The RURAL NEW-YORKER 
823 
League Annual Meeting 
The Dairymen's League Co-operative Association, 
lue., held its annual meeting at the State Armory, 
Utica, N. Y., June 15. The 'J44 locals iu New York, 
Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachu¬ 
setts and Vermont were represented by delegates, 
who were the voting body of the meeting. Morning 
and afternoon sessions were held, both being open 
to the public. The attendance at each meeting was 
estimated at about 2,000. 
lu President Slocum’s report he told of the strug¬ 
gle of dairymen for many years to establish a de- 
linite constructive program, based on business meth¬ 
ods—a fight, at times against seemingly impossible 
odds. He outlined the past year's work in detail, 
telling of some of the difficulties encountered, and 
the progress made in the 11 months’ operation of 
ti e plan for collective milk marketing. He referred 
to the upset market conditions following the war, 
when exports of milk products ceased, and conden- 
series were closed, so that thousands of farmers had 
to keep their milk at home—a condition which would 
have wrecked both the League and the market for 
fluid milk. The officers and members of the old 
Dairymen’s League realized that something must be 
done in the way of a better plan of organization to 
save the situation from ruin. He believes that the 
Co-operative Association is working upon principles 
fundamentally sound, and which if followed in the 
main will lead to success. 
He spoke of the criticism of some manufacturers 
because League products may compete with those 
of dealers who buy their raw milk of the associa¬ 
tion. He said it was the policy to let the dealers do 
the manufacturing whenever possible, but where 
members had no market for their milk the associa¬ 
tion had to operate plants and market the products 
to the best advantage. He said that what has been 
done so far shows that, farmers are as good business 
men as any others when they have a fair chance 
and understand each other and their problems. 
Secretary Manning said that there were 50,843 
pooling contracts May 1, 1021. and 68,313 April 1, 
1922, when the fiscal year ended, an increase of 
17,470. There were 3,263 contracts withdrawn dur¬ 
ing the cancellation period, leaving 65,050 effective 
for starting the new year. During the th*st two 
months of the new year 6,246 contracts were re¬ 
ceived, making 71,296 effective .Tune 1. The 944 
locals in the association as at present organized are 
distributed thus: New York. 718 ; Pennsylvania, 
107; New Jersey, 42; New England, 17. 
Treasurer Kilpatrick's report, which was certified 
•by public accountants Haskins & Sells, gave 
assets of $12,068,349.11, of which $891,515.27 was 
cash on hand and in bank. Inventories of land, 
buildings and equipment were $4,116,187.79, and un¬ 
finished products in process of manufacture $1,216,- 
927.14. Cash in banks as a sinking fund for pay¬ 
ment of interest, mortgages and retiring certificates 
amounted to $349,905.18. The liabilities showed 
$4,307,890.42 deducted from members' accounts foe 
working capital and retiring outstanding indebted¬ 
ness. 
General Manager Hovey's report showed the 
great volume of business done by the Association 
during the fiscal year. The total of milk delivered 
to plants operated by dealers from pooled members 
was 2.174,309,353 lbs. Plants operated by the asso¬ 
ciation handled 391,167.452 lbs., making a total of 
2,565,476,805 lbs. pooled milk. The total of pooled 
and uoii-puoled milk handled by dealers reporting 
and in the Association plants was 4,019,229,879 lbs. 
The average price for Grade B milk, 3 per cent fat. 
in 201 to 210-mile zone was approximately $2.01 per 
100 lbs. The total administrative expense was .029 
per 100 lbs.: distributed to locals, .002; advertising, 
.01; insurance to cover losses and uncollectible ac¬ 
counts. .005, and depreciation, .004. Deductions for 
certificates of indebtedness amounted to .168 per 
300 lbs. 
April 1, 1921, the association operated 22 farm- 
owned plants and rented seven. In March, 1922, it 
owned 41 plants and rented 46. Owing to the re¬ 
fusal of certain dealers to buy milk from the Asso¬ 
ciation. it now operates 123. 
Mr. Hovey said that they are developing export 
trade in canned milk in Great. Britain, Germany, 
Turkey. Greece, Philippine Islands, Canal Zone and 
South Africa. Export sales during the 11 months 
were $1,327,500. 
iiio Association’s ice cream business has been 
successful, and is growing rapidly. Plants at Au¬ 
burn and Carthage, N. Y., and Milton, Pa., are mak¬ 
ing this product now. The farmers themselves have 
advertised the cream so thoroughly that retail stores 
have taken hold of it readily in localities that can 
be conveniently supplied by the three factories. The 
cream is extra good, being made with a fat content 
considerably in excess of the legal requirement. 
Those who try it once want more, as they see the 
difference between it and the sweetened filler often 
passed off as ice cream. It was on sale at the 
armory throughout the day—a liberal cone for five 
cents, and the waiters were kept busy. 
It. F. Lewis of the membership department spoke 
on the organization and educational work, particu¬ 
larly what has been accomplished in Delaware 
County recently. 
President Webb of the G. L. F. Exchange told 
of the work they are doing in handling feed, seeds 
and other products, and asked for the fullest pos¬ 
sible co-operation, in order that their service may 
be increased in usefulness and efficiency. 
