168 ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION 



any and all branches of agriculture. It is the duty of every man 

 interested in the best interests of agriculture — be he farmer, 

 manufacturer or educational man — to encourage and support 

 honest markets — markets that are fundamentally correct and 

 not those markets that are purposely manipulated or loaded 

 down with expensive frills. It is not possible for the dairy bus- 

 iness to prosper unless farmers have confidence in dairy mar- 

 kets generally. That man who contributes in any degree what- 

 ever to the violation of the farmer's confidence is a detriment to 

 the business. 



I hold that every creamery is working under a moral ob- 

 ligation to do those things which will encourage farmers to 

 keep more cows and keep better cows. In other words, it is 

 the duty of every creamery to contribute as much as possible 

 to the up-building of the dairy business by creating in the mind 

 of the farmer confidence in creameries and creamery men. Therci 

 is no better way for the creamery to discharge the obligation' 

 it owes to the industry than to do those things which will 

 strengthen the farmer's confidence in cream markets. The farm- 

 er should be made to feel that he is in a reliable business and 

 that when he has a can of cream to sell there is always an hon- 

 est, reliable market waiting to buy it. He should not be made 

 to feel that when he sends a can of cream to market he must 

 follow it up to see that he gets a square deal. 



The farmer profits through wholesome competition in the 

 creamery business just the same as in other lines of business. 

 Competition is always a good thing. It is not only a good thing 

 for the business but it is a good thing for everyone who comes 

 in contact with that business. Competition in the creamery bus- 

 iness is a good thing. It is a good thing for the consumer as 



well as the man who produces the cream. 



But it must be honest competition in order to be of real 

 value to anybody. Competition which seeks to mislead and 

 drive out competitors is a curse. 



This question of competition in the creamery business is a 

 vital one in connection with the general problem of cream mar- 

 keting. There is some of the wrong kind of competition in the 



