Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1921-02-18

Citations of all kinds, seems to haVt
been one of creating distrust in the
mind Of the producer, particularly
eliminating the covering up the fact
that service is positively the most ex-
pensive part OF marketing, and even
exceeds in many cases the original
cost Of production.
We certainly believe that organiza-
tions which cooperate for The benefi.
of standardizing their product, and
even marketing same under their own
labels, are doing wonderful work,
and the results that have been obtain
ed by the Citrus Growers Union, the
Raisin Growers, the Apple Growers
Associations in different sections, and
the Tillamook Cheese Association, are
due entirely to the fact that someone
is responsible for quality, and that
when goods go out bearing the label
of the Association, they are absolutely
reliable, and the best part of 1t all is
that the producer himself is forced to
have his produce graded, and our ex-
perience has shown that, for instance,
in the case of the Oregon Poultry G.
Egg Association, the grading is much
more severe than the patron gets from
the so-called middle man, and their
final results are no better, but all of
the Associations which have been sue
cessful have spent their own money
in advertising their products, and that
their products are handled through
channels of trade already established,
and not marketed directly to the re-
taller.
The Tillamook pepole for instance,
do not sell a pound of cheese to re-
tailers, but their shipments are all
made through legitimate wholesalers
and jobbers and the result is that
they have the good will and support of
everybody in the business.
The butter that is being made by
the League at present is being sold
&c under the Portland market Mar
gins are very close in our line, and 1t
is not possible to continue system
whereby the groceryman will constant
ly buy his butter for less, and the
producer will constantly be given more
when not only does the League have
the same overhead and the same SER
vice charge that we do, but a greater
one in every case, with limited market.
There is difference of Sc per pound
between the price the League is re-
ceiving for their cheese at Portland,
and Tillamook cheese, so that evident
! ly. there is no long margin of profit
being made by them on this item.
The competition in milk is very
severe. The Portland-Damascus Co.,
who are the biggest compititor of the
League, have a surplus of milk.
We know that in Coos county mem
bers Of the League are greatly dissat-
isfied. They have waited three and
four months for their money, and at
the end of that time the results are
no better than If they sold through
legitimate dealers.
We do believe that those who foster
ed the League are honest, but mis-
guided, and are simply theorists. 1t
might be possible to take a combina-
tion of dairymen, insurance agents,
college professors, politicians, ETC.,
and by some invisible means work out
a system that will constantly give the
consumer goods for less, and the pro-
ducer more for his product The only
thing we say is that not single uairy-
man should continue to sign up with
the League until they find out person
ally the results they have already OBJ,
tanned in Coos county, and it will not
be necessary for them to come to us
as competitors to find out the results.
If any number of them are seriously
considering joining the League it
would pay them to appoint one or two
men as a committee and pay their ex-
Ipenses into Coos county for week or
ten days and let them personally in
terview the members, and they will
find that there are mighty sore lot
iOf dairymen there. We have refrained
from openly attacking the League
heretofore because naturally we would
be considered as having an ak to grind,
but We believe if we simply passed out
the suggestion as to how information
can be obtained, we will have at least
caused some thought, and possibly
have saved some money for some of
these people who have listened to
some of the glib talk of Mr.. Mike, ana
others, who have absolutely nothing
at stake. Yours truly,
Mutual Creamery Company.
By E. j. Cashire, Mgr