The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-01-27
THEIR SHIPS
ON EVERY SEA.
Chicago Packers Control the
Meat Supply Of the World.
Nations Cannot Go to War
Without Their Consent.
1, OOO,OOO,OOO POUNDS
Of Provision, Largely Meat
Products, Shipped
From Chicago to All Parts of
the World Last Year.

Chicago, Jan. 27.-It is fact that
the United States of America or the
British Empire; not to mention other
nations, cannot go to war without the
consent of the Chicago meat trust.
The reason for this is that all the
cattle on a thousand hills and plains
are controlled by the great packers of
this city, who make prices both for pur-
chase and sale. They also control the
sheep and hog products, which enter
largely into the food of the soldier.
Technically speaking, there is no such
thing as meat trust. There is no
combination of packers here that would
merit such name in law. But the
packers do not work at odds with one
another. There is not that keen COM
petition characteristic of the operations
or separate concerns. each endeaVoring
to Guido the other. Territory controlled
by one firm is not disturbed by anoth-
cut under by another. There is business
for all.
The packing kings of Chicago do a
business of not less than $500, 900, 900 or
$SOO,OOO,O00 per year. They dominate
the trade in cattle and hogs. They do
all the canned beef and dressed beef
business. They control all the refriger-
ator cars that run on the railroads and
force the latter to pay them a certain
sum per mile for the privilege of haul
ing their cars. The cattle raiser is not
king when it comes to selling his
stock, for the rulers of the Chicago
stock yards make the prices when the
stock is put on the market, no matter if
the herd contains 1000 or 100, 900 head.
Dealers in meats all over the United
States from the Atlantic to the Pacific
obey orders sent out from Chicago. IF
they do not buy from the packers here
they find an opposition shop set up and
they are undersold. Many a dealer has
been forced out of business because he
chose in6R-
pendence. Butchers in the east have
found to their cost, although they are
1000 miles from Chicago, that they are
not allowed to trade in local cattle. If
they try to do so they find competition
springing up in their towns. They must
buy their beef of the Chicago magnates.
For years the Big Four, as it is
known-P. D. Armour, G. F. Swift, Nell
son Morris and the Hammond company
has had its own way and has been
constantly increasing in power and
houses here and elsewhere conducted
under their own names, but other
houses as well. They have their pack
ing houses in Chicago, Kansas City,
Lincoln and Omaha, and branches in
Vulnerable all over the United States
and Europe.
When the figures of the beef business
for Chicago are given they are practl-
cally the figures of the business OF the
Big -Four. These gentlemen feed the
soldiers of the United States in the
field and in barracks and they also feed
the soldiers in our warships- The Brit
ish soldier and his Egyptian ally who
fight in the Soudan also depend in
measure upon these packing kings.
French and German soldiers on home
and foreign duty draw supplies bearing
the Chicago label.
During the last year the shipments
of canned meats from Chicago aggrega-
ted 923, 627, 722 pounds or 1,oS1,4 cases;
the dressed beef shipment was 1,060,-
S59, sos pounds; beef, 14,77S tierces, or 3d.
461 barrels. AS to cattle, 2,4S0, 600 head
were received and 1854, 900 shipped, 1,600,
900 being slaughtered. In round num-
bers, 1900, 900 pounds of provisions
not all beef provisions, however-were
shipped from here during the year. They
found their way to all quarters Of the
globe. These are big figures, but the
packing kings are big men, They do
nothing in a small way. They are mas
terful and can dictate to governments.
Should they refuse to feed Uncle Sans
soldiers, this nation could not go to
war unless the government at Washing