The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-02-07

II know I'm not making living out
of selling milk testified another.
How can We make money by sell
ing at loss?" was the conundrum
rropounded by a third.
Well" remarked the president, A.
j. Swift, II think we have made a
little money this winter at the old
prices ii we don't count our labor over
Is cents an hour. but we can't do it at
the new prices
At this point the experience of
committee Of producers who attempted
to present the producers side to dis
tributor was told. HE said to u.s. re-
ported a member of the committee,
Go home and keep your mouths
shut, or I'll cut the price What can
we expect from such an attitude?"
May Flood Markets.
If necessary for the success of their
negotiations, the members stated that
they would be able to sell milk cheap
er than any distributor who should op-
pose or refuse to treat with them. 'If
it comes to dumping, our milk on the
market at cheap prices, we can dump
cheaper than anyone else," said one,
to which second replied "I'll be will
ing to give my milk away for six
months rather than submit to present
prices"
The blame for the present lament
able condition of the dairy industry
was laid on the previous lack of or
ganization of the dairymen and impos-
sibility of being represented as class,
before either the distributors or con-
sumers. distributors have tried to
cut each others threats, disregarding
u.s." they said. land have only succeed
ed in cutting our threats. 1t is worse
than that because we are between
them. What really happens is that
one cuts our throat while another
kicks u.s."
Must Meet Prices.
That this disastrous competition
was inevitable when the producer sold
individually, and that each distributor
must meet the prices of his competitor
or go out of business, was strongly en-
phasized by several speakers who stat
ed that when one distributor cut the
producers prices the others were not
to be blamed for following suit. The
remedy suggested was for an equitable
price to be settled by consultation, so
that the interests of both producer and
consumer would be protected and dis
tributors would be allowed enough to
pay their costs and reasonable profit.
1t was further decided to conduct
another meeting at some date to be
named later, which would be open to
the public as the Saturday meeting
had been, to give them a chance to
hear the producers difficulties and to
present their own side. 1--WE have
nothing to hide" said director, land
. we want the public to know what we
are doing"
Discusses Ruling.
President Davis of the Wayne Coun-
ty Farm bureau, presented the matter
of Attorney General Palmer's ruling
that butter made from cream sweet
ened with lime water is "adulterated'
and must pay tax of 10 cents a
pound. Davis stated that he had made
a protest to the Washington author
tiles, which with other protests, had
been successful in posponing the time
when the tax is effective from Feb.
to Feb. IS, and according to letters re-
/ ceived from Senator Watson, attempts
will be made to have the ruling revok-
! ed entirely This comes from the
packers" said milk producer. We
have just finished trying to regulate
! them and, in revenge, and to divert
our attention from them. they come
/ back with law designed to make our
j butter prices higher. and force us out
, of the market which they can then en-,
ter with their oleomargarine.'
| A directors meeting was set for
! Monday, when they will make plans
for improving the milk market situa
| ton.