The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1919-01-03
PUBLIC HEALTH
|SMENACED BY
THE MILK STRIKE
More Than One Million Children
Deprived of Milk
WOUNDED SOLDIERS ALSO
pairymens League Places Blame on
MiddIemen for Present Situation
Too Much Profiteerng.

New York, Jan. 2--The milk famine
which began today as the result Of
the Dairymens League strike" to en-
force a price of s40l per 100 pounds
is q serious menace to the ,pubhei
health and ii it continues 1t VII
imperil every family in the city
Health Commissioner Copeland de-
clared in testimony today at the john
Doe inquiry into the milk situation.
Dr. Copeland said that the health
department had not been warned of
the impending shortage and as re-
suit had been unable today to furnish
milk to 1900 children of the poor,
who are dependent on the depart.
ment's milk bureau. Only 5000 of
the departments daily quota of 90
900 quarts were received. he said
The shortage alone is likely to re.
suit in thousands OF wounded soldiers
In hospitals here going without milk,
DR.. Copeland added He said the de-
partment was making every effort to-
conserve the meagre supply and had
issued an appeal to all persons to use
II sparingly.
DR.. S. Josephine Baker, director of
the bureau of child hygiene, followed
Dr. Copeland to the stand and testi-
fed that there are 10000 children
less than one year of age in the city
and about 100000 children under ten
all of whom are likely to suffer il the
shortage continues.
Albert Manning. secretary OF the
Dairymen's League was recalled to
the stand and admitted that the
league had sent out circular bulletins
TO its members calling attention to
the fight that is on between the dealer
and the producer over the price OF
January milk.
He asserted that members of the
league we're ready to sell their pro-
duct to anv disu;butor at S4.0l per
1U0 pounds which Is Al cents more
than the price the distributors have
offered.
Questioned by Chief Magistrate Nc
Adoo, who is conducting the inquiry,
Mr.. Manning said the league would
permit members to sell their product
at $3.50 $50 as to relieve distress in
hospitals and among children"
One of the bulletins, which Man
ming admitted had been sent out,
read:
Every member is needed in our
trenches This is no time to hesitate
Success depends on you. Dealers have
milk on the road from the west. This
promises to be the biggest fight we
ever had. Dealers are pooling their
milk. Some companies have already
signed contracts. Every member on
the Job. The dealer refuses to pay
what you are asking. DO you propose
TO accept what he offers? Get every
member out to meetings. DO not re-
sort to violence
Assistant District Attorney Dooling,
appearing for the city, read into the
record a copy OF telegram signed
by the league and addressed TO simi'
lar organizations in Philadelphia,
Chicago, Boston and Meadville, Pa,
stating that ''the fight is on"
The Dairymen's League issued a
statement today placing on mid
dlemen the blame for the milk
situation which In relation to high
prices is under investigation here
On the one hand the farmer receives
too little for his product and the con
sumer on the other hand pays toe
much.
The statement said in part. 'As
matter OF fact II Is the man In be
tween with his cumbersome and ex
pensiye system and his arbitrary
methods that is the source of thu
trouble"
The statement declares the situa
ton cannot be settled until the con
sumer and the farmer can work som
system and plan whereby they can ge
closer together.
'There are many men in the mil
business who are making fortune
which. come both out OF the consume
and the producer 1t asserts, by II
creasing prices to consumers regart
less of low prices charged blythe fal
mers
The Dairymen's League statemer
declares farmers today are maxim
no profit, receiving only what it cost
to produce by selling milk $40 pc
100 pounds<sor about cents n quar-
For January the distributors have o
fered to pay only $3.50, and in tn
connection the statement charges thu
the distributors have taken the pre-
ent unsettled condition aud antagoni
tic feeling OF consumer as an oppo
tunity to make the farmer appear
the consumer as a proflteer or
other words they have cunning
chosen this moment to side-step the
own responsibility for prices, and tn
responsibility is the chief reason {
the high prices
DR.. Copeland announced tonig
that II the famine becomes mo
acute he will commander the enti
milk supply and distribute II to d
places where Il is,most needed
Such action, he added will be n
necessary Il the general public
operates as heartily as have the ci
hotels and restaurant men who