7* RURAL. NEW-YORKER 
143 i 
A Great Meeting o£ the Dairymen’s League 
The annual convention of the I*air,vmen's League 
in Jersey City last week was a good meeting. The 
delegates and members compared favorably in ap¬ 
pearance, physique and intelligence with the repre¬ 
sentatives of any industry that one meets anywhere. 
There seemed to be less of the excitable enthusiasm 
of last year, but the quieter enthusiasm and deter¬ 
mined purpose was no less manifested. Farmers of 
the State of New York are at last unreservedly com. 
mitted to collective bargaining. They are looking 
for more than 35 cents of the consumer's dollar, and 
they are going to pursue the selling end of their 
business until they get it. They have as yet no con¬ 
cern for academic forms or strict co-operative prin¬ 
ciples. They are going right straight ahead to an 
end. If they meet obstructions they are going to 
remove them. Tf they encounter obstacles they will 
jump over them. It may cost money, but iu their 
present sustained temper they are willing to pay the 
in-ice. 
A regrettable incident of the meeting was the in¬ 
ability of President Slocum to be present, owing to 
the very recent death of bis wife. The secretary 
was directed to send a telegram of condolence to 
his home at Milford. I‘a. Vice-president John D. 
Miller presided at the meeting. Mr. Miller is a 
skillful and experienced presiding officer. He treated 
all who wished to be heard with patient courtesy. 
There was no complaint or cause for complaint from 
his rulings. 
Because of the absence of Mr. Slocum, Mr. Paul 
Smith, one of the executive committee, read the 
president’s report, lie read it well. It is no easy 
task to recite effectively another man’s thoughts, in 
a public reading, but no essential point was neg¬ 
lected in Mr. Smith's delivery. Yet there must have 
been others who regretted with the writer that Mr. 
Slocum could not personally deliver his own report. 
Without agreeing with every detail, it is not too 
much to say that as a whole it was beyond any 
doubt the most sensible, dignified and constructive 
paper yet. contributed to a League convention. 
Secretary Manning's report, supplemented the 
president's report in some details. lie estimated 
80.000 members producing milk and 60,555 who 
signed the pooling contract. At the close of October 
70 farm-owned plants were handling 1.056.000 lbs. 
of milk daily. During the seven months’ operation 
sales aggregated .$34,171,520. In October the sales 
were $0,179,075. 
During the afternoon session an opportunity was 
given the non-pool delegates to make brief state¬ 
ments of their positions. Mr. W. R. Pratt, who repre¬ 
sented the non-poolers’ association, proposed that a 
committee of 15 be appointed, to consist of 10 poolers 
and five non-poolers, to revise the three existing 
organizations into one co-operative association, and 
provided that in case the com-mittee could not make 
a unanimous report, to submit their differences to 
a referendum of the members for individual vote. 
Also to submit to the referendum the question 
whether or not the three corporations should be 
reorganized, lie said a resolution covering these 
points had been handed in. but it was not reported 
by the resolution committee, and consequently was 
not voted on. 
Mr. II. B. Sweet, who represented the Utica branch 
as a non-pooler, also made a brief statement. 11 is 
complaint was that dealers had been given an option 
to pay non-pool members what amounted to one dollar 
a hundred less than they paid for the pooled milk. 
He also said that where the association bought up 
plants and refused to handle non-pool milk it was 
following the practice of the big trusts in driving 
small concerns out of business. 
Mr. Edward W. McNamara, representing the Win¬ 
field branch, • made a good impression in a briet 
speech from the floor. lie said that he was there 
as a delegate to represent the two poolers in his 
branch as well as the majority of it. and when if 
came time to vote lie volunteered to forego objection 
to permit the secretary to cast one ballot for all the 
directors nominated in order to save time of a proxy 
ballot vote. This was also done by the other non¬ 
poolers present, one having entered an objection, 
which he withdrew, ’fliis was a happy incident. It 
pleased everybody and seemed to allay any feeling 
that -previously existed. The privilege was a wise 
concession to a very small minority. 
