7She  RURAL  NEW-YORKER 
The  Great  Milk  Struggle  in  New  York 
History  of  a  Strenuous  Week 
A  SHORT  SUPPLY.— The  sixth  day  of  the  milk 
war  tinds  New  York  City  in  a  state  of  great  excitement. 
The  receipts  of  milk  do  not  exceed  25%  of  the  normal 
supply,  and  practically  half  of  that  is  brought  in  at 
the  League  price  under  contract  with  the  Department 
nf  Foods  and  Markets  and  the  Dairymen’s  League. 
The  shortage  of  milk  is  causing  some  suffering  particu¬ 
larly  in  the  poorer  sections  of  the  city,  hut  the  League 
and  the  Department  are  doing  everything  that  they  can 
to  supply  hospitals  and  the  nurseries  and  the  public 
milk  stations  where  the  poor  and  needy  get  their  supply. 
STORAGE  MILK. — During  the  first  of  the  week  the 
big  dealers  insisted  that  they  would  have  practically 
their  regular  supply.  They  scoured  new  territory  for 
milk  and  brought  in  all  they  could  reach  from  Poston, 
Philadelphia,  Chicago  and  other  outlying  sections.  They 
told  the  city  papers  that  there  would  lie  no  milk  famine. 
In  anticipation  of  the  shortage  the  dealers  stored  milk 
mid  cream  in  refrigerators  for  several  days  and  this 
helped  tide  them  over  the  first,  two  or  three  days  of  the 
month,  and  the  shortage  has  been  increasing  ever  since. 
A  PREDICTED  FAMINE. — The  representatives  of 
the  producers  in  the  city  estimated  tile  constant  decline 
of  milk  supply  with  great  accuracy.  It  was  admitted 
that  there  would  be  little  shortage  seen  on  Monday; 
that  Tuesday  it  would  he  felt  more;  that  Wednesday 
the  supply  would  he  less  than  50%.  and  on  Thursday 
not  to  exceed  25%.  It.  was  not  until  Wednesday  that 
the  big  dealers  began  to  admit  that  they  erred  in  their 
calculations,  and  that  the  milk  famine  was  pending  un¬ 
less  an  adjustment  was  made  with  the  farmer. 
A  PROFFERED  INCREASE.— On  Wednesday  the 
Borden  Company  first  offered  to  increase  the  price  15c 
per  hundred.  This  would  be  a  total  increase  of  35c 
over  last  year,  while  the  League  price  was  an  increase 
of  45c  per  hundred.  The  other  dealers,  led  by  Sheffield 
Farms,  offered  an  increase  of  31c.  Both  of  these  offers 
were  promptly  rejected  by  the  dairymen's  representa¬ 
tives.  Mayor  Mitchell  of  the  City  of  New  York  at¬ 
tempted  to  effect  a  settlement.  To  this  end  he  had 
several  conferences  with  the  dealers  and  with  the  dairy¬ 
men  on  Wednesday,  and  these  conferences  resulted  in 
the  advances  offered  by  the  dealers,  which  were  rejected 
by  the  dairymen's  representatives. 
EFFORTS  AT  AGREEMENT.— On  Thursday 
further  conferences  were  held  in  the  Mayor’s  office  be¬ 
tween  both  parties.  The  dealers  at  this  conference 
agreed  to  pay  the  League  price  for  the  month  of  Oc¬ 
tober  only,  and  proposed  a  committee  to  investigate  the 
whole  problem  in  the  meantime.  They  made  it  a  con¬ 
dition  of  this  proposition  that  they  deal  individually 
with  the  dairymen.  The  farmers’  representative's 
promptly  refused  to  accept,  the  conditions.  They  were 
willing  to  waive  any  technicality  of*a  formal  contract 
to  meet  the  contention  on  thr  part  of  the  dealers  that 
to  enter  such  a  contract,  would  he  in  violation  of  the 
Donnelly  law,  but  the  dairymen  insisted  that  an  agree¬ 
ment  Could  be  made  in  a  public  announcement  of  price 
to  be  paid,  which  must  be  the  League  price,  and  they 
were  firm  in  the  insistence  that  the  contract  cover  the 
usual  period  of  six  months  from  October  first  to  April 
first. 