Vice-president Miller gave a clear analysis of some 
of the situations that have arisen in the negotiations 
between dairymen and dealers, and the efforts made 
to befog the issues and confuse and divide the pro¬ 
ducers. 
Bradley Fuller spoke briefly on the necessity of 
sticking to the job that has been started and look¬ 
ing for accomplishments rather than opposition. 
Resolutions were adopted endorsing the Voigt 
filled milk bill, and requesting Congress to place an 
import duty of 10 cents per lb. on butter and four 
cents on vegetable oils. 
The new board of directors is composed as follows: 
L. M. Hardin, Sussex. N. J.: Harry Culver, Amenia, 
N. Y.: John S. Petteys, Greenwich. N. Y : Harry 
Bull, Campbell Hall. N. Y.; Chester Young, Napa- 
noch, N. Y.: John D. Smith, Walton, N. Y. ; J. D. 
Beardslee, New Berlin, N. Y.: Bradley Fuller, Utica, 
N. Y.; A . F. Spooner. Richville. N. Y., J. A. Coulter, 
Woodville, N. Y.; D. F. Putnam, Oneida, N. Y.; 
Fred M. Sexauer, Auburn, N. Y.; Hi J. Kershaw, 
Sherburne. N. Y.; George R. Fitts, McLean. N. Y. ; 
C. M. Drake, Arcade. N. Y.; John Rosenbacli, Buf¬ 
falo, N. Y.; Henry H. Marsh, Waterford, Pa.: A. O. 
Milks, Little Valley. N. Y.: W. U. Rixford. Wells- 
ville, N. Y.; Herbert L. Seeley, Academy Corners, 
Pa.; Paul Smith. Newark Valley, N. Y.: John D. 
Miller, Susquehanna, Pa.; Paul C. Waters, Tunk- 
lrannock, Pa.; George W. Slocum, Milton. Pa. 
Outlook for the Poultry Business 
Prof. I. G. Davis of the Connecticut Agricul¬ 
tural College has been making a study of poul¬ 
try conditions throughout the country. He received 
reports from 38 States, and the results show that 
another season there will be an increase of about 10 
per cent of Laying hens in the country. Strange as 
it will seem to many of our people, the largest in¬ 
creases in poultry are reported in the Southern 
States, such as Florida, Alabama, Mississippi and 
Louisiana. These •States show a probable increase of 
20 per cent, while New England comes next with 
about 15 per cent. California reports no increase 
whatever, while the other Pacific Coast States run 
much the stfme. It is evident that the coast people 
feel that they are now producing about all the eggs 
they can handle to advantage. It is said that nearly 
two-thirds of the eggs in the United States are pro¬ 
duced in what, are known ns the North Central 
States circling around Chicago and St. Louis. These 
States report an increase of 10 per cent. 
Another feature of the report, is that everywhere 
poultrymen are endeavoring to eo-operate: using 
better methods of marketing their eggs. On the Pa¬ 
cific coast there will he a union of four large egg 
marketing associations. In the Central West, such 
States as Minnesota, Nebraska. Missouri and Illinois 
all report co-operative work among poultrymen. In 
the South there is not so much co-operation yet. but 
greatly improved methods of production. What are 
known as egg cireles are being organized. New 
Hampshire, New York and New Jersey are organiz¬ 
ing to handle eggs co-operatively. 
Prof. Davis points o,ut the significance of these 
conditions; Increase of flocks, increased attention to 
marketing. Should there he an increased produc¬ 
tion without increase of demand, there must he 
greater competition among producers and result in 
lower prices of eggs and poultry. Unless something 
should occur like a wide spread of sickness among 
chicks, or some such catastrophe as war. we must 
expect prices to be somewhat lower than we have 
been receiving since the war. Not only will prices 
he lower, hut it seems evident that the entire coun¬ 
try, through co-operative organization, is endeavor¬ 
ing to find a larger place on our Eastern markets, 
particularly for the higher grades of eggs. The evi¬ 
dence is that none but the most careful and efficient 
poultrymen are likely to stand up against this compe¬ 
tition. 
New York State Sheep Growers Con¬ 
tinue to Co-operate 
Well satisfied iu the main with the results which they 
realized from pooling their wool clips in 1920 and 1921, 
the conscientious sheep growers of New York are stand¬ 
ing by the organization, and again are shipping their 
wools to the State association warehouse at Syracuse, 
to be co-operatively graded and marketed. The ware¬ 
house is a busy place just now, with carloads of wool 
rolling in from all parts of the State. The directors of 
the State Association plan to bend every effort to have 
the wools graded early so that they can be sold to ad¬ 
vantage as soon as the time for selling seems opportune. 
In May a little over 100.000 lbs. of wool were received 
and graded. The bulk of the shipments will arrive dur¬ 
ing June and early July. Meanwhile, the wool market 
is gradually advancing in price for well-graded wools. 