Milo B. Campbell of the National Dairy Associa¬ 
tion was the speaking guest for the fourth time out 
of six general annual conventions. Mr. Campbell is 
always an interesting speaker. His homely illustra¬ 
tions usually drive home his points. His best points 
were a demand for the elimination of bogus butter, a 
Federal law for the incorporation and protection 
from anti-trust acts for farm co-operative associa¬ 
tions for collective bargaining, and if we are to have 
a protective tariff policy in this country, that farm 
products get an equitable share of protection with 
other products. 
Five new men were elected on the board of direc¬ 
tors and 10 re-elected. They are: 
L. M. Hardin. Sussex, N. J.; Harry W. Culver, 
Amenia: John S. Betteys, Greenwich; Harry Bull, 
Campbell Hall; Chester Young, Napanoch; John D. 
Smith. Walton, succeeding Bruce M. Kilpatrick; .T. 
I). Beardsley, New Berlin; Roswell I). Cooper. Little 
Falls: Willard S. Kane. Malone, succeeding Kenneth 
Fee: A. F. Spooner, Ricliville; L. R. Putnam, Black 
River: Fred H. Sexauer. Auburn; Bradley Fuller. 
Utica: D. F. Putnam. Oneida: H. .T. Kershaw. Sher¬ 
burne: Edward F. Vincent. Maine, succeeding N. F. 
Webb; Paul Smith, Newark Valley; W. U. Rixford. 
Wellsville: W. G. Dobbs. Canandaigua; John Itosen- 
bach. Lancaster, Erie County, succeeding George S. 
Pickens; A. L. Milks, Cattaraugus; John D. Miller, 
Susquehanna, Pa.; Robert J. Weld, Sugar Grove, 
Pa., succeeding John K. Campbell; George W. Slo¬ 
cum. Milton. 1‘a. 
The new board met Wednesday and organized by 
electing the old officers: George W. Slocum, presi¬ 
dent; John W. Miller, vice-president; Albert W. 
Manning, secretary; Bruce M. Kilpatrick, treasurer. 
The executive committee appointed is: George W. 
Slocum, chairman; Paul Smith, \V. U. Uexford, II. J. 
Kershaw. Fred H. Sexauer of Auburn. Mr. Sexauer 
is a new member. He takes the place of R. D. 
Cooper, who retires. The others are-old members. 
The principal resolution adopted, and, indeed, the 
one outstanding feature of the meeting, was the fol¬ 
lowing : 
“Authorize and empower the board of directors _ of 
the Dairymen’s League, Inc*., to serve notice in writing 
on each stockholder of the Dairymen’s League. Inc., 
that said Dairymen’s League, Inc., elects to terminate 
the sales agency of said corporation under and by virtue 
of the contracts heretofore signed by the individual 
stockholders. of said Dairymen’s League. Inc., author¬ 
izing said Dairymen’s League to sell milk produced by 
them and agreeing to consign said milk to sa : d associa¬ 
tion for sale, such notice to be served on or before the 
last day of March. 1022, and such sales agency to 
terminate April 1, 1022, and be it further 
“Resolved. That the board of directors be empowered 
to do all things which it may deem necessary and advis¬ 
able in order to carry out the purpose of the foregoing 
resolution.” 
While this resolution does not seem to provide for 
the annulment of the League charter, it is generally 
referred to as “scrapping the League.” While there 
is some sentiment connected with the old organiza¬ 
tion. some action leading either to reorganization or 
replacement was apparent from the start, as we 
pointed out five years ago. The League is a capital 
stock corporation, chartered under New Jersey State 
laws, with stock and proxy vote, and it is not 
adapted to farm co-operative work. The two organi¬ 
zations for one membership was not either efficient, or 
economic, and in our judgment a single organization 
will serve a better purpose. It relieves the directors 
from the sale of non-pool milk after April 1. and sepa¬ 
rates Hie poolers from the non-poolers. It throws the 
whole organized body into the pooling association. 
