The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1909-12-11
MEAT TRUST ISSUES
MISLEADING FIGURES
ON PRICE Of BEEF
Says Decrease Of Range Herds
and Increase of Country's Pop
ulation Jlstifies Big Jump in
Prices-Chart is Planned to
Deceive.

The Beef trust, the leader in the
combination to force up the price Of
living of the workers of the country,
in an effort to justify its position,
today stands convicted of circulating
untrue statements and fallacious ar
guments An unsigned circular, IF
which the following is a part, is be-
ing mailed from the trusts head
quarters to every newspaper in the
country:
Recent Investigations seem to show
that the beef supply of the country
is not keeping pace with the growing
demand.
1.-THE rapid influx of settlers into
the territory heretofore used by the
herds of range cattle has rapidly de-
creased the number of range cattle
and the range herds are being dis
persed. 1t will take some time to
enable the new farmers to become
sufficiently interested in cattle grow
ing to make up for the herds that
have been driven out by the farms.
Says Number is Decreasing.
The steadily increasing demand
for corn and wheat and the conse-
quent high prices that have prevailed
nave induced stock feeders and
breeders in the corn states to plough
up pasture lands and put in grain
crops which bring profitable cash
prices. This has also decreased the
number of cattle marketed from the
Middle West.
In the meanwhile the population
of the country is increasing steadily
and as the population increases the
meat food demand increases. Under
these conditions the operation Of the
natural law of supply and demand
Is rapidly increasing the price of
cattle, and consequently the price Of
beef.
Gives Itself An Alias.
"The Beef Producers Association
of America has been organized by
the Nattonal Beet Breed Association
for the purpose of educating the
farmers into an understanding Of the
profits to be made In breeding and
feeding cattle and to educate the
consumer in a better knowledge Of
the beef carcass
AT the present time so per cent
of the American beef consumers de-
mand cuts from the loin and ribs of
the carcass which constitute only
about rs per cent of the supply. As a
result of this unequal demand, cuts
from the loin and ribs command
from two to eight times the price for
other portions of the carcass, al
though the cheaper cuts are just as
nutritive and fully az tasteful If prop
erly prepared. In European coun-
tries, where the scarcity of meat
long ago has taught the lesson, the
demand is equalized over the whole
carcass, with the result that even
with high prices prevailing for cattle
the people are able to pay the prices
demanded"
What Prices Should Be?
The circular contains a picture of
a. steer, with the kinds of '.cuts"
mapped out on it, together with the
alleged retail prices, which are de-
.scrtbed as "about what the meat
should bring at retail"
Round lin to zoe
LON ........ ..27h to Csc
illus .....,... 30t
Chuck ..."............ .15c
.onanK .......... ..... .15c
r. lain ''.....''. .....:S to loo
Plate and Brisket Sc
I The object of the circular, of
course, Is to mislead the public. It
has been proved that the conditions
reported do not exist. With the
prices named in the diagram obtain.
ing, the trust could make 800, 000,-
600 a year extra profit
PHILLIE BRICKLAYERS STRIKE;
PHILADELPHIA. Dec. 10.-Unio,
! bricklayers have declared strike On
the building operations of, William
Howes. who IL putting up a row OF
houses for the Central Trust Com
pany. - '21'... =
The union men declare that twenty.
five non-union workers were taken
to the job and placed at work. =.
It Is also stated that the wages 70,
the last week have not been paid, ia
the men and that they viii do no
Wdrk until this matter IL adjusted, 81