Vermont Dairymen's A.ssociation. 27 



the summer of 1903; this was put into storage at good prices. 

 The continued large production of fresh butter brought it into 

 direct competition with the storage butter and much of the 

 latter had to be closed out at less than buying price — this tended 

 to an unsettled state of affairs. 



The butter for storage this summer was put in at a low 

 price and the output began to decrease accordingly. About 

 August we began to get onto firm footing again. Now, at the 

 beginning of 1905, the outlook for the year is quite favorable. 



Thus you will see that the depression of the butter and cheese 

 markets was from perfectly natural causes which have some- 

 what righted themselves already. 



While we have noted that which has been discouraging, let 

 us not fail to remember that 1904 has been noted for its abun- 

 dant harvests, its fairly remunerative returns for the same and 

 for the increased recognition accorded the farmer as an im- 

 portant factor in the world's progress. There is a movement 

 started to have the tax on oleomargarine, colored to imitate 

 butter, reduced from ten cents to four or five cents per pound, the 

 claim being that the present tax is practically killing the busi- 

 ness. It is claimed that a reduction of the tax would increase the 

 revenue and that Uncle Sam needs the money. It has been re- 

 ported that Secretary Wilson will not approve any measure 

 looking towards the repeal or change of the present law. It is 

 also a fact that the commissioner of internal revenue makes no 

 recommendation that the tax be reduced on oleomargarine ; he 

 simply shows that the present tax is not a great revenue pro- 

 ducer and that raising revenue is not its object. 



The dairy interests are watching this movement and if we 

 properly assert ourselves there is but little fear of a change in 

 the present law. Perhaps it would be well for this Association 

 by resolution or otherwise, to petition our congressmen, request- 

 ing that the present law be retained. 



The labor question, for some of us, is developing into quite 

 a seri(jus problem. Satisfactory help at reasonable prices seems 

 to be almost a thing of the past ; much is said and written about 

 it but still the matter does not mend. It seems,, sometimes, as 

 if the more we did to make the work pleasant, easy and inter- 

 esting to those who help us, the less they were satisfied. Village 

 and city life have more attraction for them. 



I suppose they are like the poor half-starved city woman 

 whom some one thought to benefit by securing a good comfort- 

 able place in which to work in the country. A short time 

 passed and she was again found back in the city, suffering for 

 the necessities of life. When asked if she wasn't treated well, 

 fed well, etc., she replied, "Yes." "Well then why didn't you 



