9»» RURAL NEW-YORKER 
1139 
Replies From Candidates for Governor 
We have now given a fair hearing to all who have 
been mentioned for Governor of New York State, 
and who have wished to he heard. Some men who 
have been most frequently mentioned have not ex¬ 
pressed their views, because they do not wish to 
be considered as candidates. Now we are ready 
to know the choice of farmers for Governor of the 
State. It is not necessary to confine the choice to 
those who have discussed farm problems. Give us 
your unbiased preference for what you consider the 
best interest of the farm. 
FROM SPEAKER T. C. SWEET 
As a citizen somewhat familiar with at least some 
of the subjects, I will briefly indicate to you my views 
on at least part of the subjects mentioned in your re¬ 
quest. 
First, I emphatically say that the daylight-saving 
law should be repealed. There is no reason why it 
should have ever been enacted either by the State or the 
Federal Government, as by simple proclamation by 
either or both the State and national administrations 
for war necessities temporary adjustment of the hours 
of beginning and completing work could have been 
established. 
I do not believe the best interests of the people 
really would he served through the election of a Com¬ 
missioner of Agriculture and Commissioner of Foods 
and Markets by direct vote at general election. Time 
and space will not permit me to go into the arguments 
of my position at this time. 
I do not believe it necessary to require written con¬ 
sult of owners for limiting and fishing on lands gen¬ 
erally. but I am most emphatically in favor of the 
strictest laws that provide adequate punishment for all 
those who, by consent or otherwise, enter upon the 
farmer’s lands and do damage to the property or the 
crops thereon. I believe that the farmer, on anyone else, 
should be permitted to kill birds or wild animals when 
necessary to protect their property, but I think if such 
birds or wild animals are killed out of season they 
should be turned over to the Si-tie Conservation Com¬ 
mission for such use as would hot serve the interests of 
the State. 
I favor revision of the school law which will afford 
better advantages for the boys and girls of the rural 
districts to obtain advanced education. 
I believe in the improvement of what you term “bark- 
ceuntr.v” roads consistent with the traffic existing there¬ 
on as feeders to the trunk Hues already provided for on 
the highway maps already designated and filed. 
I believe in the right of food producers for collective 
bargaining and co-operative marketing as being to the 
mutual interest of the consumers and the producers. 
Surely it is and will be necessary that our rural in¬ 
habitants shall receive such prices for products pro¬ 
duced as to not only return the cost of production with 
a reasonable profit, but give them a fair, and reasonable 
return upon their investment, which many farmers fail 
to take into consideration in figuring farm costs. 
Through the Food and Markets Department of our 
State much good is and will continue to l-csult by 
assistance furnished to the producer for marketing and 
tlm consumer a place to purchase. 
I do not believe the best interests of all could be con- 
stTved by the State entering the business of marketing 
farm products, but I do believe much good can be 
obtained through State co-operation with the purchaser 
and producer in the interest of supply and demand. 
Terminal markets, while expensive to construct and 
intricate in operation. I believe would enhance the 
interest of the producer and consumer. 
The milk question in such a city as New York is a 
difficult one of solution, but surely the producer must 
neeive the cost and fair margin of profit, or he will 
refuse to produce. Eliminating or lessening production 
on tlie theory of supnl.v and demand simply means a 
greater demand than the supply and higher prices there¬ 
by. Distribution in a city is the great problem, and 
'•'bile no one has seemingly as yet hit upon just the plan 
to accomplish distribution at a minimum cost. I believe 
eventually and at a time not far distant a solution will 
be worked out. The subject is too great to express 
one’s ideas without most careful thought. My opinion 
is that the surest method to accomplish distribution at 
the least expeuse will he through co-operative organiza¬ 
tion of the producers for the distribution of milk prod¬ 
ucts. especially that of fluid milk. This would be such 
a great revolution of the present system and requiring 
immense capital that only time, study and co-operation 
can accomplish it: but we are makin" progress along 
nil lines, and T believe this one is possible of solution 
and will be accomplished. t. c. sweet. 
“ Country Consumption of Milk ” 
The farmers’ co-operative creamery at Monti- 
eollo, in Sullivan County, New York, recently 
refused an offer from a city dealer for shipment to 
the city because producers there have done better 
making butter and selling cream to the local market, 
la April they averaged $3.42 per hundred for milk, 
mid in May $3.33. which was far ahead of the city 
price. Even at that they lose on skim-milk and 
buttermilk. The plant is too small to put in ma¬ 
chinery to powder skim-milk, but if this creamery 
Pad a market for the by-products, its earnings would 
Pc still better. It has sold its July and August 
supply to local Summer hotels at 15 cents a quart 
d creamery. This development of local markets 
i- a good movement, and the Mouticollo producers 
l ine made a conspicuous success of it. The cream- 
1 is a local co-operative unit, owned and operated 
by local producers. 
Ibis plant has indirectly helped producers in ad¬ 
jacent territory who sell to city dealers. Sullivan 
* imnt y is a great •Summer boarding section. City 
people rush to the farms as well as to the village 
houses for rest and recreation during July and 
August. The elevation is high, the air pure and 
the water clear and crystal. With all it is only 
taree or four hours from New York City. 