A  QUESTION  OF  LEGAL  STATUS. — Attorney- 
General  Woodbury  received  complaint  that  the  farmers 
were  violating  the  Donnelly  law  in  their  organization, 
and  an  attorney  representing  several  of  the  large  milk 
dealers,  entered  a  formal  complaint  to  Governor  "Whit¬ 
man  alleging  that  Commissioner  Dillon  was  illegally 
using  the  Department  of  Foods  and  Markets  to  aid  the 
dairy  farmers  in  the  violation  of  the  Donnelly  law.  In 
response  to  complaints  Attorney-General  W  oudhury 
came  to  the  city  and  held  several  conferences  with  the 
millc  dealers,  and  also  with  Commissioner  Dillon  and 
the  Executive  Committee  of  the  League,  with  a  view 
to  acquainting  himself  with  the  facts,  and  his  good 
offices  were  also  used  in  the  hope  of  effecting  a  set¬ 
tlement  that  would  relieve  the  excitement  and  distress 
in  the  city,  and  at  the  same  time  do  justice  to  the  farm 
community.  These  conferences  were  held  during  Wed¬ 
nesday  and  Thursday,  sometimes  preceding  and  some¬ 
times  following  the  conference  with  the  Mayor,  but  the 
contentions  of  both  parties  to  the  dispute  were  the 
same  in  each  case,  and  they  closed  Thursday  night 
without  any  settlement. 
INVESTIGATION  SUGGESTED.— As  it  now 
stands  the  dealers  have  agreed  to  pay  the  League  price 
for  the  month  of  October.  The  dairymen  refuse  to 
consider  this  and  demand  a  contract  for  the  usual  six 
months.  They,  however,  have  gone  far  enough  to  say 
that  they  will  gladly  cooperate  in  an  Impartial  investi¬ 
gation  by  the  Wicks  committee,  or  a  similar  committee 
with  a  view  of  developing  all  of  the  facts  pertaining  to 
the  cost  of  production  and  distribution  of  milk,  and  if 
such  an  investigation  should  show  that  the  price  now 
demanded  is  higher  than  is  justified  by  the  cost  of  pro¬ 
duction  at  a  reasonable  profit,  that  they  will  meet  with 
a  view  of  revising  their  schedules.  They  Contend, 
however,  that  the  price  is  already  lower  than  the  re¬ 
sults  of  repeated  investigations  and  researches  have 
shown  to  justify,  and  they  contend  that  any  fair  in¬ 
vestigation  will  show  that  the  farmer  is  entitled  to  a 
better  price  for  nolle  than  the  price  that  is  now  being 
demanded  by  the  League. 
PENDING  NEGOTIATIONS.— The  fight  for  the 
dairyman  is  a  practical  one.  Negotiations  are  yet.  pend¬ 
ing.  but  the  demands  of  the  producers  are  just  and 
their  representatives  will  insist  on  a  compliance  with 
no  concession  of  principle.  The  price  must  he  paid  on 
a  six  months’  contract.  No  contract  is  possible  now 
without  a  recognition  of  the  Executive  Committee  of 
the  League  and  the  Department  as  parties  to  the  settle¬ 
ment.  The  League  will  not  permit  any  unimportant 
legal  form  or  technicalities  to  stand  in  the  way  of  a 
settlement,  provided  the  price  is  paid  on  a  six  months’ 
contract  agreement,  and  the  negotiations  are  concluded 
through  the  League  aud  the  Department,  but  no  rever¬ 
sion  to  individual  contracts  with  individual  farmers  will 
be  permitted  or  considered. 
