The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-09-25
Director Tells Aims Of Dairy
Union
By E. 8. HEAToN
- - - = ~ : Wv
National Dairy Director, the AnerIc

National Dairy Director, the American
Farm Bureau Federation.
The American public is being
mulcted out of millions Of dollars an
nually by certain distributors who have
boosted the retail price Of milk way
out of proportion in comparison to the
wholesale prices paid to the farmers
for the product.
This practice is menacing the dairy
industry all over the country and dis
couraging the industry generally as
we'll.
| To offset such pernicious tendencies,
the farmer who has awakened to his
danger, is rallying round the standard
of cooperation and plans to GUST pro-
fiteering milk vendors from the market
| by gaining complete control over the
milk supply himself.
Cause of High Prices.
One reason why milk prices are so
excessive, especially in the larger cit
les, is because the farmer has had to
bear the burden Of heavy surplus milk
production with inadequate marketing
facilities.
The large distributors were quick to
seize upon this situation of helpless
ness and paid the dairy owner what
ever they cared to for his product, and
be was compelled to accept, or turn
his milk into less profitable by-pro-
ducts.
On top of this the distributors feel
| ing themselves a law unto themselves.
demanded whatever price they could
get from the ultimate consumer. This
as have said, was and is, in nearly
every instance, an unfair price and
way out of bounds with the wholesale
cost.
But the day is at hand when the
farmer-the dairy farmer, refer to-
has come to realize that If he Is TO
keep in the business Of producing milk,
he must have a hand indicating how
much the consumer shall pay for it.
The dairy farmer is not posing as
an altruist, but he is against unfair
milk prices, because he knows that
every time milk prices are raised or
become excessive, the demand for
milk drops, and once more his supply
stands idle.
With the dairy farmer it's purely
business proposition. He is convinced
that the big distributors are working
to his evil and for their own good en-
tirely.
The dairy farmer wants the public
on his side and knows that he viii gain
such support by giving the public the
milk 1t wants at a price that is fair.
To this end the dairy farmer-thou-
sands of him-is combining into a gi-
ant federa1ized cooperative selling
union which will operate and control
individual producing units scattered
throughout the country.
Wherever there is farming com
munity that engages in milk produc-
ton, we will have branch. Of the CO
operative plan within the next two
years.
Results of Union.
Establishment of this idea on a
practical basis will have these results:
1. Afford regular and constant IA
ciities for disposal of production.
2. Permit farmers to offer their
milk on a contract or bid basis to the
distributor who will retail it at the !
lowest and fairest margin Of profit to
the consumer.
8. Give farmers financial assistance |
in erecting equipment necessary to
convert possible milk SURPRISES intc /
butter and other products, thus as
surfing wholesomeness Of output and /
economy of price to the purchaser, /
such as is not the case now.
4. Provide the protection OF na- i
tional body to guarantee q fair deal to
the farmer and to the public in .he
matter OF milk prices.
5. Elimination OF unfair distri5u
tors who in most instances could
bring about a reduction In milk prices