The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-02-19
1T WORKS ON A SYSTEM
How a Wheel Within a Wheel
at Kansas City StOckyards
Places the Cattle Shipper Conn
pletely at Their Mercy.
Interview With Ex- Senator James
Shearer Who Explains How the
Plan is Carried On.

Shippers of cattle, especially those
who handle small lots, have no conception
of the injustices practiced against them
by the wheel within wheel which oper-
ates at the Kansas City stock yards OBJ
served ex-senator James Shearer of Mar
shall county to a Journal reporter today.
There exists what is called by the
stock yards men, a trade council . con-
tinued Mr.. Shearer, land the members
thereof are absolute dictators, not only as
to prices and charges but decide what
shippers shall be privileged to sell their
cattle at reasonable prices, squeeze some
Mr.. Shearer is a shipper and went to
Kansas City to attend the investigation
conducted by the Missouri legislative
committee. He expected to hear the Kan
sas legislative members take up the
subject but the members after comforting
and agreeing upon a bill for both states
returned to Topeka, the Missourians re-
naming in Kansas City for the purpose
of going into the transactions at the stock
yards and securing evidence with which
to support the measure to be introduced
in their legislature regulating them.
At this Investigation was discovered the
existence in the trade council. OF which
Mr.. Shearer says, no patron of the yards
had previous knowledge. This trade
call it" remarked Mr. Shearer, lis the
institution which has caused the injustice
to shippers. Should the owner of a small
lot OF cattle go upon that market he is
absolutely at the mercy of the outfit.
THE evidence which was presented at
the investigation should be in the possess
greet very much that the legislators did
not secure it. There were enough wit.
neSSeS to convince the most Skeptica1
person in the world that the strong arm
of the law should reach out and destroy
this unjust discrimination. A remarka-
BILE thing to me, in connection with this
inves tigation, is that none of the news
papers which pretend to be making such
strong fight against the stock yards,
have mentioned the fact that witnesses
testified TO the existence. of this secret
trade council. The testimony brought
out the fact that this council is composed
of the leading members of the stock ex-
Mr. Greer, of the firm of Greer. Mills &
Co, said the council dominated, the bus..c
$500 is charged. The president appoints
men as captains and places them at the
head of parties of fifteen. The captain
then carries out the injunctions of the
council. Should a man appear on the
market who is REGARDED as a fit example
the captains notify the members of their
committee of fifteen that they are not to
trade with him. The shipper who is COM
PEELED to suffer this injustice waits for a
purchaser who never comes In despair
he is compelled to let his cattle go at
any price and leaves the market a heavy
loser by the shipment.
Mr.. Greer was asked" continued Mr..
Shearer, IF he had ever been notified to
avoid certain men who were patrons of
the corporation. Mr.. Greer replied that
he had been SO notified. This" said Mr..
Shearer. places shippers absolutely at
the mercy of that council which the tes-
timony shows to have been a secret or
ganiZation. In my experience as ship
per 1 have never heard of its existence
| until this investigation, and I was greatly
surprised.
Il am sure that every shipper in Kan
sas, unless it be some extensive dealer,
who is a part of the combination, is in
ignorance upon this subject. For that
reason I regard it unfortunate that
the legislative committee did not hear the
evidence which was secured by the Mis-
souri, committee However, it will be
published within a short time as Chair
man Whitecotton says he will send it
broadcast throughout the two states.
L am going. to stay in Topeka until the
shearer. This legislature can not at
ford to fail in this matter. The stock
yards must be regulated. There is in
disputable evidence to show that it is
managed irregularly and is a source of
great injustice to shippers, especially the
man who markets only a few CATTLE
Mr.. Shearer has a large quantity of the
| evidence reduced to writing and is amply
able to sustain his charges against the
stock yards company and the sO-calle6
trade council which was exposed by
1 h. iv,x-c %frr,4i ton