THE  CITY’S  NEEDS.— While  there  is  some  milk 
coming  in  from  outside  sources,  the  supply  is  short 
and  suffering  in  the  city  is  becoming  acute.  For  this 
reason  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  the  settlement  may  come 
soon.  The  longer  the  farmers  hold  out,  and  the  more 
completely  they  shut  <jff  the  supply,  (he  sooner  will  the 
settlement  come.  The  negotiations  have  placed  heavy 
and  serious  responsibility  on  Commissioner  Dillon, 
Chairman  Cooper,  Messrs.  Thompson,  Sherman  and 
Manning  of  the  Executive  Committee.  On  the  oue 
hand  they  have  been  forced  to  witness  hardships  and 
suffering  by  the  children  and  poor  people  of  the  city, 
and  they  have  been  obliged  to  resist  the  appeals  aud 
arguments  of  officials  aud  others  to  modify  the  demands 
of  the  dairymen.  On  the  other  hand  they  know  the 
conn  try  conditions.  They  know  the  hardships  and  cost 
of  producing  milk,  and  they  know  that  while  in  this 
crisis,  despite  the  pressure  of  the  city  aud  the  almost 
hysterical  insistence  on  the  part  of  the  city  influences, 
to  yield  now  would  be  a  greater  calamity  even  to  the 
city  consumer  than  to  hold  out  a  little  longer,  and 
have  the  mutter  settled  right.  The  first  interest  of  the 
city  is  to  have  a  full  supply  of  milk.  It  can  only  in¬ 
sure  this  by  paying  the  farmer  the  cost,  of  producing  it; 
otherwise  the  production  will  decrease  and  the  supply 
will  be  insufficient  and  the  dealers  will  advance  the 
price.  The  consumer  will  then  be  confronted  with  a 
short  supply  and  a  high  price.  When  we  have  set¬ 
tled  the  just  compensation  to  tlie  farmer,  we  can  then 
take  up  the  means  of  an  economic  distribution  to  the 
consumer.  , 
TIIE  DEALERS’  RESPONSIBILITY. — The  com¬ 
mittee  has  steadily  insisted  that  it  is  the  dealer  and  not 
the  farmer  who  is  causing  the  shortage.  The  dealer 
controls  (he  cans  and  the  pasteurizers,  and  no  milk  can 
lie  brought  to  the  city  without,  these  instruments  of 
distribution.  If  given  these  instruments  to  use  they 
have  guaranteed  to  bring  the  regular  supply  of  milk 
to  the  city  within  24  hours  and  to  distribute  it  cheaper 
than  the  present  cost.  The  dealers  have  already  in¬ 
creased  the  price  to  the  consumer  sufficient  to  cover 
the  increase  demanded  by  the  farmers,  and  while  at 
the  present  time  the  city  people  are  impressed  only 
with  the  shortage  of  milk  and  their  own  suffering,  the 
intelligent  consumer  realizes  that  the  farmer  is  en¬ 
titled  to  the  cost  of  production  and  sympathizes  with 
him  in  this  struggle, 
TIIE  FARMERS  WIN. — At  three  o'clock  on  Satur¬ 
day  morniug  Commissioner  Dillon  aud  the  Executive 
Committee  of  the  Dairymen’s  League  concluded  nego¬ 
tiations  with  12  large  milk  distributors,  and  signed  six 
months’  contracts  for  milk  at  the  prices  previously  de¬ 
manded.  The  dealers  signed  the  regular  contract  in 
full  recognition  of  the  Dairymen’s  League  and  the  De¬ 
partment  of  Foods  and  Markets.  The  agreement 
reached  provides  also  for  a  committee  of  arrangements 
to  find  the  cost  of  producing  milk,  and  to  assist  in  the 
fixing  of  prices  for  the  months  of  January,  February 
and  March,  in  case  the  committee  produced  proof  to 
show  that  the  prices  fixed  were  in  excess  of  the  cost  of 
production  with  a  reasonable  profit.  This  is  virtually 
no  concession,  because  the  representatives  of  the  dairy¬ 
men  contend  that  the  contract  price  is  actually  under 
the  Cost  of  production,  and  the  figures  und  records  so 
far  produced  justify  this  contention.  It  is  also  a  good 
answer  to  the  complaints  made  to  the  Governor  aud  the 
Attorney-General  and  through  the  courts  against  Mr. 