The officers estimate about 80.000 active producers 
in the League, and 60.000 poolers. 'Phis would leave 
20.000 out of the pool at the present time and with¬ 
out organized connection if the League is dissolved. 
The showing at the meeting did not indicate so large 
a percentage of non-poolers. <>n one rising vote 
there were not over a dozen rose, against probablx 
1.500 poolers. The American way is a majority rule. 
There is 110 ether way an organization can funct'on 
ns a unit. Co-operative principles demand that mem¬ 
bership be voluntary, that each have one vote, and 
all share equally in the results. Where these prin¬ 
ciples are violated that failure follows sooner or later. 
Where they are scrupulously observed there is suc¬ 
cess. One fault of co-operative members that we 
have often observed and criticized is that, when 
things are not right, they pull out and quit. What 
they should do is to stay in and work and tight it 
necessary to correct abuses and faults. The time to 
work for changes and reforms is before and at meet, 
ings. After the vote minority and majority should 
be working together for a common purpose. Hard¬ 
ships may have to be endured at times, but vigilance 
and perseverance will even it up in the end. The 
dairymen of the New York Milk zone have an oppor¬ 
tunity to do themselves a great service. It will be 
best done if they do it themselves, and whether it be 
League or association, we hope to see every dairy¬ 
man united in it as the greatest and most successful 
organization in the world. 
New Jersey Horticulturists Meet 
CO-OPERATIVE PEACH MARKETING.—New 
Jersey peaches have had plenty of publicity in the past, 
but not as much as they will get in the future if the 
plan for a co-operative marketing association for 
peaches is received with as great enthusiasm all over t In¬ 
state as it was at the forty-seventh annual meeting of 
the New Jersey Horticultural Society, held at Haddon 
Ilall, Atlantic City, December 0-8. It was an unusually 
successful meeting. 
MARKETS CLOSE AT HAND.—That New York 
City eats one-fourth bushel of peaches per capita and is 
the largest peach market in the country was pointed out 
by Harry B. Weiss of the Bureau of Statistics. State 
Department of Agriculture, .-it Trenton. It. does seem 
from this that New Jersey had an unlimited market for 
all the peaches she could produce, but there are 14 
States which compete with New Jersey in her large 
markets, West Virginia. New York and California be¬ 
ing among them. Freight rates on a box of fruit from 
Bridgeton, N. J.. to New York amount to 67 cents; 
from Fresno, Cal., to New York City, they are in the 
neighborhood of $1.(51. It is easy to see that New Jer¬ 
sey farmers have a very difficult marketing problem 
“I prophesy that 1022 will be the biggest peach year 
in the history of the State, owing to the large number of 
young trees that are just coming into bearing,” said 
Emraor Roberts of Moorestown. lie urged the necessity 
of standardizing the fruit. J. S. Edwards, of one of 
California's largest co-operative associations, was pres¬ 
ent to explain the co-operative plan to New Jersey 
growers, and when A. L. Clark, chief of the Bureau of 
Markets, State Department of Agriculture, presented 
the plan for a co-operative peach market association, 
drawn up by the fruit committee of the New Jersey 
Federation of County Boards of Agriculture, it was 
received with enthusiasm by the society. By another 
year this will probably he in effect in New Jersey. The 
plan is for centralizing, shipping, financing and book¬ 
keeping at one point in the State, with local offices at 
shipping points. 
SCIENTISTS HAVE THEIR SAY.—Although from 
one point of view the marketing session was most im¬ 
portant, those held on the subject of fruit and on veg¬ 
etables were of great value to the practical growers. 
