The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-02-04
BEEF TRUST EXCORIATED
BY FARMERS CONGRESS
Speakers Declare Indiana Stock
RaiSerS Are Yearly Mulcted
Out of Thousands.
BLUE PAINT ON CATTLE
Charges Against Dealers in Local
Stockyards-Other Topics
Are Discussed.

PUT 'em in prison."
mol Put 'em to work making roads,
They are tyrants and robbers
They have strangled competition and
made the market a farce!'
The above expressions give a faint idea
of the arraignment given the beef trust
yesterday afternoon at the meeting of the
State Farmers Congress OF Indiana. Dur
ing the two hours that the methods of the
trust and its relations to the farmers live
stock market were under discussion, side
lights were shed on the transactions of the
Chicago Board of Trade, and accusations
made which besmirched the methods OF
certain dealers in the Indianapolis live stock
yards
"Our Markets" was the subject under dis
cussion by A. G. Burkhardt, a wealthy
stock raiser and farmer of Upton. He
told of the methods of the Swift and Arm
our packing interests: he charged that the
cattle, which cost the farmer cents a
pound on hoOf to raise, could not be sold IN
open market, for more than Az cents per
pound, and the net proceeds, deductlng
commission and transportation, were SHOWN
TO be much less
CLAIM TO BE VICTIMS.
During the discussion of the livestock sit
uatiOn the fact was brought out that farm
ers in Indiana particularly have been sys-
tematicaly victimized by the Chicago pack
ers. To do this, it was asserted, a black
listing scheme was employed, and for
every car of live stock going out of the In
dianapOlis territory a telegram was dis
patched to Chicago before the cars arrival.
Thus the Chicago buyers were enabled TO
know OF the cars arrival several days In
advance of the time the Indiana stock
would be placed on sale. In this way, 1T
was charged, many farmers were being
mulcted out of thousands Of dollars yearly.
he lot he ia
fears to tell even his wife the price he
sells his cattle for at Chicago" This was
the statement of Leroy Templeton, of In
dianapolis. Mr.. Templeton charged that be
cause of fight conducted by him against
the low prices offered in Indianapolis he
tried TO sell several carloads of cattle in
Chicago.
Before his stock had been unloaded each
animal was daubed with blue paint, en-
aiding buyers 10 know that the stock was
outlaWed and Mr.. Templeton asserted that
he was unable to make sale at any price
after this treatment by the ''blacklisters."
INTEREST INCREASES.
Increasing interest is shown at each ses-
sion by the delegates to the congress. AL
though disappointments were suffered yes
terday, owing to the inability of speakers
to be present, their places were filled. l..
Eirt Slack, of Franklin, who was to have
discussed drainage, was absent and Sec
rotary w. II. Freeman of the State Board
of Forestry, addressed the congress on
Forestry Secretary Charles Downing,
of the State Board of Agriculture, was un-
able to be present, owing to a press of bust
ness, and he will speak to-day.
II. f. Jockey, of Franklin, discussed the
drainage problem. The practice of munich
palities in dumping their sewage in rivers,
and In reservoirs located in the country,
was roundly condemned.
a G.. Burkhardt discussed the live stock
question at the opening of the afternoon
session In the Statehouse and he was fol-
lowed by other speakers. An address by w.
w. Stevens of the State Worlds Fair Com
mission, on the work of Indiana and the
States exhibits at the worlds fair closed
the days session.
TO-DAY'S SESSION.
An important event will occur at the meet
Ing to-day. J. A Everitt, president of the
American Society of Equity, and of dollar
wheat fame, will address the congress on
National Cooperation by Farmers" Con
trolled Marketing and Price Making on
the Farm"
An opportunity will be given every per
son present to ask for explanations of all
the present conditions affecting farming
and how the simple and complex problems
viii be solved to the satisfaction of farm
Mr.. Everitt says: II invite the most diff
ficult problems from any person and if the
day is long enough they will be answered
satisfactorily to everybody"
There being a manifest need for oppor-
tunlties for more than one delegate from
each county in the Farmers State Con-
~gress, an amendment WAS offered to the
constitution yesterday making a provision
by which any farmer of the State may be-
come a member and delegate to it's meet
inSs on equal conditions. BY unanimous
vote the conditions of the amendment were
recognized and approved and the amend
ment will be regularly passed at the next
annual session.