Dillon  and  the  League  on  the  charge  of  conspiracy  to 
advance  prices.  Sheffield  Farms  Company  served  pa¬ 
pers  in  a  suit  on  Friday  to  restrain  Commissioner  Dil¬ 
lon  and  the  League  from  continuing  their  activities 
and  demanded  a  money  damage  of  $50,000.  During  the 
week  about  40  other  small  dealers  signed  contracts  with 
the  League  for  the  supply  of  milk,  and  with  this  addi¬ 
tion  of  12  larger  dealers  the  League  lias  now  more 
than  GO  dealers  buying  milk  from  the  League  at  the 
League  prices.  The  12  signed  up  on  Saturday  morning 
are  the  largest  wholesalers  of  milk,  and  control  65% 
of  the  entire  wholesale  milk  supply  of  the  cilv.  What 
is  known  as  the  “Big  Three."  Borden’s,  Sheffield  Farms 
and  Mutual-AI qDermott,  have  not  yet  accepted  the 
League  terms,  hut  it  is  expected  that  many  large  deal¬ 
ers  would  sign  oil  Saturday,  and  there  is  some  indica¬ 
tion  that  the  Big  Three  would  also  accept  the  League 
terms.  The  fact  that  the  smaller  dealers  are  able  to 
pay  the  price  is  Conclusive  evidence  that  the  big  con¬ 
cerns  could  afford  to  pay  the  same  thing.  If  they  per¬ 
sist  in  their  refusals  the  small  and  medium-sized'  deal¬ 
ers  will  necessarily  get  the  trade  of  the  big  concerns, 
aud  the  small  dealers  of  yesterday  will  be  the  big  fac¬ 
tors  in  the  milk  trade  tomorrow.  It  is  practically  the 
same  condition  that  confronted  the  apple  buyers  last 
year,  when  apples  were  offered  in  open  market  to  the 
highest,  bidder. 
A  COMPETITIVE  MARKET.— It  has  been  our 
contention  from  the  start  that  the  more  small  milk 
dealers  we  have  the  better  it  will  be  for  the  pro¬ 
ducer.  We  must  create  a  competition  for  milk,  and  the 
policy  of  selling  to  the  small  dealers  as  fast  as  they 
were  willing  to  sign  up,  and  the  offering  to  them  of 
the  protection  of  the  Department  in  their  business,  has 
been  fully  Justified. 
For  the  first  time  in  40  years  the  milk  producers  of 
the  State  of  Now  York  have  made  the  price  of  milk  in 
the  City  of  New  York.  The  dealers  squirmed  and 
fought  and  pleaded  and  bluffed,  but  all  to  no  avail. 
Commissioner  Dillon  and  the  Executive  Committee 
stood  firm.  The  situation  was  a  trying  one.  Children 
and  poor  families  were  suffering  for  milk.  The  fann¬ 
er’s  representatives  felt  this  keenly,  but  on  the  other 
side  they  had  the  record  of  40  years’  privation  and  suf¬ 
fering  on  the  farm  because  of  the  control  of  the  milk 
trust,  aud  trying  as  the  situation  was,  they  have  re¬ 
sisted  every  pressure  and  every  influence  until  the  deal¬ 
ers  come  over  and  signed  the  contract  to  pay  the 
price  in  full  recognition  of  the  League  and  the  De¬ 
partment. 
Letter  from  Senator  George  F.  Thompson 
I  have  your  letter  of  September  20.  1016.  which  I 
assume  is  a  circular  letter  addressed  to  each  nominated 
candidate  for  the  Legislature,  and  asking  to  he  told 
whether  I  favor  supporting  the  Department  of  Foods 
and  Markets,  or  whether  l  am  opposed  to  it. 
In  answer  will  say  that  I  generally  like  to  he  candid 
and  take  a  positive  position  on  all  matters  which  come 
before  me  as  a  public  officer.  I  must  say,  however, 
that  I  have  not  us  much  information  in  relation  to  the 
Department  of  Foods  and  Markets  as  I  ought  to  have 
to  properly  answer  your  question. 
For  instance.  I  am  very  well  acquainted  with  Mr. 
