MILK PRODUCERS ORGANIZE

The Cortland Democrat, Friday, March 7, 1890.

PREPARING FOR WORK.

TIOUGHNIOGA VALLEY MILK PRODUCERS.

Delegates Representing 248 Farmers Meet in Marathon, and Vote to Run Their Own Milk Business.

From the Marathon Independent.

   About one hundred and fifty representative farmers of the Tioughnioga valley, gathered at the Marathon Opera House, in this village on Thursday, in response to a call for a meeting of the various sections of the Milk Producers' Union in said valley to meet and discuss plans, and adopt measures in conformity thereto.

   Every section in the valley was represented, and the gathering was noted for the earnestness and zeal of its members, which comprised some of the best known agriculturists and dairymen of the three counties of Broome, Onondaga and Cortland.

   At 10:30 the meeting was called to order and the following officers chosen: Chairman, F. J. Collier, Preble; Vice-chairmen, T. Terwilliger, Chenango Forks; C. O. Newton, Homer; T. Willis, Tully; Dr. O. C Hall, Whitney's Point; secretary, Curtis Winston, Greene.

   The following sections were represented. The number of members in each section is given after the name:

   Whitney's Point, 25; Lisle, 20; Marathon, 28; Messengerville, 11; Blodgett's Mills, 21; Cortland, 14; Homer, 41; Little York, 24; Preble, 32; Tully, 32. Total, 248.

   Geo. P. Squires of Marathon, district agent of the Union, was then called upon, and gave a history of the movement, from its inception in a school house in Brisbin, Chenango county, until its present growth of over 5,000 members. He traced its history, with which all our readers are familiar, up to the annual meeting of the present year, and showed how the various conflicting interests that then appeared were harmonized, until at last an amendment to the constitution known as plan D was suggested, and a plan of operation known as plan E was presented as most favorable to the D. L. & W. farmers. The people east of the Hudson being largely individual shippers were opposed to a general stock company, and the D. L. & W. territory were afraid of the surplus all being thrown on them. Under the present plan a Central Union is organized, composed of representatives of all the branch Unions, and the duties of this central body will be to fix a price lower than which no member shall sell, leaving all free to get as much more as they can. They shall also have power to regulate abuses in the trade, and to regulate the surplus, which is to be controlled by each shipper holding back a percentage of his milk whenever it shall be necessary. The branch Unions shall be composed of the sections along the line of each railway or steamboat system entering New York, and each branch section is left free to do its business as best pleases it, provided it observes the direction of the Central Union, as to the price and surplus.

   As Mr. Squires explained it, the branch Unions occupy the relation of the States to the general Government, which is represented by the Central Union. He then dwelt at length upon the plan to be adopted by the branch Union of the D. L. & W. road, and which plan was read, discussed and adopted, as will be seen below.

   Secretary Winston being called upon for some information as to the Milk Exchange limited, said substantially: That the Milk Exchange, unlike all other exchanges in the world, did not buy or sell, as a body, a single drop of the commodity in which it professed to deal. Its capital stock was $5,100 divided into shares of $25 each. It is managed by 13 directors, of whom 11 are owners of milk buying stations along the various railroad lines, one is a wholesale milk dealer in New York and one is a farmer who had his stock donated to him. These thirteen men meet whenever they see fit and establish a price for milk, and then the individuals go forth to the farmers with whom they have contracts at "Milk Exchange" prices, and pay them accordingly. He further explained the injurious workings of the system, and read from the report of the Senate Investigating Committee, calling upon the Attorney General to move to have their charter annulled.

   The balance of the morning session was taken up with an informal discussion of the situation, with remarks by several, among the most telling of which was that of Eben Carley of Lisle, who told plainly and squarely what he thought of the situation, and how the farmers of Lisle, by a combination, had been able to secure better prices for their milk than the farmer either side of them.

AFTERNOON SESSION.

   On motion of G. P. Squires it was voted that three delegates be selected by this meeting, to be empowered to unite with three delegates from the Utica division and from the main line, to organize the branch Union of the D. L. & W.

   Eugene Hall, M. A. Briggs and T. L. Corwin were appointed a Committee to nominate such delegates, and while they were conferring, G. P. Squires explained to the meeting the workings of the branch Union.

   The committee on delegates reported the following names: L. H. Heberd, Homer; F. J. Collier, Preble; G. P. Squires, Marathon and on motion they were chosen as such delegates.

   On motion, C. Winston, C. O. Newton, and T. L. Corwin were appointed as Committee on resolutions. They offered the following resolution, which was adopted:

   Resolved,  That we, the members of the Union of Milk Producers, shipping milk to New York city via the D. L. & W. R. R., in Mass Convention assembled at Marathon, N. Y., February 27, 1890, recommend that the Branch Union representing the above road form a Stock Company consisting of Union Milk Producers, for the purpose of purchasing or building Creameries, or Milk Shipping Stations, so that said producers may ship their own milk.

   The executive committee were instructed to correspond with the Attorney General, calling his attention to the report of the Senate Committee on the Milk Exchange, and asking him to take action thereon. Prior to the adoption of this resolution, a general discussion of the Milk Exchange took place, which was interesting and profitable.

   President Collier then raised the question of the standard of milk which now requires 10 per cent of solids and 3 per cent butter fat. Under this standard, adulteration was possible and common by adding skim milk to milk above the standard. Messrs. Pierce, Winston and others gave anecdotes showing the extent to which this was done, and under the present standard the law was powerless. The statement was also made that lactometer tests were valueless, and so regarded by the dairy commission.

   Mr. Collier stated that at Preble a good deal of complaint had been made by the owner of the milk depot, that milk was not up to the standard.

