Evening star., 1923-11-11
5 Washington facing the possibility
of a powerful monopoly gaining
control of one Of it's essential

S Washington facing the possibility
OF a powerful monopoly gaining
control of one Of it's essential
foods?
The first step, though perhaps
not meant for this purpose, has been
taken toward that goal. The Mary
land-Virginia Milk Producers Asso-
citation. in seeking to enforce the buy
ing of all milk from the association
rather than from the individual
farmer. has pointed it's way along
the course that led the farmers OF
several states to the present Dairy
mems League Cooperative Associa-
tion, one of the strongest Of farmers
associations developed in this country
Originally the Dairymens League
sought only to guarantee a fair price
to the farmer for his milk. Revolt
ing against years of being told what
the price should be. dairymen from
New York, New Jersey, PENNSYLVANIA.
Ohio and Connecticut gathered in
Middletown, N. ", in 1915 and laid
the groundwork for their campaign
against the so-called milk trust. The
aim then: like the aim of the Mary
land Virginia Association, was simply
to seek fair price.
Farmers JOIN movement.
Farmers by the thousands stream
ed to the banner of the association,
and by 1917 had so increased the
strength of the group chat when the
price question came up they were in
a position to demand rather than to
plead. The big distributors of New
York city, the principal buyers, sur
prised by the strength of their oppo-
nents, refused the demanded terms, and
the first milk strike was called.
This strike failed Signally, as the
farmers were yet to realize their
strength. and the price was arranged
at figure somewhat below what they
asked, but nevertheless higher than
would have been obtained under the
old conditions.
The farmers lacked a war chest"
and finding that dues were difficult to
collect. managed to have inserted in
the contract for milk a provision that
the dealers should deduct l cent per
hundred pounds for all milk received
from league members and pay this
amount over to the league. In other
words, the "check-off" system was
inaugurated
Call Second Strike.
Laying plans for another rebellion,
the league called a second strike in
January, 1919. This time funds were
available to help farmers who might
need financial assistance Every
thing pointed to a successful strike,
and for nineteen days league milk
was withheld from the market. The
generals of the league erred in their
plan of battle, however, and weather
conditions, demand of the market
and dairying season all worked for
their downfall.
Much of the territory covered by
the league is of the so-called winter
dairy type. That is, the flush of milk
came during the latter part of the
winter and early spring. The farm
= ers were therefore faced with enor-
nous amounts of milk when the
strike was called. and it's use in sub
Stitutes was greatly hampered by the
quantity. They were forced to dry
up" their cows, and once this process
has started it is difficult to again
stimulate production for the balance of
Nthe season.
Naturally the consumption in win
ter is lower, and the surplus is ordi-
narily manufactured into condensed
milk, butter, cheese and other prod
ucts. The lower demand for fluid
milk initiated against the farmers.
The third ally of the distributors
was the weather. The low tempera-
lures permitted the transportation of
milk from distant sources, and no
shortage occurred.