The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-05
CHEAP AND USELESS DEMAGOGl


One of the mounting Democrats who was
shouting 16 to 1 six and four years ago. and
had Mr.. Bryan for a great meeting in his
county in 1897 TO strengthen the silver
heresy, is reported as saying yesterday
that if the Democrats in Marion county
should make as much CT 1.-The empty din
ner pail because of the beef trust as the
Republicans did of 1.-The full dinner pail
four years ago." the joint representative
for Hancock and Marion will be a Demo-
GRAFT The man who was bowling Is TO l
and nothing else six years ago is silent on
that topic to-day, but he has the beef trust
to howl about and charges it upon the
Republican party. Probably he does not
know any better. but men who do know are
aware that the meat packing combination
was formed during Mr.. Clevelands first
term, if not earlier; that the denunciation
of combinations in restriction of freedom
of trade was first made in the Republican
national convention of 1855, the trainers of
the platform having the meat packers
combination in view because during the
preceding four years it had established its
branch houses all over the country. The
Sherman antitrust law was framed by
Republicans TO deal with such combina-
tions. Because some of the first suits un-
der the law failed Mr. Olney, Mr.. Cleve-
lands attorney general in 1S93-94, declared
that the Sherman law was not only mop
erative but expressed a doubt regarding
the efficacy of any federal law to reach
combinations. At any rate. a Congress
Democratic in both branches seemed either
to regard the subject one of no Importance
or accepted the intimation OF Mr.. Olney
that it was not a matter for federal legis-
lation.
1t is now known that the prominence of
the meat packers combination is due very
largely to the rebates which railroads have
been giving them for years. The advantage
was given these strong companies while
MIR. Cleveland was President. and there
was no cessation of the favor until the
action OF the present administration, which
has enjoined the roads from giving rebates.
During the last few years the rebate has
been equivalent to Is TO is per cent. of the
rates from the Mississippi and Chicago TO
the seaboard. Complete organization, cap
ital. and. above all. the capacity to use
capital so as to make every part OF an
animal of value. the ownership OF the best
cars for shipment of meat and. a system of
distribution with the railroad rebates, have
given the great packing firms the advan-
tage over all competitors. These things
are known TO all sensible men.
six years ago the Democratic demagogues
deplored the low prices of farm produce.
including meats. Turn back to the files OF
| Democratic papers and read the pathetic
stories of the downtrodden farmer with
beef cattle at I and cents and hogs at 5
cents a pound. The cause, these papers
said. was not the tariff. but the clutch of
the gold standard which made low prices.
The remedy then was the free and unlim-
tied coinage of silver into dollars worth
| so cents in gold. Then they told us that
so long as the money power ruled the land
with the cross of gold" the prices of cat
tie. wheat and corn would not only con-
tinue low. but would fall 10 even lower
levels one Democratic editor saw 25-cent
| wheat Only in one way is the Repub-
lican party responsible for the higher
| price OF meats-it has brought 10 the coun-
try the conditions of prosperity under
which the consumption Of meats has in
creased very largely. with decreasing herds
OF cattle. Prices OF meats have been ad-
vancing for three years. and farmers have
| derived large advantage.
! Even If there were no meat packers COM
oination the prices OF meat would be high
for the same reason that corn is IS instead
of - cents. An unprecedented drought