Imperial Valley press., 1919-07-01
N Q RE SUITS
MARK SPREAD
REvOLTS Of
D A | R ! N I: n
Actions of Producers Rep
resenting Hundred Cows
Started inSuperior Court
Today.

| The revolt of the Valley dairymen
against the Imperial Milk Producer
| association which has clmaxed with
the recent filing of more than a half
dozen suits against the organization
is growing. Today two more ranch
the litigants and have brought, /an
action for the cancellation Of the con-
tracts which binds them to deliver all
their produce to the association and
for the surrender Of their notes.
In addition word has reached the
office of District Attorney E. R.
Simon, who represents the insurgent
dairymen in their fight against the
association as it is at present managed
in the state and county, which indi-
Gates that the list of those seeking
relief in the courts will be materially
increased.
The plaintiffs in the actions filed
today were Elsie E. Long, formerly
Elsie Pankey, and the Sheibcr Broth
ers, Ambrose and J. NJ. Sheiber Be
fore the week is ended it is thought
that the number of suits against the
association viii have reached nearly q
score with more in prospect as time
goes by.
Another interesting development in
the fight was the statement by the
District Attorney that within a few
days he will issue a statement to the
dairymen Of the county which will
contain an analysis of the cases and
will take up the legal phases of the
matter.
TVS statement will be tof intense
~ 'hieefest to every dairyman and will
be read with every attention by the
general public. 1t will answer the in
timations published by the associa-
ton in a paid advertisement that the
contracts have been held valid by the
courts in the north.
Commenting on an advertisement
to this effect carried in a morning
newspaper, Mr. Simon said
That means nothing ct all. 1t is
simply an effort to throw a scare in
to the many who are contemplating
seeking relief in the courts but will
fail cf its purpose. The case cited
was determined on 4 question Of al
legged fact, which the plaintiff failed
to make good, but the current suits
will be based on both fact and law.
The law is on our side absolutely"
From the viewpoint of the Consumer
one of the allegations made in the
Sheiber complaint is especially inter
esting Thc plaintiff charges that an
inducement to get him to join the
association the organizer stated they
were seeking and would gain a mon
opoly in the production CT hltter ir
the state, controlling it's marketing
and fixing any price they desired.
Word was received here today that
criminal proceedings were launched
in Modesto, which will be heard in
the Stanislaus county superior court
next month, against the local agency
of the Milk Producers Association of
Central California.
The criminal action charges false
readings of the cream tests at the
plant of the association. This asso-
citation is one of the six branches of
the Associated Dairymen of Califor-
mia with which the Imperial county
organization is affiliated.
The complaint against the milk
producers was made by Ira d. Whit
aker, a state dairy inspector. Whit
aker charges that the association has
been making false readings of milk
tests. The results of these alleged
frauds is to deprive producers VINO
ship their milk to the association
testing plant of fair return for their
produce.
These readings, it is said, were
from 1 to 2 per cent lower than they
should be.
A large quantity of milk is tested
each month at the plant of the asso-
citation and the yield to association
Golfers from the faulty readings, it is
estimated, would amount to $4,000 to
So, 900 a month This money goes in
large measure into the financing of
the combination plans through which
The Press contends the consumer is
obliged to pay increased prices for
milk.