New-York tribune., 1919-11-15
Says Sheffield Farms
President Stands Be-
tween Public and Lower
Price to the Consumer
Accused Man
Makes Denial
Philanthropist Declares
Investigation Cannot
Possibly Get Anywhere

Nathan Straus told the Fair Price
Milk Committee at its meeting yestcr-
day in City Hall that Lotion Horton.
president of the Sheffield Farms Milk
Company, was the man standing be-
price. At the committees meeting on
Monday Mr. Straus had said that one
man was preventing the public from
obtaining cheaper milk but declined to
say to whom he referred. Mr.. Horton
said last night he couldn't understand
how Mr.. Straus could have meant him.
II. w. Mapes, one Of the organizers
of the Dairymen's League, had given
some technical testimony on plan
for revising the system of milk dis
tribution, when Mr. Straus was called
upon by Health Commissioners Royal
S. Copeland, the committees chairman.
to say few words. Unlike the other
witnesses, the aged philanthropist
arose to testify.
"This investigation cannot get any
where" he said. at will just tire you
out. as it has tired others"
The ]istless, sleepy haze in the room
melted There was scraping of
chairs. Spectators and milk distrib
utors moved closer TO the witness.
MIR. Mapes Changed Mind
Lotion Horton alone can put stop
to this milk price rise" Mr.. Straus
went on. Gle may be the best man in
to get lower priced milk for the peo-
pie. He opposed me when I wanted TO
pasteurize Mr.. Mapcs here also opposed
me-lsnt that true, Mr.. Mapes 2"
MIR. Mapes thought he might have,
but said he felt differently now.
My. Straus was obviously under
great stress. He steadcd himself with
his left hand on the table before him,
while he gestured with his right
Il am seventy-two years of age" he
continued, "and promised by wife and
an argument on milk again. The dis
tributors, with their bookkeeperS, law
yers and others fight me. But even
though they 60. | still insist than this
situation can be remedied if Mr. Horton
puts the same energy to decreasing the
price Of milk as he does to increasing
1t. If he wants to do it he can, just
as he could have helped me when
wanted to pasteurize milk.
"If you could only get some nice,
diplomatic people," Mr.. Straus spoke
pleadingly, "to talk to him and get
him to help in reducing the price Of
milk.
Il have been twenty-seven years in
the milk business and have pleaded for
pasteurization from California to Con-
stantinop'c. | forced them to pasteur-
ize it in California and in Philadelphia
Now want to get the milk price down
NJ h,1r
workers together to help, think this
can be done.
Discusses Big Corporation
"1n the newspapers the other day
| saw some talk about some merchant
forming Il SloO00,0oO corporation for
the distribution of milk. Some people
thought was meant. No, | wasn't.
haven't even live millions, but if had
would give il at once if it would
help to reduce the price of milk. This
10000 GOO corporation would not help.
1t would be nothing but another com
binatlon and combina tions are the most
damnable things we have
He paused, breathless, and after
put question TO him. He looked in
the direction of the distributors
ASK me some questions" he plead
ed. but not long ones. III answer
any question. The milk men have al
ways had people ready to ask me ques-
tlons. They had q man at the tubercu-
losis exhibit in the Museum of Natural
History eight years ago who managed
to break up the meeting with his ques-
tions. pll wager that more than hah
the men in this room, not count ng the
reporters, represent the milk combina-
ton"
No questions were asked and Mr..
Straus become impatient He pounded
the table with his fist. He said some
thing about having written the names
of Horton and Patrick T. Fox on his
notes, but he couldn't recall in what
connection. D.. Copeland said Mr..
Horton wasn't present, but that Mr..
Fox was there, and perhaps he would
like to ask question or two Mr..
Fox said he couldn't think of any at
the time. He thought Mr.. Straus had
been out of touch with conditions in
the milk business for long time.
He added that he thought if Mr.. Straus
kept on talking little longer he
would be arguing with himself.
"l dare you to ask me 6 question"
Mr. Straus broke in almost shouting.
you're afraid to! Afraid said!" Mr..
Fox said he never took dares.
Questioned by DIR. Day
DR.. Jonathan C. Day, Public Markets
Commissioner and a member of the
committee, asked Mr.. Straus if milk
could be distributed more cheaply even
Is the farmers price were not reduced.
Mr.. Straus answered in the affirmative.
lie also said that milk could be distrib-
uted ut % reduced price if the dealers
would Work together. He warned the
Continued on page siw