   Mr. Winston explained that this was a favorite dodge of the creamery men to complain of the milk, so as to get the farmers to furnish richer milk, so they could skim it the more.

   In response to a call Walter B. Pierce, of Chenango Forks, the promoter of the Union, and to whose labors its present extent is due, took the stage and explained the situation of affairs. He said that it was the closing day of the first year of the Union's existence, it having been organized on the 28th day of February, 1889. He dwelt at length on what had been accomplished, and showed how we were living in a different world from 40 years ago. That elements of nature had become the servants of man, and that an abundant plenty was well nigh proving his ruin, and that combinations to regulate and control were necessary and expedient. He showed the unanimity of feeling among all the sections for a stock company and closed with a glowing prophesy of the future possibilities of the movement.

   At the close of Mr. Pierce's address, there being no further business, the meeting adjourned.

St. Mary's Church.

   As already mentioned in last week's issue, the Mission at St. Mary's Church opened the first Sunday of Lent, conducted by the priests of the congregation of the Mission. The vast edifice was crowded every night last week by the women. At the early hour of 4:30 A. M. hundreds of them might be seen wending their way to the church, reminding one of the early Christians.

   The sermons delivered by Fathers Lefevre and Dunphy were very impressive. The silver-tongued Father Lefevre opened the Mission. His sermons on the End of Man, and Value of the Immortal Soul, have left a lasting impression. Nor was he out done by the saintly and venerable Father Dunphy in his own impressive and dignified style.

   The Church has been brilliantly illuminated throughout by the beautiful gas fixtures recently placed in it. Here and there might be seen others not of the faith, paying close attention to the great truths delivered to them.

   The Missionary Fathers are assisted by neighboring priests in the Confessional. This week has been dedicated to the men only.

   The Church is thronged every night with hundreds of men eager to hear and drink deep down into their souls the saving waters of these eternal truths. The Mission will close next Sunday evening with the Papal Benediction.

   St. Mary's Church may well feel proud of the opportunity afforded them by their pastor in practicing their holy faith. Never in the annals of the parish has a Mission been more successful. Hundreds, nay thousands of the faithful have approached the Holy Table thus practically proving the faith that is in them.

   When the late Rev. B. F. McLoghlin was called home to the fathers who had gone before, the members of St. Mary's Church were fearful that they would lose the services of his assistant, Rev. J. J. McLoghlin, because the pastorate of St. Mary's Church was known to be one of the most desirable in the diocese, and it was feared that the Bishop would give the place to an older and more experienced priest, but when it became known that their beloved friend and assistant pastor was to remain with them and have charge of their spiritual welfare there was general rejoicing. His first year as pastor, has shown the wisdom of the selection. There is not a more zealous, faithful or able priest in the diocese, as the Church records will show and the members stand ready to affirm. While he is firm in his own faith, he is a very liberal minded, christian gentleman and is highly esteemed by citizens of all sects and persuasions. The church is being greatly strengthened by his wise and able administration.

Death of Lewis B. Plumb.

   Lewis B. Plumb, one of the old and respected citizens of this village, passed away last Monday morning, March 3d, at about three o'clock. He was born in Farmer Village, near Ithaca, N. Y., Oct. 28, 1815, and has lived almost his entire lifetime in this village. He has always been an attendant at the Universalist church and last July he was baptised and became a member, and no church ever had a better helper, for he did everything that lay in his power to make the church what it ought to be. He leaves a wife, Mrs. Phoebe Ann Plumb, and one son, Frank E. Plumb, who is well known and highly respected.

   The funeral services and burial took place on Wednesday at the home of the deceased at 1:30, where a short selection of scripture was read and a brief prayer offered. At 2:00 o'clock, the relatives and friends assembled at the Universalist church where the funeral services were conducted by the pastor Rev. U. Mitchell, the well known Acme Quartette assisting very much with their fine voices. The burial took place in the village cemetery.

   Mr. Plumb was 74 years old. He has been failing for a number of years; the disease was heart trouble. Although he had suffered more or less for a long time, and at times he had suffered a great deal, yet he was very patient under it all and was perfectly ready to go. He will be missed in his home, at his church, by his friends, but what is our loss is his gain and he leaves a memory behind that will always be cherished.

Death of Matthias Van Hoesen.

   The many friends of Matthias Van Hoesen will be pained to learn of his death, which occurred at his home in Preble, at 8:20 P. M., on Wednesday. Some few weeks since [ago] he was prostrated with a severe attack of the influenza. Although in his eighty-fifth year, it was at first thought his naturally vigorous constitution would be able to withstand the shock, but he never rallied. Mr. Van Hoesen was an almost life-long resident of Preble, and represented the town in the Board of Supervisors for many years. He possessed a remarkably tenacious memory, and his judgment in all the affairs of life was seldom at fault.

   In 1864 he was one of the electors on the Democratic ticket and he had often been honored by that party in positions of importance. Squire Mat, as he was familiarly called by his neighbors. always exerted a strong influence over the citizens residing in his immediate vicinity, and his advice was freely sought and usually followed. He was a ready debater, apt at repartee, and logical in his arguments. He will be sorely missed by the people of the northern part of the county, who have been accustomed to rely on his council in matters of moment for many years past.

   The funeral services will be held from the M. E. church in Preble, at 11 o’clock, in the forenoon on Saturday.

Do You Want to Work? Read This. [Ad.]

   The Loyal Order of King's Daughters has organized an intelligence department. Women seeking employment by the day or week, nurses, type writers and others, assisted in finding places. Persons wishing help are invited to call on or correspond with the head of this department, Mrs. Lyman Jones, No. 50 North Main street. There will also be an opportunity at the meetings of the order to confer with those in charge of this department. In case satisfactory help is furnished a small fee will he charged.