The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1909-06-09
BY w. G. SHEPARD.

100000 people are asking each
other, What makes beefsteak cost
so much? It's about three cents
more a pound than it ever was
before"
1t doesn't bring them any infor
nation to ask themselves. If they
go down to the corner meat market
to ask why beefsteak is higher
than it ever was before, the meat
shop owner only looks as worried
as they do.
The real meat men are here in
Chicago, Louis Swift and j. Og.
den Armour.
They ought to know why meat is
so high. Some one, in the interest
of teh consuming public, ought to
ask them the question. l decided
to do so, and l went to the ma
tional meat stores" operated by
these gentlemen in this city.
In the old days the meat man
was willing to tell us all he knew
about prices. l wondered if the
meat men of this day of trusts
would do the same.
l was any one of the S0,000,000
citizens of the United States.
The answer / got from Louis J..
Swift, president of the Swift Pack
ing Co., Is the same answer that
anyone else would get, if he were
to go into Swift's presence and ask
him why beefsteak cost so much.
1t was a fair little chat l had
with Swift, even if it did wind up
with his getting mad. In fact, l
rather suspected he would get mad
Little Journeys to the Homes of
Trust Owners" never do end hap
PLY when you ask for the truth.
Swift saw me at his home. That
was better than at the office,
where he is hedged about with Sec
retaries and Representatives and
general managers galore. At the
Swift mansion l saw only liveried
flunkies, who bowed and scraped
and didn't get in the way.
The sounds of the horses hoofs
died out, as we drove up near the
porte cochere. We were riding on
a carpet, a real carpet. 1t must
have cost lot of beefsteaks, this
outdoor carpet.
A Japanese butler took my card
And, in a magnificently furnished
room, sitting on teak wood chair
that must have cost as much as q
small cottage, l came face to face
with our meat man.
He looked puzzled. Evidently
there are not many of us S0,000,000
who go to the meat man to find out
about things.
First l told him I had come to
his home to see him because I
could not see him at his office.
He said that was all right; he
wanted to know what l wanted.
I'D like to get your ideas about
the business situation" | said.
We'll, l don't know what l can
say about it," he replied. I'D
rather talk at the office"
l knew he never would talk at
the office, that l could never get
by that array of secretaries.
What does the country need to
make it prosperous?'' l asked.
This seemed to be a poser. The
meat man hemmed something like
this: well, er-ah ah, I-ah."
1t was time for my question.
Would times for common people
be any better if the price of meats
were lower?"
All, ha. Just as I thought, The
butcher of the ante-trust days
would not have got mad. But the
butcher of the trust days did.
Il can't be bothered with that
question he said, loudly. You'll
have to see me at my office
"eLt me explain | said. I'm
asking this question on behalf of
many people"
Il don't want any explanations"
shouted the meat man. Il hire a
man to answer such questions"
Are his words your words?" |
asked.
He'll hear your questions and
refer them to me-
Twill you consider them?"
Il don't know what your
scheme is?"
1.-The scheme is simple enough.
wont to know why meat is Sc
high"
You'll have to see my man.
Goodby," -ge.y ;s,s.--.i,
What's your mans name"
White. Arthur White. | hire
him to do that sort of business"
Arthur White came to my hotel
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