1246 New Yokk State Agricultural Society 



hospitals and asylums for the sick and unfortunate, it builds 

 roads, dredges and improves rivers and harbors, conserves at large 

 expense our forests, fish and game, inspects for the public protec- 

 tion, our livestock, nursery stock, factories, dairies, and tene- 

 ments, encourages and promotes scientific agricultural education 

 and practice, but thus far it has left producers and consumers to 

 the mercy of an army of unnecessary and unproductive commis- 

 sion men, jobbers, wholesalers, truckmen, cold storage men, specu- 

 lators, peddlers and retailers who reduce the profits of producers 

 to the vanishing point, and exact from consumers the last farthing 

 of tribute. 



The evils of the present system of food distribution are too 

 great and complex to be coped with by the unorganized public. The 

 remedy can never be applied without the intervention of the 

 state. The federal government and some of the states are doing 

 something. Cooperative farm credits are being agitated, Wis- 

 consin, Minnesota and Massachusetts have enacted special laws 

 to encourage and assist cooperation, but jSFew York, where the 

 evils are greatest and the remedy is most needed, lags behind. 



We urge this society through its legislative committee to secure 

 an appropriation of at least $20,000 to assist in organizing co- 

 operative societies for the proper handling, sale and distribution 

 of food stuffs. 



The President: I think everyone will realize that we have 

 listened to something of great importance. It may have impressed 

 some of you differently than others and I am sure it is a topic and 

 a paper to which we can give some thought and discussion. We 

 have a few minutes before closing time and there will be some 

 opportunity also this afternoon, for I learn that Mrs. Heath will 

 not be here on account of illness. 



Motion made that the report of the committee be accepted. 



Mr. White : I do not want to discuss the subject just now, but 

 T believe there are men in the room who will take issue with some 

 of the suggestions. I know there are a great many people who are 

 interested in cooperation and realize the fact that there is some- 

 thing wrong, but who have not gone far enough into the subject 

 to really realize how deep the difficulty lies, and why it is neces- 



