The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-01-06
THE DAIRYMAN,S SIDE.
Feed Quadrnpled IN Price, Labor Don
bleA, Up Goes MIX.

uhVSs W VVuo mhAs
To The EpiroR OF The sur---Str! The
endless investigations relative to pro-
duction. distribution and price OF milk
to the consumers continue TO bewilder
the truth seeking public with slight
promise Of JUST solution based on facts
that cannot be controverted.
The so-called John Doc action insti-
tuted to determine whether the dairy
men through their league have con-
spired. collectively. to advance the price
Of milk beyond costs of production and
a reasonable prolt has not thus far
adduced any evidence to prove that any
such motive exists, nor has any light
been shed on tho problem involved in
the production OF milk from the point
Of view OF the Individual dairyman.
SO far as the Dairymen's League Is
concerned, It's status has been deter
mined by legislative enactment. and the
most superficial investigation Of It's func-
tons ought to convince the unpreju-
diced mind that this great organisation
asks for nothing more than the privilege
Of guaranteeing to Its members n price
for their product that will enable them
to walk erect among other successful
business men in the various industries
Of the country.
We are no longer going forward like
''the lightning bug with his headlight on
behind"
1t Is conceded that tho retail price Of
milk is high. So IL the retail price OF
every commodity and necessity OF life.
II Is not conceded by dairymen that
the price Of milk Is out OF proportion to
It's food value. as compared with meats,
eggs and canned goods. Why Is II that
people in the cities have not been better
informed OF this fact7
There Is no food product In the world
that can take tho place Of milk. Re-
Gently. in a Western State, an investisa
ton was made OF 1926 families who did
not use milk upon their tables but used
substitutes. and so per cent OF them had
the "fiu," and 40 per cent OF the so per
cent died Among 1875 other families
who used milk freely only per cent
had the ''iu," and of those only 2 per
cent died
There you have a concrete example of
the value Of milk, based on a fairly
comprehensive survey.
And yet We hear that endless refrain
IN the homes OF the city. In the press and
circulated through numerous other prop
agandlst agencies about the undernour-
ished children, and the long train OF
dietetic woes that follow in the wake OF
a lack OF milk that costs, approximately.
10 cents pound
We do not hear much about the high
cost Of clothing, OF shoes, Of a sandwich,
n very small glass OF beer or cock
tail. That Is all accepted as matter
of course. MINI is the object upon which
all eyes. consUnptive, judicial and COM
mercisl. are focused. but until your In
vestigators go out unbiased and recep-
tive to truth and facts gathered from
the da!rymen themselves. there can be
no determination as TO whether there Is
'profiteering" or not
Professor George +. Warren OF Cor
nell has prepared formula of average
cost OF producing milk. upon which are
based league prices.
Among other items objected to IN the
formula by interests opposing the league
is one allowing the proprietor 40 cents
an hour for his labor Think OF II.
Denying him a wage approximatins that
of a section man on a railroad.
l recall that some years ago dairy
feeds could be purchased very cheaply.
Bran. the basis Of all mixed feed, was
Sl2 ton. Other concentrated feeds
sold a; proportIoaa'c prices From the
market reports in THE Sun Of even date
quote wholesale prices OF several lead
ing dairy feeds Bran. $50; middlings,
S5i : oil meal. $3.50.
1t is perhaps too well known to men
ton here tina, cows will not give much
milk In the winter months without a
balanced ration OF the concentrated
feeds IN addition TO dry forage and
ensilagc. Therefore II would appear
even 10 the laymans mind that with
an increase OF 400 per cent. In cost OF
feed. 100 per cent. for labor. and a
greatly increased outlay FOR machinery
and implements Indispensable TO dairy
farming, il must cost moro 70 produ &C
milk.
In December tho fsirymen received
about ni~e cents "A quart and December
H. the first month they have had the
cost OF production.
ARTHUR r. BENSON,
President Dover Plains Branch, Dairy
mems League.
DOVER PLAINS. January 4,