The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-06-11
CURRENT TOPICS.
The Farmer and the Beef Trust.
The~Raleigh Post reproduces an arti

The Raleigh POST 5TepTouuceS OH Ga 1Aeis
from The Times on the price OF Deer
and adds:
The Post agrees with The Times in the
belief that the trust has taken too much
of an advantage of actual conditions Tor
which that organization is not response
Bile to increase its profits beyond that
which is reasonable, yet, as we nave
contended before, the farmer has q very
lively interest in this matter Of Increased
prices, and should be considered In d's-
cussing or dealing with 1t.
A local dealer in meats stated to the
Post some weeks ago that beef cattle,
hogs and sheep were certainly scarcer
now within the territory in which he
dealt than for some years, and the de-
mand for these meats was Nlargely IN
creased, while the cost Of fattening and
preparing for market was VIGOROUSLY
higher, all of which compelled higher
prices which the producer demanded and
received "A few days ago an fAsheVllle
contemporary quoted leading meat DEAL
er of that city. who had just returned
from cattle-purchaslng Trip 10 the
mountains of Transatlantic and near by
section: as saying that while he found
some good beef-cattle, and believed there
would be enough in the western coun-
ties to prevent a fresh-meat famine, he
also found the farmers without excep-
ton, we'll posted as to market conditions
and prices who demanded and were pre-,
pared to demand the highest prices paid
for years for their cattle. Hon.. A. Can
non, of Henderson county, one OF the able
members of the State Board OF sAgr1cul-
ture and, also one of the best and most
intelligent farmers of his section. stated
to us while in this city recently that the
cattle-raisers Of the mountains were now
getting from 81 to So per hundred gross
more for their cattle than a year
ago or before, and that the cattle-raising
business was looking up materially, as
present prices would justify farmers in
giving attention to this branch Of indus
try.
So while the unlawful efforts OF the
trust to manipulate the trade and the
markets by which it can secure un-
tust profits should be looked after and
dealt with. we do not hesitate to warn
statesmen and offlce-seekers that their
enthusiasm in pursuit Of the offices and
the trust may result in doing harm to
the farmer. And we DO not hesitate
either to add that we are not in SYM
patty with any movement that will de-
stroy Just prices and profits for the far
NOR.
Is the Circus Wrong
The New Castle Record says that cir
Gus. which recently showed in that town.
carried many an entioing game along
with the show. and playedS4it on the
yeomany in way they despised. After
denouncing this show in particular. our
contemporary addresses itself to all
shows as follows:
Asked the question whether a Christian
should attend such ans exhibition. we
would say that that is o question for
him to settle: but in our own opinion,
it iswrong. There were men there of
high character and leading officers Of
the church whose presence could in no
way better them spiritually. Twist it
and turn It as much as you will to US
it looks wrong. wrong, wrong. It may be
done conscientiously; but Conscience can-
not be relied upon as an infallible guide
spiritually. But 1t is not our purpose
IN this article to discuss that phase Of the
question. We leave the matter to the
Individual and his maker.
View It from the standpoint of a none
tary loss. Have you thought how great
the loss is from people who are
eternally complaining OF bad roads. bad
schools and high taxes? Will you, with
undated gullibility, help to- make the
shell game success In the future as
some have done on more than one occa-
sion in the past? Think over it soberly.
Such musings may do you good.