This city colony makes a home demand for milk 
and other dairy products. Heretofore farmers used 
their own milk for their own guests on their own 
tables, and others supplied the village houses. Now 
ihe dealers want to get control of this country trade 
and demand a profit of 100 per cent for themselves 
on any milk consumed in the territory in which they 
have plants and buy milk. They claim that their 
contract with the League entitles them to levy a fine 
on deliveries during May and June on farmers who 
do not deliver during July ami August. Last year 
such fines were imposed: but in some eases a local 
attorney was able to force a repayment. Others 
submitted to the fine. The dealers claim delivery 
of all the milk, and local houses that depend on 
them pay double the price at the creamery that 
farmers receive at the same place. 
In oiie instance farmers threatened to rebel and 
join the Monticello co-operative plant and deliver 
their milk by truck. This resulted in a compromise 
in that particular section: but producers in the 
county generally resent vhe attempt of dealers to 
profit at their expense. 
The argument of the dealer is that he wants the 
milk for city trade during the hot months. Of 
course, he does, because the profits are then large; 
but be is willing to sell it where produced when the 
profit is 100 per cent to himself. When there is a 
full supply in the city he finds ways to refuse milk 
he does not want. It is not true, as he often as¬ 
serts. that he takes all the milk when there is a 
surplus. This new deal profits the New York dealer 
alone at the expense of producers in local consuming 
sections, and works to the disadvantage of producers 
everywhere. The best it could do would be to in¬ 
crease shipments to the city, and no producer would 
profit in that result. New York City dealers have 
no moral or economic right to a profit on country 
consumption of milk. 
Agriculture in Political Platforms 
W E give below the agricultural "plank" adopted 
at the Republican national convention. When 
tlic Democrats also adopt such a “plank" we will 
print it. and then compare and discuss them, if 
need be. This year a group of men representing 
faun organizations presented six propositions to both 
the leading parties. The Republicans seem to have 
taken these propositions and rewritten them rather 
clumsily, so as to better serve a political purpose, 
with the following result: 
The farmer is the backbone of the nation. National 
greatness and economic independence demand a popu¬ 
lation distributed between industry and the farm and 
sharing on equal terms the prosperity which is wholly 
dependent on the efforts of both. Neither can prosper 
at the expense of the other without inviting joint dis¬ 
aster. 
The crux of the present agricultural condition lies 
in prices, labor and credit. 
The Republican party believes that this condition 
ci.u be improved by practical and adequate farm repre¬ 
sentation in the appointment of governmental officials 
and commissions; the right to form co-operative asso¬ 
ciations for marketing their products and protection 
agaiust discrimination ; the sceutific study of agricul¬ 
tural prices and farm production costs at home and 
abroad, with a view to reducing the frequency of ab¬ 
normal fluctuations; the unceusored publication of such 
n ports; the authorization of associations for the ex¬ 
tension of personal credit; a uatioual inquiry on the 
co-ordination of rail, water and motor transportation, 
with adequate facilities for receiving, handling and mar¬ 
keting food; the encouragement of our export trade; 
an end to unnecessary price-fixing and ill-considered 
efforts arbitrarily to reduce prices of farm products 
which invariably result to tlie disadvantage both of 
producer and consumer, and the encouragement of pro¬ 
duction and importation of fertilizing material and of 
its extensive use. 
The Federal Farm Loan act should be so administered 
as to facilitate the acquisition of farm land by those 
desiring ro become owners and propr etors. and thus 
Minimize the evils of farm tenantry .-red to furnish such 
long-time credits as farmers may need to finance ade¬ 
quately their larger and long-time production operations. 
At any rate, this is evidence that the politicians 
realize that farmers at la<t mean business. In 
former years the political parties have contented 
themselves with calling the farmer “the backbone 
of the country.” Having said that, they left the 
farmer with his backbone anti gave most of the 
juicy meat to other interests. This year they have 
“seei ,a great light.” though they do not seem quite 
sure whether it is a flare-up or a steady flame. 
They must be assured that it is the latter. We 
shall reserve discussion of this ‘‘plank” until the 
other parties have made their statements. 
A Conference on Farm Labor 
It was a matter of much interest to listen to the 
speeches of people who are concerned in a larger food 
supply at the Governor’s conference on June 11. Those 
city folks are realizing that there may not be food 
enough to go around, and they want food; therefore 
they want somebody to go out and do some of th<j work. 
They are not so particular who goes, and I doubt if 
they feel any great concern whether the help is good or* 
poor, so long as they do not have to get into the fields 
themselves. This is no particular criticism. About 50 
were present at the conference. Of the 50 present I am 
seriously doubtful if there was a single real farmer. 
.Some two or three generously came forward to take 
upon themselves the name of farmer, and I wouldn’t 
cast reflections upon them. It is true, as one of them 
said, that broken fingernails are not an absolute neces¬ 
sity for a real farmer, yet appearances go some way in 
figuring out a setting. These two or three did come 
nearer the f«. .uers’ viewpoint than most of the com¬ 
pany. We will give them the benefit of the doubt, but 
it is “then some” before we can make this gathering 
reperesent farming. 