Reporting for the fruit committee. Prof. A. J. Farley of 
the Slate Agricultural College, presented lists of apples 
in their order of popularity in four different sections of 
the State, showing that Delicious has come to be one of 
the most universally popular varieties. There was much 
discussion in favor of Williams, and several practical 
growers arose to defend (he time-honored and popular 
Baldwin. A brand new peach disease, “hot off the grid¬ 
dle.” has been brought to light by Dr. Melville T. Cook, 
who described it as similar to the fungi that causes the 
wilt of eggplant. It is distinguished by the dropping of 
the leaves. He explained how when healthy trees were 
inoculated with the disease it traveled only a little over 
an inch in four weeks. Dr. Cook believes that this 
trouble may be due partly to injury caused by the frost 
last Spring. In any case he lias a sharp eye on it. 
“There is no tendency toward nervous prostration in 
the plum curculio.” said Dr. T. J. Ileadlee, State En¬ 
tomologist, when discussing the program of controlling 
insect posts which have been particularly troublesome in 
this State. For the original peach moth, pear psylla 
and codling moth, the three pests which he particularly 
discussed, his recommendations in general were for very 
thorough and frequent sprays. In fact, in the case of 
the codling moth, he advised seven regular sprays and 
eigtit extra treatments. 
CONGRESS RIGHT WITH THE FARMER.— 
“The Farmer in Washington” was the subject of the 
address delivered by Congressman John (’. Ketclmm of 
East Lansing. Mich., before a joint meeting of the so¬ 
ciety and tin- State Grange on the Steel Pier. Granges, 
the Farm Bureau, the farm press, the daily press, and, 
most particularly, a Secretary of Agriculture who 
“knows the language of the American farmer and who 
speaks it,” were mentioned by Mr. Ketcham as the chief 
agencies which have brought the farmers’ business to 
the attention of Washington. lie also discoursed at 
some length on the agricultural bloc, conditions of trans¬ 
portation. credit. American valuations, and more espe¬ 
cially the tariff, “if the protective tariff principle is 
fair, the same protection is due the products of the 
American farmer as those of the American factory. The 
American farmer asks only the same protection as does 
any other organization.” 
HOW THEY DO IT OUT WEST.—One of the most 
entertaining sessions was that held on Wednesday even¬ 
ing, at which, after the president’s address, Aaron Col¬ 
lins. Emmor Roberts, both of Moorestown, and Free¬ 
man Mason of New Brunswick, related their experiences 
in recent trips to California and the coast. All were 
agreed that. Western growers won out by their schemes 
of co-operative marketing and the production of extra 
fancy fruit. They also stressed the particular atten¬ 
tion that is paid, on the Western coast, to the perfect 
grading of fruit. Land in the most prosperous sections 
of Oregon and California they found to he worth t 40 
to $1,000 an acre. Mr. Roberts pointed out that irriga¬ 
tion costs from $50 to $125 an acre, upkeep $10 to $25 
an acre, and sti 1 ! the Western grower can ship his 
goods to New York, or even to European markets, and 
make money. Mr. Mason, who illustrated his talk with 
pictures taken on his last Summer’s trip, told of other 
Big expenses connected with irrigation and the oil pot 
used for fruit protection, lie showed several slides to 
illustrate methods of priming and packing of the various 
kinds of fruits. 
Boardwalk visitors from all over the world stepped 
into the long hallway where the vegetable exhibits were 
on disnlay and kept right on. admiringly, past the tiuest 
that New Jersey has to offer as the third vegetable 
State of the Union, to the end of the hall, where there 
were flats of sweet potatoes representing 15 varieties 
and including some of South Jersey’s most attractive 
specimens. The fruit display, owing to last year’s freeze, 
was not nearly so extensive as that of last year, but 
made a very creditable showing nevertheless. 
Senator Emmor Roberts of Moorestown was elected 
president for a two-year term ; Charles Repp. Glassboro, 
vice-president, and Henry Albertson. Burlington, secre¬ 
tary-treasurer. Executive committee: Prof. M. A. 
Blake. New Brunswick; Henry F. Hall, Moorestown; 
Charles Fitting, llammonton; R. C. May, Vineland; Tl. 
E DcCmmip, Poseland; E. A. Mechling and John Hank- 
inson. Glen More. i n 
