NATIONAL DAIRY COUNCIL CHICAGO 



15 



This was fertile ground for politicians 

 to exploit, and promptly there appeared 

 a flood of regulatory statutes, often 

 imposing absurd, oppressive and 

 impossible requirements, which made 

 every producer pause and consider the 

 safety of his investment and its income 

 possibilities in the future. 



Dairying under such circumstances 

 could not progress, and it was futile 

 to venture an appeal to the dairy indus- 

 try to expand its investment and take 

 ■additional risks. 



The situation was by no means eased 

 through the internal antagonism 

 between the various branches. Milk 

 producer and milk dealer frequently 

 quarreled, and the quarrels, though 

 settled, left relations strained. No 

 thought had ever been given to the fact 

 that all engaged in the Dairy Industry 

 stood primarily on common ground, 

 and that whatever the rivalry and con- 

 tentions between the various branches, 

 and the still more various factions 

 within each branch, there was a com- 

 mon ground which all must combine 

 to defend — a common ground which 

 forms the very foundation of the exist- 

 ence and the profitable continuance 

 of the industry. 



To deal with these problems, to restore 

 harmony within the industry, and to 

 make common cause against the funda- 

 mental conditions besetting it, there 

 was formed the "Council of the Nat- 

 ional Dairy Show," to meet annually 

 with the Show, and devote itself to 

 the gradual solution of this enormous 

 problem. Before another Council could 

 be convened, there broke out the Foot- 

 and-Mouth Disease with its jeopardy to 

 the breeding industry and an enormous 



loss to the dairymen. The breaking 

 out of the European War and the many 

 disturbing home problems, foreshadow- 

 ing a general demoralization of the 

 market for dairy products, emphasized 

 the abject weakness of this colossal 

 industry, unorganized and defenseless, 

 and aroused the leaders of the Dairy 

 Industry to the necessity of galvanizing 

 the Council into an active, potent force 

 to protect, defend and promote the 

 industry, and to expedite the plan for 

 its re-organization. 



Sharp adversity became a blessing in 

 disguise. A meeting was called of the 

 organized life associated with dairying. 

 The Council of the National Dairy Show 

 became more than a "Round Table 

 Conference," and sprang into new life 

 and force as an aggressive, constructive 

 force on behalf of a united industry. 



On April 24, 1915, it was organized as 

 the National Dairy Council, having for 

 its purpose the unification of the whole 

 industry and the carrying out of the 

 great sound and beneficial plan which 

 is set forth in the following pages. 



We are agreed that: 



1. An increase of our stock of Dairy 

 Cattle is essential to the welfare, not 

 only of the Dairy Industry, but of the 

 Nation itself. 



2. This increase can be brought about 

 only through the co-operation of the 

 individual farmer who will make as 

 his own, the slogan: "More cows, and 

 better cows, upon the American farm." 



3. But the farmer cannot, and will 

 not increase his investment nor improve 

 the quality of his stock unless it PAYS 

 him to do so. 



