New-York tribune., 1921-11-03
sksy f felt about it when the Commits


;.,,s is !, the open sAap-ah spsason-
Commissioner Copeland opened last
nights address to the strikers by q
statement that he had "told tho Milk
Conference Board that he would never
deal with it again.'
RE then cautioned the strikers
against violence and gave hits pledge
Of support. After fruther praising his
hearers for their action and condemn
sng the milk distributors, he went on:
morrow | am going ~ attempt 10
ScJect into the brains OF the distribu-
rols, individually, that they may be re-
Sponsible for babies deaths. And
when Mayor Hylan has the opportunity
"a talk to the man personally respon-.
siblc for this situation, | believe he
can accomplish something with that
man.
Later Commissioner Copeland issued
prepared statement to the newspa-
pcrs, in which he declared that tine
stiffnecked attitude of the dealers is
shown in their rejection Of the self
denying concessions of the unions, con-
vincing me that the blame for milk
famine must be placed squarely up to
the distributors"
Supplies May Be Held Up
When he Wen last night to the con-
ference board Offices to get the boards
r.rly to the mediation proposal the
Commissioner was reported to have
threatened the dealers Ito inspect
svery quart of milk which comes into
New York This was taken by the
dealers ia represent that, because Of
drastic health regulations, great guam
titles of their.,milk might be he'd up
bc the Commissioners action
What ] said was that all milk for
hospitals would be rigidly inspected
hecausegtof its handling by inexperi-
enced men," DIR. Copeland said. when
asked for statement
When apprised that the New York
Milk Conference Board had rejected
Srhitration Mayor I!ylan said:
This news is disturbing to Dr.. Cope
land and myself. The milk barons are
strike has taken They will not suffer.
Eut the mothers and babies will suffer.
However, nr. Copeland and / will do
our level best to see that suffering in
the city is alleviated as much as pos
sible."
About one-half of the companies yes
terday distributed 440,26O quarts of
milk in the CITY, Figuring on this
basis, total of more than 100000
quota is 2,500000. The Borden COM
pany yesterday delivered 1870 900 quarts,
Sheffield Farms 100000 quarts and the
Empire State Company 900 quarts,
according to the employers figures
The letter of the board to DR. Cope
land in rejecting the mediation pro-
posal read in part:
The proposal nov made would, in
effect, restore the very control over
our business to those who have created
this crisis and those whose attitude
What has already occurred. To con-
tinue the menace of such action is
impossible
Acting for Public Good
When. after patient effort. long con-
sideratioa and discussion through me-
diation by skilled Federal mediators
arbitration was declined, and these men
refused to consent to the continuation
of the liberal wage scale fixed last
year by an arbitrator of their own
selection and went on strike, we
reached a conclusion which we still,
hold is the only conclusion which af-
foTds US true solution of this matter.
We feel that, we are acting in the
pest interests of the public. The ed;-
torals in every paper, which has yet
commented upon the strike, express
hearty Endorsement of our stand We
thank them sincerely for this appre-
riation of what we are trying 60 do
N the hest interests of the public well
fare. These efforts will be increased.
BY the public and press of this city
TO conduct fight for a lower milk
price. We accept this assignment.
Hundreds of letters received to-day
show that the newspapers accurately
reflect public sentiment.
''In closing we beg to assure YOU that
we will supplement in every way pos
sible your efforts as Commissioner OF
Health to- care for the public we both
continued support of the public, which
we have every reason to expect, and
with the cooperation of the law-en-
forcing authorities in the prevention
Of violence, we will bring this tyran-
nical control over the people of this
community to an end.
We appreciate most deeply your
conscientious efforts in this crisis, and
feel already assured that we shall have
Your hearty support in all efforts we
shall make in the public interest"
TIE communication was signed by
Eldin Nathans, secretary of the board
Mr.. Nathans last night made the fol
lowing statement regarding the future
actions of the milk companies:
Normal delivery OF milk will be put
in effect as soon as possible; that is
as quickly as employees can be taken
on. All companies will take on new
and old men beginning tomorrow al
the old scale. They are willing to dc
this because they will not DE hampered
by numerous union regulations. They
also are willing to raise slightly the
: wages OF soma inside men to do gen
eral utility work"
Mr.. Nathans said that reports from 9
handful of conference board members
r. session showed that 32,437 men have
been enrolled since the companies sent
out their call for workers on Tuesday
Nathan Straus, for many years in.
tcrested in giving milk to the city's
Door, left sick bed yesterday to at.
tend a conference at the office of DR.
Copeland, which was called for the
purpose of trying to bring about s
settlement of the strike. He denounced
the action of the union men in striking
and begged them not to be murder
ers."
Straus Appeals to Union
In his appeal to the union men Mr.
Straus said:
ut may be that you men have te
work too hard; it may even be that
YOU are not paid enough; l am oper
of mind on that. But you have heare
what DR.. Copeland has told you Of
the necessity of milk in the lives o.