People's party paper. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1891-1898, 1893-01-27
THE MEAT SHORTAGE.
T. e. w.

The over production theory has
to encounter a knockout occasional
ly, but it is FOOLS argument, ever
recurring to meet puzzling conditions.
1t was most assuredly used to &C
count for the low price of meat for
several years. Believing it, raisers
of cattle have for two or three years
bred and fed less, and there is, as a
consequence, almost a meat famine
in the cities. St. Louis reports not
enough meat on the market for the
daily use of the housekeepers, and
dressed pigs command double their
nominal price. The same conditions
prevail in all the commercial centers,
and the necessary expenditures OF
the poor are increased by high-pric-
ed food, as we'll as high priced coal,
in the extreme cold weather.
Under the pretext of -produo-
ton great syndicate reduced the
prices of meat products until farm
ers found they lost by feeding, and
consequently the stock was reduced
until a partial famine is threatened.
The enhanced cost of living will dis
sipate the earnings of thousands of
families In all the trade centers, and
the organized charities will find
work where but for the manipula-
tons of the meat and coal monopo-
lies sturdy self-support would ex-
ist. The monopoly will make more
money in handling less goods, but
the people will pay greatly en-
HANGED tax.
1t is evident that had there been
no contention Of over production, the
present enforced economy IN con-
sumption would have been unneces-
sary. By refusing compensation to
the breeder, he has been forced to
abandon his business, and the whole
people suffer. This, too, when in
fact at no time in ten years has there
been any accumulation Of meats be-
yond what should have been consid-
cred as prudent guarantee against
just what has befallen.
1t is now apparent that until the
breeders increase operations pork
will remain high. But as the alb
normally low price caused reduc-
ton in the output, by sending stock
ers to the slaughter, the same result
will follow the abnormally high price
now paid. Farmers will be inclined
to send to the shambles everything
marketable, rather than risk a future
market which his experience tells
him is uncertain and will probably be
Improbable
Egypt, the mother Of civilization,
is not yet too decrepid to furnish pas
turage for the great money power.
English bankers hold bonded debt
of nearly $6OO,OOO,OO0, and just now
the Khed1ve seems to be unwilling to
play the part Of keeper in charge to
collect the annual interest. AS a
consequence, spec!x Of disquiet ap-
pears in the British financial world,
and the fleet may again be sent to
Alexandria to play bailiff. The dis
turbing problem is, what has stiffened
the Khedive's backbone Perhaps
some other European power has been
monkeying with the Egyptian black
ness.
Kansas, the center Of the reform
movement, has a population, by the
census of 1890, of which 844 per
cent are whites of American birth.
The remainder, 151 per cent, is made
up of negroes, Chinese and Europeans.
So it would seem that the people of
the sunhower State are not indebted
to foreigners for their ideas on eco
nomics-their " isms," as the pluto
Gratis would say.
Recently a negro convict in an
Arkansas camp, after his release by
expiration of his sentence, sued the
lessees for damages because of bad
treatment, fogging, etc. He proved
his case, and got verdict of $4,000.
No doubt more such suits would have
an influence on the condition OF
Southern convicts.