FORTY-SECOND ANNUAL CONVENTION 227 



products, and other questions vitally affecting the farm- 

 ers' interests. Such an organization, with the informa- 

 tion and help obtainable from our department of Agri- 

 culture, would put the business of farming on a basis such as 

 never heretofore has been known in this country. 



Farmers must federate in this way if they would have con- 

 trol of their own industries. The signs are multiplying that if 

 they don't, others will do it for them, with the result that the 

 farmer will be the lamb in another lion and lamb story. 



The high cost of living has hit the farmer and his ^'brindle 

 cow" quite as much as his city cousin, by increased cost of feed 

 bills, higher wages, increased freight rates ,etc. The gentleman 

 that could not make milk pay at eight cents a quart is living in 

 a city where wages have reached the highest level with short 

 hours and it is getting to be a serious question with dairymen 

 in many sections whether to continue or quit. 



Strict But Sane Laws. 



Patent cream, that has its good qualities in the purity of 

 the water and the homogenized fats it contains, is sold today in 

 some cities for the genuine article and not for what it is. Fur- 

 ther frauds are being perpetrated upon the public by imitating 

 other dairy products at the expense of both the producer and the 

 consumer. 



Is it any wonder that dairymen are becoming dissatisfied 

 with the business? 



This question, it seems to me, should receive the most earn- 

 est and careful consideration, as it will have much to do with the 

 future of the business and may avoid a shortage of milk and its 

 products. 



There may be well reasoned-out theories in regard to the 

 amount of butter fat and moisture in dairy products, yet the laws 

 of this country must meet laws of other countries, so that the 

 producers of dairy products are not at a disadvantage in the 

 markets of the world. The dairymen are alive to these prob- 

 lems of providing good, safe, clean dairy products for the con- 

 sumer, but at the same time they must keep the cost of these 



