Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1902-07-05

In recent decision of the Supreme
Court of Missouri the big packing
firms of that State scored substantial
victory in the litigation brought
against them for alleged illegal COM
bination along practically the same
lines as those followed by che Federal
authorities In the courts of this dis
trict.
Counsel for the Chicago packing
of the Missouri courts. and believe that
they will be able to sustain their
clients eases with equal success here.
In SO far as public sentiment Is con
cerned. there Is no doubt whatever as
TO the radical change that has come
about. The people of the great West
are just now being treated to an object
lesson as to the causes which govern
prices in the food markets. For some
years past the trouble has been
drought; long dry summers burning
up cattle feed supplies throughout the
entire Western country. This year the
other extreme has been reached. We
have had a late. cold, wet spring: May
has been rainy and we have just seen
the close of the wcttcst June on record
In this territory. There has been rain
twenty-five out of the thirty days of
this month. and the country Is simply
inundated. Crops are either rotting In
the ground. or the seed has been act,i.
ally washed out of 1t. Sixty per cent
of the growing corn II submerged,
wheat and oats are rotting on the
stalk. Potatoes will have to be re-.
planted. as the young growing bulbs
have been literally drowned out OF the
soil throughout half dozen States.
Even the hay crop Is bound to be In.
juriOusly affected by the deluge which
has visited the farm lands of the
West. As q result there II sure to be
an Increase In the price OF all food.
stuffs, and meat must again naturally
be included In the list. There will be
dearth In vegetables, fruits must nat.
urally be scarce, and all canned goods
such as peas, tomatoes, fruits and
meats of all kinds must inevitably GO
up.
This mt least Is the prospect to-day
and these are the predictions OF retail
ers all over Chicago. One can hear the
outlook discussed along this very line
and from this point of view In any cor
ner grocery. and the unanlmity of 1t all
shows the comparative degree at least
of the accuracy OF the observation.
II Is well that the public should look
these facts In the face thus early. 50
that 1t may be In position to place
the responsibility for what Is bound ia
ensue where It belongs, namely, upon
the weather.
1t Is well, too, that the matter should
be viewed In conjunction with the out
cry which has been raised against the
packing industries In the press. and
also with the litigation started by the
government In the courts.
A little calm reflection will serve "a
demonstrate that such supplies as are
more or less N the mercy of the
changes and even the caprlces of ma
ture must inevitably he greatly affect
ed by extraordinary conditions, such as
those now prevailing all over the West.
ern country, and that the prices of such
commodities must be regulated abso,
lntely by the immutabie law of supply
and demand.
~cSA
That the increase In prices will now
90 right through canned goods of all
kinds seems 10 he almost inevitable
but the packing and supply houses. il
will be readily seen, cannot he held re,
sponsible for this, Neither can they
be held accountable for the increases
in the price Of meats In the past. The
Eagle has, In spirit Of common fnl.
ness, endeavOrcd 10 demonstrate thI,
in previous editions, and IL now mercly
desires 10 draw attention 10 the gloomy
meteorological conditions at present
prevailing throughout the country as ,
case In point, and an illustration of III,
position which ii has taken in rcgar,
10 the entire subject matter.
~6A
As regards the local litigation, thi'
journal has d"cried IL, mainly becaus'
OF the injurious effect which its contn
uance is bound 10 have upon the poo
people of this city, and particularly
upon the working classes. In so fa
as the big packing houses are concern
ed, they are abundantly able to tax,
care Of themselves, however Thry
have the ablest legal talent in the coun
try retained 10 look after their inter
ests, and with bar headed by such