The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-11-19

the face of the fact that the prices paid
for stock on foot have steadily declined
for months. And the worst of it is that
the end is not in sight Many of our
patrons have been compelled to reduce
their meat bill or eliminate it entirely
and truly the meat eaters of the city
belong to the plutocrats of the day.
In the past but little has been said
by the butchers of the city who have
feared to incur the enmity of the pack
ers but affairs have reached such
stage at this time that the protest has
become loud and long and something
will have to be done to relieve the sit
uation or the butchers might as well
quit business as far as profit is con-
cerned."
Others Have Similar Experiences.
Thomas Horsfield, who has been in
the butcher business in Topeka for Is
years, is another of the larger butchers
who has Joined the revolt against the
in boosting the prices of their products
while at the same time they are paying
less each day for the products pur-
chased from the farmers and stock
raisers. Never in all the years that 1
have been in business in Topeka said
Mr.. Horsfeld, have 1 been confronted
with conditions similar to those of to-
day. Sis
II have never been compelled to pay
prices for meats such as we are asked
today even when hogs were selling at
from to 10 cents pound against TO
6 at this time. Now just as an illustra-
ton: Last year in this same month l
paid cents for mutton that 1 am now
paying 61a to cents for Sausage that
a year ago cost me III cents pound
costs me cents today. Hambutts that
a year ago were quoted for 10 cents are
quoted at II today.
Pork loins were advanced until
they reached 13 "a cents and there was
no sale for them and the packers were
compelled to reduce the price cent
TO get rid of their surplus stock. Spare
ribs that a year ago could be bought
for Z cents are now on the market Dul
the price is a cent and one half higher
and this is the story all the way
through the shop. We try to convince
our patrons that we are not holding
them up and from some source they
gain the information that the packers
have reduced their prices to US which
is untrue.
81 have sold pork loins for cents
a pound" said c. H. Parker, who is in
the market at the Shawnee grocery,
when hogs on foot were worth the
same as they are at this time and the
cues ton of prices is too much for me.
We are told that the price is SO and
so and it is pay the price asked for
there is no difference worth mention
ing between the quotations of the vari-
Gus packers.
II have given it up" said D. J.
Dickerson who owns the Shawnee
grocery store, and am letting Mr.. Far
ker nv meat cutter wreStle with the
problem of prices. 1t does not seem
to make any difference any way as we
are compelled to pay the price asked
by the packers and the fact that
stock on foot is going down seems to
stimulate the price of the packers
products so that they cost US more"
The story of one of the butchers of
the city is the story of all Of them but
now they are willing that the public
shall be told the cause of the advances
which they are compelled to make and
no longer fear that they will be pun
ished by an increase in the prices
they must pay. The average family
has long ago forgotten the taste of
bacon and meat of all kinds has be-
come a luxury that in many homes
has been discarded owing to the ex-
prices forced on the con-
sumers by the packers through the
butchers who are helpless to relieve
the situation.