative system which will care for all League milk, will cost several million dollars in the aggre- gate, yet the cost will not be serious ly felt by any one dairyman. To raise the money necessary to start with, the League will put on a, cam paign in March to borrow money on certificates Of indebtedness. These certificates like bonds will come due in successive years. To pay them off when due, and to get operating ex- penses, a few cents a hundred will be deducted from each member s milk New certificates will be as- sued for money so deducted to pay of old certificates and a rotating fund will be thus established.
 Dairymeu all realize that as long as they are in a, position where they have to ask the dealers to take ALL their milk no matter how much they may produce and no matter what market conditions are, there is always a possibility of trouble By the new plan, the dairyrnen will be in a position to sell the dealers just what milk they wish at a price which will always represent the cost of pro auction plus a, reasonable profit, and then they will take care of any sur plus themselves. Those who have made a study of the situation, also have found that if handled under right management and right condi- tions. there is a profit in the Tnanu- factured by-products of milk at | League prices. But this profit can | not be realized by one or two co-op- erative plants operating alone.
 f1,1 Ter amounts of milk can be concentrated. and the overhead expenses of manu- facture thereby kept low and the | combined products of many of these | large plants handled and sold by one l management and selling agency. For ] instance, the Borden's Condensed , Milk Co. made a good profit on their 1 investment in 1918 because they did i a large business under a good man. 1 agement, while there were smaller 1 condensing concerns that failed dur l ing the same year.
 The plan outlined by the League fs | not new. Fairfield county farmers know that nearly all of the agricul- l tural industry of both Ireland and | Denmark and other European coun- 1 tries has been made highly success 1 ful by close business cooperation on | a plan similar to that proposed by the ! Dairymens League. Nearly every 1 body now buys Sunkist oranges from California In 1918 the growers sold l 55 900 carloads at a good profit but few years ago 5000 carloads of or 1 anges in California were an over l production. The increase was due 1 to their wonderful cooperation tn | their association known as the Cali fornia Fruit Growers Exchange, and 1 because of the good business man. 1 agement and advertising of their pro- l ducts by this organization.
 Texas Independence Day.