Connecticut western news., 1922-02-23
HOUSING MEETING OF
 MILK PRODUCERS F. A. Lewis Tells Farmers Of Pooling Plan
 Methods

One of the most interesting and best attended meetings of dairymen | from this vicinity ever held here, was at Odd Fellows hall Wednesday afternoon when nearly 200 farmers heard F.I>A. Lewis, of Utica, N. Y. The reason for this meeting was for farmers to hear first hand from a man who knows the business, just how the pooling plan is working. l MT. Lewis spoke extemporaneously for the better part of two hours on "a subject with which he is, not only l familiar, but deeply interested in. From the outset it could be plainly seen that practically every farmer followed him and believed in him. His talk reviewed the methods of various industries, and even unions, that he might present clearly just how and why the pooling plan was working He said the dairymen must either destroy organized capital and l organized labor, or organize them selves.f Other businesses, large and small have the right to buy and sell collectively and now. through the recent legislation at Washington, the l farmers are accorded this same privi- lege, which until now was in violation of the Sherman Anti-Trustlaw.
 He then reviewed the prices re- ceived by the farmers for their milk since the pooling plan went into effect last May, telling what the amount of deductions had been, where they were spent and the prices received in other markets. Invariably other markets were obtaining less for their milk than pooling plan members; also for the first time in history, the Boston price of milk was less than the price received in New York The surplus milk which is made into cheese, ice cream and butter was also fully explained to the apparent satisfaction of all pres ent.
 Regarding deduction made from each monthly, MT. Lewis stated that it was only natural for poolers to feel little disgruntled when the non-pooler next door received the same price as they and had no de- ductions made from their checks. In this connection he stated that of the 25 cents deducted for each one hun dred pounds of milk every month, 20 cents was 2 loan to. the association which would be paid in full, with % interest, at the end of five years The 5 cents per hundred was for the ex- penses of the association. He stated that the president received $10,O00 per year ~as salary and that the high est paid official in the organization was the general manager, whose salary was $12,000 per year. With over 64,000 members of the pooling plan, this would figure less than 20 cents each for his salary. He said cheaper man might be procured and the farmers would thereby save a cent Or two year. E sf..
 Regarding the liability of the stockholders of the association, he said the liability was limited in case things went wrong, so that each far- mer could not be assessed for m"re than 50 cents per capita. Also dse to the laws Of the state, it was now impossible fer local stockholders 70 vote unless they joined in New York state. At the coming segsion of tno state legislature steps would be tax on to remedy this, situation.
 Tn one of his humorous moments Nr. Lewis stated that there ware many farmers during the past, year who we're what was known as the non-poolers smile. He said rha5 3 collection was to be taken rp shortly to have sculptor reproduce one of these and presant it to the Sni2!- sonian Institute, for in .a few months more the species would be extinct.
 Tn closing his address, MT. Lewis said there were two doors to the Dairymen's League Cooperative Association. One was an entrance and the other an exit. He invited all loyal farmers to come in and all who were in any way dissatisfied to go out. There would be no hard feei- ings one way or the other and those who decided to go out would receive the money loaned the association just the same. Thse who stayed in he expected were loyal and the association demands 100@o loyalty.
 Following is statement of assets and liabilities of the association as of January 1st:
 ASSETS
 Cash in banks & on hand $762,122.0O Cash in banks to retire cer-
 tifcates of indebtedness
 and mortgages. ...... 236,91O.77 Accounts receivable
 A $5,525,854.74
 Less reserve for uncol-
 lectible accts. 3,868.09
 $5,431.986.65 Notes receivable $4s,OS5.O5 Less notes receivable discounted =. 100000
 .s, / 39,085.05 Finished product and pro-
 duct in process at market 827, ,223.5O