Marcus  M.  Murks,  Borough  President  of  Manhattan, 
New  York,  who  favors  this  Department,  because  he  be¬ 
lieves  it  will  reduce  the  cost  of  living  and  make  the 
price  of  farm  products  in  New  York  City  less  than  at 
present,  thus  assisting  the  consumers.  On  the  other 
hand,  some  farmers  in  my  district  favor  it  because  they 
believe  it  will  get.  them  a  higher  price  for  their  pro¬ 
ducts.  In  the  various  towns  and  villages  and  shipping 
point*  throughout  the  district  are  located  a  great  many 
shippers  who  handle  the  farm  products — with  the  ex¬ 
ception  of  a  minority  of  the  farmers  who  are  able  to 
ship  tlieir  own.  Practically  all  of  these  shippers  are 
not  in  favor  of  the  continuance  of  the  Department  of 
Foods  and  Markets.  None  of  these  people,  however, 
have  ever  giveu  me  detailed  information  on  the  sub¬ 
ject,  probably  because  I  have  not  inquired,  for  the 
reason  that  almost  all  my  time  has  been  taken  up  with 
legislative  matters  pertaining  to  the  public  service 
(transportation  and  public  utilities). 
I  am  making  this  explanation  because  I  have  hope 
you  will  be  willing  to  give  me  such  information  as  you 
may 
and  per 
can  sh 
or  can 
i stance,  I 
very  glad  to  favor  it. 
GEORGE  F.  THOMPSON. 
Notes  from  Department  of  Foods  and 
Markets 
204  Franklin  St.,  New  York  City 
EGGS. — Receipts  are  light,  quality  variable.  The 
market  is  cleaning  up  on  last,  week’s  accumulations 
I- aney  hennery  advanced  to  55c  on  Thursday.  Best 
browns  sold  from  38  to  toe;  mixed  lots  35  to  45c  We 
sold  a  ^consignment  of  Kentucky  eggs  on  Thursday  from 
4N  to  -I.IO  per  dozen.  This  is  considered  an  extraordin¬ 
ary  price  for  Southern  eggs.  New  laid  pullet  eggs  are 
selling  at.  doe  a  dozen.  When  shipping  pullet  eggs  pack 
and  mark  them  as  such. 
,  BT  d  PER. — Best  Western  creamery  advanced  to  37c: 
fancy  Eastern  dairy  in  tubs  34  to  35c;  Eastern  dairy, 
mixed  packages,  31  to  33c. 
brisk  export  de- 
at  21c;  common 
CHEESE. — Market  is  higher  with 
maud.  The  finest  colored  State  firm 
to  good,  18%  to  20% c. 
..  LU  E_  POI  LTRY. — Shippers  should  preserve  this 
list  of  Jewish  holidays  and  time  shipments  so  as  to 
roach  this  market  on  the  best  market  days  as  shown 
below : 
Feast  of  Tabernacles,  Oct.  12-13,  1016.  Best  mar¬ 
ket  days,  Oct.  0  to  10.  Demand  for  fowls,  ducks  and 
fat  geese  especially. 
Feast  of  Laws,  Get.  10-20,  1016.  Best  market  days, 
Oct.  16-1 1 .  Demand  for  prime  quality  of  all  kinds. 
Purim,  March  8,  1017.  Best  market  (lays.  Mar.  5 
to  7.  Demand  for  fowls  and  prime  hen  turkeys. 
Passover,  April  7-8,  1017.  Best  market  days,  Apr. 
2  to  ;>.  Demand  for  turkeys,  heavy  fowls,  fat  ducks 
and  geese. 
Last  Passover.  Apr.  13-14.  1017.  Best  market  days, 
Apr.  .)  to  12.  Demand  for  prime  quality  of  all  kinds. 
least  of  Weeks.  May  27.  1017.  Best,  market  days, 
May  21  to  24*  Demand  for  good  fowls. 
Demand  for  live  poultry  continues  firm  and  prices 
advanced  slowly  during  the  latter  part  of  the  week. 
Chickens  21c;  fowls  IS  to  20c ;  poor  stock  lower. 
DRESSED  POULTRY.— Mixed  sizes  of  chickens 
21c;  scalded  chickens  20  to  21c;  large  roasters  up  to 
-4c;  .Spring  broiling  turkeys  weighing  four  to  five 
pounds,  3d  to  40c ;  hens  28  to  29c ;  toms  25  to  2Sc. 
