Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1922-02-09
CHEESE HEARING
II HELD ON FRIDAY
RUMORS THAT FEDERATION
COMPETITORS ARE
UNFAIR

conductor preliminary hearing last
Friday at the city hall to take eyi-
dence in The matter of rumors which
have been circulated to the effect that
various competitors Of, the Wisconsin
Cheese Federation have been using
unfair methods in competition with
the federation. The hearing was con-
Quoted by George L. Mooney. attorney
for the department of markets
The federation had made complaint
to the department and filed sworn
statements charging an attempt to dis.
courage farmers from joining the fed
GRAFTON. The hearing Friday was a
preliminary one and after a consid-
>eratiOn of the evidence taken, the de-
paTtment officials will decide whether
formal action will be taken. Should
they decide that further action is ne
cessary they will proceed according
to recent law enacted by the legis-
lature which gives the department
of markets the power to prevent the
use of unfair methods between COM
petitors. The department. is acting i'm
partially in this matter, and has the
power to take action in any business
where circumstances similar to the
present arise.
Witness SubpOened
a number of witnesses were sub
poenaed including George Kremsreit-
er, Andrew Vogel and John Jenkins of
Athens, Harry Kellar, M. E. Hughes
and George Patefield of Stratford, and
j. ]. Redmond, Henry Osterbrink. c..
N. Symons and G. B. Colvin of Ed
gar. Federation officers present were
A. H. Hail. sales manager, B. E. Bill
ington, manager of the local ware
house, and Frank G.. Swoboda, gener-
al manager.
Statements claimed to have been
made by farmers and cheesemakers
who paid visit to the Plymouth head
quarters of the federation last fall
were recalled. G. B. Colvin, of Ed
gar testified to statements he had
heard about high salaries paid to fed
Grafton officers, failure to pay divi-
dends, dissatisfaction of federation
members and juggling Of prices.
Other witnesses repeated reports
they had heard to the effect that the
federation was not safe, that it was
making money only for it's officers
and that competitors had paid the ex-
penses of d trip made by cheesemak-
ers and farmers to Plymouth Henry
was one of a party that went to Ply
mouth last fall at the invitation of the
federation While there they were met
by an officer of an independent COM
pany and were taken to see factories
that had dropped out. and were not
allowed to visit federated factories.
Refer To Prices
John Jenkins of Athens, also told
about trip to Plymouth, of which
che expenses were paid by a cheese
dealer of that place who was in OPP
position to the federation. Jos. Krems-
reiter of Athens, told of visit to Ply
mouth and how several men attempted
to dissuade him from visiting federat-
ed factories in that vicinity. There
was also considerable reference to
alleged statements that the fedora
ton was paying lowed prices to farm
ers than others paid.
A. H. Hall, sales manager for the
federation, denied any and all of the
stories that have been circulated. He
asserted that Sheboygan factories had
not signed five year contract. thai
they had all been allowed to enter
without contract and that eight out OF
ten had remained in the federation i'll
spite of the fact that the opposition is
particularly strong in that section. He
reviewed the salaries paid to officials
declaring that Mr.. Krumrey, during
the first two years of the life of the
federation worked without pay and
that the secretary ana treasurer far
from receiving the $500 month al
legged to have been paid him. got $3.50
and worked hard for it.
He declared that stockholders had
received every dollar that was due
them, that in the first three years on
ly the earned dividends had been turn
ed back and that this was by vote of
the stockholders themselves and was
to pay for plants purchased. Frank
Swoboda explained the conditions ex-
listing at Plymouth to a number, OF
farmers from the audience who re-
NAMED after the hearing and declared
that the federation is doing well ana
is in good condition.