The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-05-13
HIGH PRICED FEED
Is Alone Responsible for High
Priced Meat
SAYS MAN WHO PRODUCES
Farmers Should Net be Pun
ished for Trust Sin.
SAYS MAN WHO PRODUCES

Calista. Kan. May I2-The newspapers
have been publishing some very sensa-
tionaI articles on the so-caned beef trust
and the price of meat As a relief from
the burden Of such high prices and the
curtaiment Of the power Of the so-caued
trust. It has been suggested that the tar
if on live cattle be repealed. Few Of
the articles that 1 have seen have indi-
Gated as careful an examination of the
matter as its Importance demands. Some
have shown an ignorance of. the subject
as profound as their assumption of knoyl-
edge is great. and their articles are fun
OF nlistatonents Of the facts and appeal
only 10 the prejudice and passions %
the people. This article is written from
the farmer point q view. based upon nay
experience n the business Of growing and
selling cattle. and u statement OF the ef-
feet the repeal OF the tariff On live cat
tie would have on those engaged in the
business. So far as the price Of live cat
Tie has advanced. the farmer and cattle
grower have had the full benefit and the
advance has been from one 10 two dollars
q hundred pounds over last year 5 prices,
but that price barely compensates the
farmer Tor the cost OF feed IL has taken 90
produce the animal Corn a year ago
cost from 20 cents 10 % cents "a bushel:
this year II costs from CO cents To -
cents a bushel. and other feed in the same
proportion All these high prices are the
result OF last years drouth in the corn
beta most disastrous year for the cat
tie SroweI-and the prices they are now
receiving give them no profit, but help in
a measure 10 mitigate the suffering caus-
ed by The drouth
The statements that are repeatedly
made, that the farmers and cattle growers
are not receiving more FOR their cattle
are absolutely false
The effect Of the repeal of the tariff on
I've cattle would be 10 open the mar
kets TO the cattle OF Mexico ana Canada
and they would sell in competition with
the cattle of the United States.
The tariff on live cattle is a benefit to
the farmer and cattle grower and they
would be The sole sufferers by its repeal
The imported cattle would be shipped 20
the railroad centers which afford the
best markets and where the packers have
their enormous plants and are the prin-
cipal buyers They, undoubtedly, owing
to the increased number eff cattle on the
market, would be able to buy cheaper.
paying the stock growers OF the United
States less than il cost 70 produce them.
AID If what the advocates OF repeal are
unanimous in saving is true. that the 500
called trust arbitrarily makes the prces.
regardless of supply and demand. the
consumer would have no assurance Of re-
eevng any benefit. The packers are the
purchasers of very large percentage of
all live cattle used for beef. and By rea-
son Of the economical management OF
their business and the saving and utiii-
cation of an parts Of the animal. the re-
tail butcher can not compete with them
as ii requires large capital 10 construct
and operate plant where every part IS
saved and turned into money. even to the
hair, hoofs and horns. It IS after the
animal is killed that the packer has the
advantage. The butcher can buy live cat
tie at any time as cheap as the packer
bur he cannot kin and handle the product
as economically. and it is in this way
that the packers are able TO control the
market and the tariff on live cattle does
not afford them any protection. nor does
it enable them in any way 70 control the
selling price Of meat. It IS only protec-
tion TO the producer. and he receives the
benefit. and when It is removed he alone
is injured
do not believe that the leople. when
they understand the situation. VIII want
70 have the laws changed 81 that the
packers can buy the cattle cheaper II
the farmer and then RELY On the open
hearted generosi tyof the alleged trusts
70 give the consumer what tbe change iD
the Jaw viii enable them 20 take from the
producer. Al business IS prosperous. the
merchant. the manufacture. the clerk
and the laboring man are enjoying ihe-
nornay III prosperity and they v i'll not I'M
ders. adingiv. begTudee the farmer the
benefit he receives from ,he tariff The
farmer should not be usshed. or ra5
- suffer for the alleged wrongs RI tis
so-caned trust II the so-ealled trust IS
guilty OF such atr5cious wrongs as IS
vigorously asserted the owners and msn-
arers should DC restrained and punished
as tho ia wpTos fdes. Fortunately we
have prs si8ent wn9 can confidently be
re8ird upon 70 protect the rights ~ the
PEOPLE and enforce the laws H. mas
already c0mmeraed proceedings through
the attorney general lud several ot the
states have th-1u4h toe proper offers,
Instituted suifs eseinst the alleged con-
eufrato~s. The r rruers and cattle crow
ers have also had their grievances. =
rdae been claimed that The packers ccrn-
hlred and fixed The price theT would Pay
Tor cartle and until the reriral - bDsi-
-e~s shan foff.7raI the election ~ shat
universallv honered. respected and helos-
ed statesman. William ~ hirley go aas-
mess suffered more. ard u Woa.l 20
great Injustice o. deprive fha formers -
~ r.-afectfon fhey en5ar hecnuea tte
r,rtce ~ lfse catte i8 ffrher. rwing ~
mo calanltous drouth 81 laFf veIr ~
his is made 8 political eHestif.- re
farmers and cattle growers nil sie -
those pho oppose tto repeal - fne farin
oa urs cattle. ifhstanairz ere
7s-t hvssrrirs ~ snroe who geek ~ make
r.7fitfref canit7l est ~ fhe camfrr
-. f--..A JONI y SEARS