New-York tribune., 1921-11-04
Hylan's Dearer Milk

The strike of the milk drivers as
launched was an unblushing hold
up of milk consumers-the same
sort of hold-up as was recently
threatened by the railroad trainmen;
the same sort which bore fruit in
the passage of the Adamson law.
The drivers thought that they had
the power to extort higher prices
from milk consumers. 1t was openly
boasted at Madison Square Garden
when the strike was voted that there
would be capitulation within four
hours. We've got you," said the
drivers. PAY a cent more a quart
for your milk and give the money
to u.s." The milk companies were
to be collecting agents.
The unchallenged facts are simple.
The drivers, not satisfied with 100
per cent increase in wages and COM
pensation of from $40 to $50 week,
asked for more. The distributors
then offered to arbitrate. The driv-
ers fatty declined. Then the dis
tributors offered to pay the present
scale for year. Again the drivers,
although this offer meant complete
recognition Of their organization,
fatty declined, and then suddenly
quit work. With the record before
them, milk consumers should be able
to judge the strikes merits.
Mayor Hylan, instead of acting
for all of US in the crisis, elected.
as is his custom, to play the dema-
gogue. He believes there is more
political advantage in catering to a
group vote than there is in protect
ing the public or in seeking to re-
duce the inflated cost of what is a
necessary of life to hundreds of
thousands. He has intruded in such
manner as to prolong the strike
and to add to the general distress.
What does he care for the public
when vote chasing?
The practical consequence of his
course is that milk deliveries will
continue to be irregular. He may
not even claim to have met an emer-
gency. He has made it more grave.
He boasts that he has put the whole
power of the city administration be-
hind the drivers. Thus something
akin to an open season for riot is
proclaimed. So news pours in of
the stoning of would-be milk buyers
as they have approached milk sta
tions. With the Mayors tacit sup
port, the public is to be denied not
merely milk deliveries but any ac-
cess to milk markets. The Mayor
has not brought the city's idle buses
out Of their garages to make milk
deliveries.
But it is said the drivers are now
of q different frame of mind-are
willing to consent to the arbitra tion
they refused, provided they are con-
tinued in practical control Of the
milk business and power to walk
out is conceded to them. 1t is still
hoped to induce the public to clamor
against the distributors to settle on
any terms and to keep the milk
business in the hands of the group
that has so grossly abused it's power.
Does New York wish an emer-
gency settlement Of the strike on
such terms, or does it prefer a more
permanent settlement? 1t is for the
people themselves to say, for they,
not the milk companies, will pay the
bill. Many added costs have been
saddled on the milk business. One
Of thenl--a rapidly growing one-is
the added cost of an inefficient house
toulouse delivery. Is there any way
out--any way to get cheaper milk?
Suppose the companies should say
that FROM now on, for trial period
Of several months, house-to-house
delivery would be discontinued and
its cost taken out of the, price of
bottled milk, put on sale at all neigh
borhood stations and at groceries
and delicatessen shops. At present
the purchaser Of bottled milk at the
stations, who does his own delivery,
is obliged to pay as much as he
would pay for milk delivered.
If milk were made cheaper around
the corner, would the public forego
the luxury of maintaining the driv-
ers? Or would it complain and ask
once more for higher prices, with
hpuse-to-house delivery? If it did,
one mystery Of the milk problem
would be solved and milk prices
would be readjusted with the knowl-
edge that people value the saving
of inconvenience more than they do
q saving on milk bills.
If q solution of this sort were
attempted the issue of unionism or
the open shop would evaporate. The
only question would be what tho