Evening star., 1923-11-11
MILKMEN'S LEAGUE HERE
STEP TOWARD MONOPOLY
Example of What Washington May Face
Afforded by Growth of Dairymen's
Organization i'm New York.

AS the days went on, detection from
the ranks of the farmers became COM
mon, and peace was made and deliv-
cries were resumed on the twentieth
day.
Contract Drawn Up.
This brought before the league off,
cials the one plan vital to an un-
broken fight, and a pooling contract
was drawn up. The contract is of
great similarity to that now being
pushed by the local association. 1t
provided that all milk should be sold
through the league, that the dealers
should pay the league for the milk.
that the league should deduct a stated
amount and such additional amounts
as might be necessary for the opera
ton of the leagues business, and,
most important of all, that any men,
Der selling his milk other than
through the league should be subject
to heavy penalties. The contract COW
cred a specified period, and a fairly
long notice was required at the end
of that period before the farmer
might withdraw.
In other words, everything was paid
over to the league. and the farmer
was given what was left after the
league had deducted the needed funds.
The dealers, seeing the possibilities
of the signing of the contract, as
thousands of farmers accepted it, re-
fused to further deduct the / cent
hundred pounds from the farmers
milk check. and manufacture of con-
densed milk was stopped by many
of the big companies.
The reason given for the cessation
OF manufacture was that the stores
of condensed milk were too great. At
any rate, their action precipitated the
fight, and the pooling contract was
put over.
Disposition Pressing Problem.
The association was faced with
enormous quantities of milk. and the
an immediate and pressing problem,
on the proper solution Of which hung
the future Of the whole plan.
Butter and cheese factories were
established, shipping stations for
cream and fluid milk, and then con-
denseries. The work was continued
until now more than 100 plants are
operated by the league, and the trade
name of the products is becoming ma
tionally known. One of the largest
of the condensed milk companies has
practically withdrawn it's activities
from the territory controlled by the
league.
That much has been accomplished.
The next step would be the opera ton
is not at present contemplated by the
farmers. but neither were the manu-
featuring activities when the league
was first broached.
Speculation Raised.
This example and the similarity be-
tween the steps taken locally raises
speculation as to how far nearby
farmers will go. Their pooling con-
tract is being attacked by the pro-
ducers tooth and nail, and by private
citizens in letters to the dealers.
Opinions widely differ as to the ad-
of the step, just as they did
in the development of the league
One thing stands out as a vital fac |
tor in the local situation. The milk |
must come from tuberculin-tested |
cows, thus restricting the available |
sources of the fluid. The requirements !
of the New York market were much |
similar to those of other cities giving |
a supply outside the usual territory |
that was diverted to New York when
needed. Such a blow against the
farmers would hardly be possible here |
If the vast majority of the members
Of the association withheld their milk
from the market
The future is question but with |
the example Of the Dairymen's League
as a basis of comparison, the possi-
biiities are plainly indicated.