The Nonpartisan Leader Newspaper, September 9, 1918, Page 9

doubied the price that the farmer, who raised it, received. In this. simple and short joumney from the producer to the consumer-over 200 per cent above the cost. of production has been absorbed. . And that is but a typical case. Take such a life necessity as milk, which rich and poor must have to sustain the lives of their little children. his money invested in the land that sustained ‘the cows (or else paid rental charges on it), who had a large investment in livestock and machinery and feed, and who did all the labor hecessary to the production of milk, or hired it done, received on an average of but 5.2 cents a quart over a period - of six months, in Chicago, the consumer was pay- ing 12 cents a quart for it.- In other words, the ; producer received only about 43 per cent of what the consumer paid, while the distributor or middle- man received 57 per cent. It is a sad comment on our boasted efficiency in dealing with great business problems that whereas the distribution cost in Chicago was 6.8 cents per quart, in Ottawa, Canada, at the same time, it was only 38 cents a quart. We have much to learn about the benefits of co-operation between country and town from other nations. The food administrator, Herbert Hoover, said at the National Milk and Dairy Farm exposition in New York City May 28: One difficulty to both producers and consum- - ers is that our marketing system in dairy products is inherently a wasteful and expensive system. Our comsumers need relief from the present high price lev- els of milk. The enormous: duplication and waste in . preseat chaotic - distribu- tion methods need no de- tailed descriptieon from me. They have been ventilated by a 5 long train of pri- 7 vate and public investiga- tions. Yet While the dairy farmer who has . here is a commodity in which, in New York, from 40 to 60 per cent of the price is absorbed in distribution methods. I can see but one remedy that will save the situation and that is complete reorganization. The inspiration of such reorganization must come from the pro- ducer. . It might be said that the consumer should be joined in this. He should be, but I am despairing of any consumers’ organization getting results. The producer’s, whole interest is in milk, while it is but one of many inter- ests of the consumer. The distribution of milk ~ to our city populations is just as vital as the < - distribution of water. To have 10 independent water systems cumbering our streets would be no more chaotic than our present milk dis- tribution. St : In other words, my friends, here is a man like Mr. Hoover, urging the importance of organization among the farmers as a war measure, while here- in the great agricultural states of the grain belt we are treated to the surprising spectacle of men opposing such organization and using war con- ditions as an excuse for their opposition, although they felt exactly the same way before the war and will feel the same after the war is over and' victory has perched upon our banners. : No, my friends, it is not those in authority at Washington who are op- posing the organization of labor of all kinds, but those whose special privileges are threatened by a union of farmers and organized labor, who are embarrassing our war adminis- tration by their selfish policies. As evidence of this I want to quote to you from a bulletin recently sent out by the committee on public in- formation at Washington, of which - George Creel is want. fort me. UNCLE SAM’S PSALM TiIE farmer fills my breadbasket; I shall not HE GIVETH me his str('mg‘sons to aid the allies to defeat our enemies; he subscribeth to Liberty loans; he giveth to Red Cross funds. SURELY goodness and mercy. shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will be in the * .. Land of the Free forever. = i jT—Drawn'" and written by Congressmar John M. Baer. the head, under appointment from President 'Wi'l-' son. It deals with pro-German propaganda in this country, but goes on to state as follows: Along with the campaign to set the farmers against the government’s war measures there has been proceeding a twin campaign to arouse him by a'icusing his farmers’ leagues of dis- - loyalty. That is equally a work in aid of the enemy. The western farmers have contributed their quotas to enlistments and to the draft as loyally as any citizens. They have subscribed to Liberty loans and contributed to the war relief- work with unfailing patriotism. They have had their quarrels with men whom they - suspected of exploiting them, just as union labor has had its quarrels with its employers. But it is an economic quarrel, and so long as it is conducted without interfering with the nation’s war work, the charge of disloyalty it- self is traitorous. ¢ Just one more illustration of the need for closer economic co-operation between farmers and union labor. On January 14 last at Kilbourn, Wis., farm- ers were selling their potatoes to the elevators at $1 per 100 pounds. The same day in Chicago, only 150 miles distant, the same grade of potatoes were bringing over $2 wholesale, while the retail price, which the average man had to pay, because he had no place to store them and so many buy in small quantities, was from $2.50 to $2.75 a bushel, which is approximately $4 per 100 pounds. In other words, Wisconsin potatoes, grown almost at Chicago’s door; sold for four times the prices which the producer re- ! ceived and three-fourths of it was eaten up by the mid- dlemen. The man who took the risk, who work- ed long hours to raise the potatoes, receiv- ing only the help of God’s: free sunlight (Continued on page 13) E GUARDETH his herds; he ‘planteth his . ]land with grain. : HE FEEDETH my armies, he filleth my shipé . b : . with food for our boys’ sake. ‘ YEA, though I stand in the face of famine I ' will fear no evil; he will supply me; his foodstuffs will strengthen my body, they com- H i & | S TSI B NGB S NS R S Vs D o 3 E b4 & B i) £