FI  YE  CALVES. — Market  slow  and  draggy.  Prime 
to  fancy  sold  from  12%  t»  14e;  common  to' good  9% 
to  12c;  buttermilks  6%  to  7c. 
DRESSED  CALVES. — In  moderate  demand;  only 
a  few  brought  20e;  average  sales  18  to  19  %e. 
APPLES. — Fancy  high  colored  red  fruit  in  fair  de¬ 
mand  and  prices  steady.  Market  is  overstocked  with 
ordinary  and  fair  grades,  selling  at  irregular  prices 
Alexander  $2  to  $3;  Fall  Pippin  $2.50  to  $3.50; 
Greening  $125  to  $3;  Graven  stein  $2.50  to  $3.50  • 
Jonathan  $3  to  $5;  King  $2,50  to  $3.50;  McIntosh  $3 
t°  V.  1  f ,  Liver  $2.75  to  $3.50;  Virginia  York  $2 
to  $2.  id;  Baldwin  $2  to  $3.  With  the  Jews  out  of  the 
market,  Friday  and  Saturday,  market  declined  50c  per 
bbl,  and  large  quantities  were  carried  oyer  unsold. 
PEACHES. — Supply  and  demand  falling  off.  Jersey 
and  Delaware,  14-qt.  baskets,  50  to  75c;  Western  N 
Y„  bushel  hampers,  $1.50  to  $1.75 ;  carriers  $2  to  $3. 
GRAPES.— State  Niagara  50  to  S5c  per  crate; 
Worden  and  Concord  60  to  75c;  white  and  black  in 
40  to  30c;  wine  grapes  in  trays  from 
$D0  to  $60  per  ton. 
PEARS. — Up-River  Bartlett  $4  to  $6.50  per  barrel; 
Jersey  Bar dett  $4  to  $6;  Bartlett  in  bushel  baskets 
$l.a0  to  $2;  cold  storage  Bartlett  $5  to  $7  per  barrel; 
Bourre  Clairgean  $3  to  $4 ;  Beurre  Bose  $4.50  to  $5  75 ; 
Bern-red’ Anjou  $2.50  to  $4;  Seckel  $3.50  to  $5.50 ; 
Jersey  Koifter  $1.50  to  $3.50. 
Market  higher.  Maine  selling  from 
$.i.6d  to  k.i.i 5  per  165-1  h.  hag;  .Tersevs  $3.40  to  $3.65 
per  lOo-lb.  bag;  Long  Island  $4  to  $4.15  per  barrel. 
_<2*^4<5NS---In  good  demand.  Orange  County  red 
f V’0  -  — -3  per  100-lb.  bag ;  Orange  County  yellow 
to  $3;  Orange  County  red  75  to  $1.25  per  basket; 
Jersey  whites  $1.25  to  $2  per  basket;  Jersey  yellows 
$1.2o  to  $1.50  basket. 
Summary  of  sales  of  miscellaneous  farm  products  for 
week  ending  October  5th,  1916: 
EGGS. 
12 
cases 
30 
16 
cases 
15 
cases 
8 
cases 
26 
cases 
4 
cases. 
* 
8 
cases 
6V> 
cases 
4 
nases 
9 
cases 
2S 
cases 
1 
case 
7 
cases 
23% 
cases 
•  •••••*••••*• 
1 
case 
10 
cases 
31 
cases 
1 
case  . 
10 
cases 
13% 
cases 
•  .  .  . 
**•*•••«••••• 
8 
cases 
..  .  . 
1 
case  . 
,  ,  ,  , 
•  •••••••••••a 
243%  cases. 
POULTRY. 
68 
lbs. 
broilers 
38 
lbs. 
broilers 
109 
lbs. 
broilers 
318 
lbs. 
broilers 
1591 
lbs. 
broilers 
30 
lbs. 
broilers 
057 
lbs. 
broilers 
153 
lbs. 
broilers 
2767 
lbs. 
broilers 
200 
lbs. 
broilers 
221 
lbs. 
broilers 
532 
lbs. 
broilers 
66S4 
lbs. 
.$0.23 
9.0 
.21 
.20% 
.20 
.35 
.19 
.18% 
.18 
.17% 
.17 
.16 
(Continued  on  page  1327) 
