Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1888-12-01

Manifesto Issued by Beef and Cattle Men.
ST. LOUIS, November 25.-The beef and
cattle men passed the following manifesto:
WHEREAS, It has been alleged for years
past that the dressed beef combine of Kan
sas City and Chicago has used pernicious
means to control the beef products of the
United States, reducing the price to the
producer without cheapening the cost to the
consumer; and
WHEREAS, It has been established beyond
controversy that the dressed beef operators,
in order to control the markets of the corn-
try, have opened retail butcher shops in
many places, temporarily selling dressed
beef at less than cost tor the purpose of
driving out of the business the butchers who
refuse to handle their beef; and
WHEREAS, 1t has been proven that when
ever the butchers have been ruined by the
dressed beef monopoly and forced to be-
come its unwilling patrons the average
price of beef has been advanced to con-
sumers in excess of the prices charged by
the butchers when they slaughtered their
own cattle; and
WHEREAS, 1t has been alleged that the
dressed beef syndicate, by reason of pur-
chasing the great bulk of western cattle, and
being therefore the principal patrons of the
commission men, control the latter by re-
fusing to purchase from them shipments of
cattle, part of which has been sold to
butchers; and
Whereas, The small farmers and feeders
are also at the mercy of the dressed-beef
operators, who have destroyed their home
markets; and
Whereas, 1t has been established by chem
lists of the British government that some of
the dressed beef operators have corrupted
the food products of the United States, max
ing out of an adulteration of animal fats
and cotton seed oil a compound which was
labeled and sold as "re6ned lard;" and
Whereas, 1t has been further established
of forcing all cattle into the Chicago mar
ket, which they control, have used their i'm.
mense power in concentrating their ship
ments over roundabout railroads to eastern
markets for the purpose of obtaining cut
rates of freight and inaugurating needless
railway wars, to the injury of the CONNER
cial interests of the country: and
Whereas, These monopolists have acquired
their millions by securing railroad rebates,
cut rates of freight, by cornering food pro-
ducts and the adulteration of lard; in short,
by pursuing methods which are against pub
lie policy and injurious to the health of the
nation; and
Whereas, The cattle raisers, cattle feeders
and butchers of the United States, in con-
Of re- establishing the competitive markets
which this combination has destroyed; and
Whereas, The conference, after the ex-
animation of numerous witnesses, has
thoroughly satisfied itself as to the correct
ness of the facts stated in this preamble.
Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That there is no homes for the
prosperous condition of the cattle industry
until the peop:e of the United States shall
destroy the power for evil which is nov so
injuriously exercised BY this monopoly ;there-
fore, be it further
Resolved, That for the purpose of raising
the beef products above the suspicion Of
disease, and of rs-establishiug the COM
petitive cattle markets, We earnestly recon-
mend to the legislature of the several
States and Territories the enactment OF
live stock inspection Law, requiring all
towns and cities to appoint inspectors,
whose duty it shall be to condemn all beef
which does not come from cattle inspected
by them on hoof and found to be healthy;
and be it further
Resolved, That we view With grave sppro-
hension the fact that the beef product, which
IL one of the staple articles of human food,
is rapidly falling under the control of q
monopoly which, unless checked, viii soon
have the absolute power to still further re-
duce the price to the producer and swell the
exorbitant prices charged to the consumer;
and finally, belt
Resolved. That wetherefore earnestly call
upon the people of the United States to Co
operate with us, in the interest of public
health and public policy, in securing the
legislation indicated.