Recently the Boston wool markets were reported strong 
at the following prices: 
Delaine . 50 to 52c 
V* blood combing. J8 to 50c 
% blood combing. 45 to 46c 
Vi blood combing. 38 to 40c 
Common and braid. 34 to 35c 
Clothing grades . 32 to 38c 
The local wool dealers who have been decidedly in 
the background during the past two years, are again 
actively picking up clips of ungraded wool from those 
farmers who do uot keep in touch with advancing mar¬ 
ket values, or who do not yet believe iu co-operating 
with their neighbors. Brices ranging from 25 to 40c 
are being paid for wools which at a cost of about 4c 
per lb. can be sold co-operatively at or above the cur- 
x-ent market. Every pound of ungraded wool which the 
farmers are selling to local dealers represents a net loss 
of from 6 to 10c per lb. The prices offered bv the 
local dealers are quite uniformly 10 to 12c per lb. un¬ 
der the market. 
It is a sad commentary to have to admit that there 
are farmers who shout loudly for co-operation and bet- 
tex marketing facilities, but who. at the first opportu¬ 
nity which seems to their personal advantage, deliber¬ 
ately sell or buy from competitors of their co-opera¬ 
tives. This is true at least as applied to some of the 
sheep growers, who a short while ago "pointed with 
pride" to the fact that they were members of their 
County Sheep Growers’ Association, bur in the past two 
months, ignoring any responsibility to their co-opera¬ 
tive association, have quietly disposed of their wool at 
prices which will net the local dealers a handsome profit. 
It is not easy to analyze the method of reasoning 
which causes a man to arrive at such a decision. If it 
is the need of ready cash, it would be cheaper for him 
to borrow from bis local bank, even at 10 per cent in¬ 
terest, than to sell his wool at 25 to 40 per cent below 
its market value. If it is a mania to weaken the co¬ 
operative movement among bis fellow farmers, because, 
of some personal grievance, then it may be accomplished 
in some degree by continuing this practice. 
The real responsibilities of the individual in co¬ 
operative marketing are not vet generally understood. 
Some will join in a co-operative movement Only when 
necessity drives them to xio so. Others will participate 
only when they see prospects of a direct and immediate 
financial gain to themselves, and will break away at the 
first opportunity which appears to their personal advan¬ 
tage. They seem to forget the conditions under which 
they have had to market their products during the 
past 50 years and are impatient and unduly critical be¬ 
cause a successful co-operative cannot be set up in one 
or two years. 
Time alone will prove to these men the folly of their 
decision. The time may yet come when those who desire 
to and believe in co-operation will mutually agree to 
bind themselves, and those who will not agree to be 
bound shall be denied the opportunity to participate. 
F. E. ROBERTSON. 
The Milk Problem and the Money 
Question 
It seems evident that the chief reason that dairymen 
have organized is to better their financial condition. 
Paradoxical as it might seem, that is also the reason 
that certain others have kept out of the main organi¬ 
zation. and have formed a so-called non-poolers’ asso¬ 
ciation. How many members of the latter are not get¬ 
ting the fluid price, and thus profiting by their posi¬ 
tion.' It is evident to all rhat it is the lure of the 
almighty dollar that has caused a small minority of 
fluid milk producers to refuse to co-operate. The fact 
must 1 h* remembered that the Ia*uguc milk, under the 
old plan, netted the same price to all. subject of course 
to freight and hurtorfat differentials. Why not now? 
The writer's milk goes to a Borden eondensery; that 
of neighbors in either direction goes to fluid shipping 
stations. The milk is all equally good (subject of course 
to individual variations), equally accessible to the rail¬ 
road. and suhjeci to the same inspection and regulations. 
Why should I receive a decidedly lower price than my 
neighbors? The milk business cannot be carried on oil 
such u plan. Producers can organize ami co-operate, 
or they can compete, with the inevitable result of lower 
prices to all. 
Dairymen are urged to get together ard compose their 
differences. How can we co-operate with those who 
refuse to co-operate, who let present profit blind them 
to future good? Tt must not be forgotten that without 
pooling there would lie no fluid milk price, but a flat 
price to all. Why should (he non-pooler wish to reap 
when he refuses to sow? 
Shall more than 70.000 who have accepted the pool¬ 
ing plan humbly abandon all that has been accomplished 
to conciliate a small disafleeted minority? 
They tell us that it is the contract they object to, 
that they are fighting for :> principle, not the higher 
price. In this connection let me refer to local condi¬ 
tions. During the first few months of the pooling 
operation Borden's Condensed Milk Company sold con¬ 
siderable fluid milk, and the non-poolers received a 
somewhat higher price than the poolers, and they did not 
hesitate to rub it in. Some frankly admit ted that the 
pooling plan was a good thing for them as long as they 
stayed out of it. But most of them "did not like the 
contract,” or the officers, etc. 
Then on October 1 occurred the milk-wagon drivers’ 
strike in New York, and Borden’s Condensed Milk Com¬ 
pany stopped selling fluid milk, with the result that the 
pooled price went considerably above the Borden price. 
What toon? The non-poolers began to think better of 
the contract, officers. e!c , and to straggle in. Month by 
month they became scarcer, and finally disappeared 
altogether in April, when the Bordens began to buy 
their entire supply of the Co-operative Association. 
( henango Co.. N. Y. freo \\\ packer. 
