18 
ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN’S ASSOCIATION. 
farmers to keep all kinds of stock, bnt always keep a few 
cows. Americans are fastidious in regard to what they eat. 
Skimmed cheese was injuring the price; as long as the 
product was of a good quality, there was no danger. A1 
farmers should not rush into dairying, but move along 
slowly, and at all times make a prime article. 
Topic No. 9—“ Marketing Dairy Products—Local Boards 
of Trade vs. Individual and Commission Sales was now 
called for, and the discussion opened by Capt. W. H. Stew A i:t, 
of McHenry county, who said: Since the factory system 
began, all had been in the power of commission men, whose 
interest it was at all times to depress the market; they were 
bulls and bears, running up or down, as best suited their 
pocket; would close you out, if low or high enough; all 
bought on private account more or less; country producers 
could not keep posted by reading the market reports, which 
were made by commission men; they kept agents in the 
country, buying up the supply, so as to “ corner the 
product. The commission business was not a fair business. 
The factory system was much the best—it was labor-saving 
one doing the labor of many. Producers could be posted as 
to the true value of products by selling at local boards; 
frauds would at once be exposed, and the violators expelled 
from the board, and, as a consequence, both buyers and 
sellers are compelled to be honest and fair-dealing; no dairy 
products should be sold on commission, especially if of a 
poor quality, as it only puts a weapon in their hands with 
which to depress the market for your own goods. 
Dr. R. R- Stone thought this was an important matter 
but much more so to producers than dealers for, as a gen¬ 
eral thing, for the past few years the dealers had not made 
more than a fair commission. In the commission trade a 
dozen factories all had cheese on hand to sell, and some were 
compelled, or would, sell at some price; none should be com¬ 
missioned at all; the local board system is much the best 
