ILLINOIS STATE DAIEYMEN^S ASSOCIATIO]^. 47 



from our best cows, and thus keep our standard up. The 

 cows brought here for sale are all poor milkers — are not from 

 milking families; we are constantly cheated. 



Dr. R. R. Stone thought Judge Wilcox and Mr Lord a 

 little severe on the factorymen; did not agree with them. The 

 assertion that one factory could earn as much per annum as 

 four or five farms was entirely imaginary; cheese factories 

 all over the country could be bought for fifty cents on the 

 dollar; why don't they invest, if it is such good property? 

 The price of good butter in Elgin to-day is thirty-eight cents 

 — higher than any other city reported ; what has caused it ? 

 it is the factory system. The patrons of factories are all 

 satisfied; all get their pay monthl}^ The idea that factory - 

 men are oppressing the dairymen is all wrong; it is false; 

 these statements are not true. It is the factory system alone 

 and only which has made a permanent reputation for our 

 product. Before the days of factories one wagon-load 

 would glut the Elgin market; now train -loads find a ready 

 market. The factory butter is A No. 1; it is tested on the 

 Board of Trade, and is sold strictly upon its merits. Nearly 

 all private dairies have stopped, and are taking their milk to 

 the factories; tht-y would not do so if it was not better. 

 Skimmed cheese, seven years ago, sold for four cents; it now 

 sells for one cent less than full cream. Factories get thirty- 

 eight cents for butter, while the farmers can scarcely get 

 twenty-five to thirty cents; which is the best? the farmer gets 

 more by the factory system. The farmers have a committee 

 of their own making to sell the cheese; there is no chance to 

 cheat the farmer, even if anyone was so disposed. 



Judge Wilcox thought Dr. Stone was wrong as to the pat- 

 rons of cheese factories being satisfied; they did complain, 

 and they had reason to; many complained to him, and said 

 they must go out of the business unless a change was made. 

 Although he did not sell milk to a cheese factory, he was 

 directly interested; it all had its effect upon him in the gen- 

 eral market. 



Dr. Stone had no fault to find with fair statements, but 

 could not indorse wholesale censure of factorymen. 