W e will give several of the speakers credit for saying 
that farmers do not want things handed out to them, 
but they want a fair char, -e to work out their own 
problems. It was in several places explained that we 
must enable the farmer to make money like other peo¬ 
ple. which is pretty good stuff, but everyone stopped for 
breath before telling just how this is to be done. It 
was followed by a keen business man. who wanted t<> 
go on and help the farmer so that he can produce more 
and make foods cheaper (?). 
Every project-worker proposed to refuse all requests 
for help, as I understood the remarks, in eases where 
the help is to be boarded by the farmer and live in the 
family. They must have better conditions than those 
found in farm homes, and by implication they are a 
higher class of people than farmers. I doubt if these 
sincere workers, as I view it. would have accepted the 
above statement had it been made to them, yet I can 
see no other conclusion from the remarks made. These 
people must go out in groups or colonies and live sepa¬ 
rately. and work eight or nine hours a day. At least 
one New York City association was present by repre¬ 
sentation with the claim that they have 17.000 helpers 
registered. The Farm Bureau of Westchester was 
called upon to brace up the claims of the manager from 
the big city. He did it nicely, but you must remember 
that Westchester is a county of money farmer?- from 
Now York City. I will not discourage any community 
that wants help from looking into the efforts of this 
society, and it is quite possible that some fruit farmers 
and vegetable growers may profit by doing so. The 
great food projects are on a different class of farms, aud 
it will take a better imagination than mine to see much 
help in this for them. It is all right to try it. though. 
Out near Buffalo they seem to have done something 
for those canning stuff growers. The plau now is to 
erect a building 50x130 feet, with a room for each per¬ 
son employed and a recreation room with moving picture 
shows and similar recreations, so as to give these 
workers city privileges. That is a special condition and 
involves a special problem. I am glad this conference 
was held, and glad that a committee is to be appointed 
to act as a “clearing house” for the various ideas that 
were and are to be presented. Possibly the reader may 
accuse me of a little sarcasm in writing this report, aud 
I confess to some such feeling, yet if even a little good 
can come out of it let it be evolved. We will throw no 
brickbats. 
Tin* Department of Agriculture had able men present, 
but they, wisely, as I think, took no part in the discus¬ 
sion. The College of Agriculture was ably represented 
by one of the professors, who did not hesitate to say 
a few things right out in meeting. He said them well. 
Farmers want nothing but opportunity, he said. Then 
he added that inexperienced labor can’t help much on 
the general farms where the foods of the country are 
produced. Some one suggested that farmers have in the 
past produced too largely. They have made foods too 
cheap, and a shortage may be necessary in order to 
make the public see straight on the farming game. 
- H. H. L. 
Of Interest to Farmers 
Nf.w York I-Ioesteins at St. Paul.—A bout 70 
breeders of llolsteins of New York State attended the 
big national sale of Holsteius at the annual meeting 
of the IIolstein-Friesian Association at Sr. Paul. The 
35 head of splendid specimens consigned to the sale 
from this State brought a total of $84,700. or an aver¬ 
age of $2,420. The high cow of rhe State was Onnsby 
Korudyke Pearl Mooie. sold by Julius Schmidt of Mont¬ 
gomery for $10,500. to two Wisconsin breeders. A 
young bull, sou of Lilly Alcarta aud Carnation King 
Sylvia, supposed to have the best blood iu the country 
in its veins, sold for the remarkable price of $50,000. 
going to Canada. New York breeders were well pleased 
v. itb the showing made by this consignment—the finest 
ever sent out from the State. These IHplsteius went to 
nine States. As a result of the sale between $4,000 
and $5,000 will be added to the treasury of the New 
York State Holstein Association, to be used for further¬ 
ing the interests and development of the breed in this 
State. No State sent more animals to the sale, except 
Minnesota, where the sale was held. An average of 
$3,075 was brought by the total of 237 animals sold. 
Next year rhe national meeting and sale will be held in 
this State, probably in Syracuse, a big event for breeders 
of the State. Doubtless Buffalo would have been chosen 
but for its nearness to the farms where the Cabana 
records were made, which has brought such trouble to 
the association of breeders of ibis State. A recent de¬ 
cision of Judge Sears of the Supreme Court vindicates 
the position taken by the New York State Holstein 
Association on the matter of the records in question, 
and the directors of the association were designated as 
a tribunal to try the genuineness of the records. Reg- 
i-rration of animals in the herd books of the Hnlsteiu- 
Friesian Association of America in the past year 
amounted to 114.503. an increase of 26 per cent over last 
year. Transfers amounted to 131.823. an increase of 
35 per cent over the preceding year. During the year 
3 60S persons were admitted to membership in the asso¬ 
ciation. It is claimed that a breed doubles itself in 
five years under normal conditions, and much is ex¬ 
pected by breeders of these animals in the future. But 
a very small part of the milk-producing animals of this 
country are purebreds. and there will be no danger of 
an overproduction in this generation. m. g. f. 
