ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION. u^ 



when these buttermakers will have to leave the business simply for the 

 reason that better educated men will step into their places; it has hap- 

 pened every week, you know of cases as well as I do. 



The creamery business is taking great strides; changes are coming: 

 fast; what' will- be* the' methods five years hence, we know not. It may 

 be that the large syndicates and firms will control the creamery business^ 

 Perhaps they will be able to make butter cheaper than the small cream- 

 ery companies, and if so, the little fellows will have to quit the business, 

 for the milk producer will sell his milk to the creamery who pays the 

 highest price. Or again, the farmers may get the co-operative fever and 

 drive the big concerns off the face cf the earth. They did that once, and 

 whether history will repeat itself we know not, but whatever change 

 comes, one thing will remain the same, if the big firms make the butter 

 they will want the best skilled labor they can get, for their butter must 

 be fancy; if the co-operative creamery is to remain, then they must have 

 the best talent. So in face of these facts, it remains for the buttermaker 

 to be prepared to fill any position in his line of work, so that he may be 

 ready for any change that may come. 



We believe the wages of buttermakers will never be any lower than 

 now. In fact there is a tendency toward better wages and better butter- 

 makers. This is especially true in the State of Minnesota — that state 

 which is setting such a fast pace for other states. We must keep an eye 

 on Minnesota, or they will distance us and we will be left at the pole. 



Did you ever stop and think why Minnesota is making such rapid 

 strides? It is because every person who lives there, from the governor 

 down, takes an interest in creamery buttermaking. They talk about the 

 quality of Minnesota butter at home and away from home, and they are 

 convincing some people that there is merit in Minnesota butter. Of 

 course, we, who live in other states, know better, but I want to whisper 

 to you that Minnesota buttermakers will bear watching, for they are out 

 for blood and they are determined to put their state at the head, and I 

 guess they will succeed if Illinois and Iowa do not wake up and head: 

 them off. 



