The Detroit times., 1910-01-19
EXPECT BOYCOTT
WILL BREAK BEEF
TRUSTS GRIP
rhirty-Five Thousand Angry Peo-
pie Of Cleveland Boycott Butchers
for 60 Days-Elow Is Aimed
at Chicago Packers.
|'Strikers" Hope Movement Will Be-
come Nation n-Wide-Price OF Pork
Reduced One Cent.

CLEVELAND. o.. Jan. 19.-When
900 Cleveland workmen and their
antilles, $4,000 men. women and chill
lren. went on strike against high
prices Of meat, they pledged them
elves TO a revolutionary movement.
This Is the most radical action that
has come to slgnalize the protest OF
he people against the extortions or
ariff-fostored food trusts.
Since the plan was put in effect the
Eetailers have reduced the price OF
bork one cent.
This movement started when the
foreman and superintendent of every
ig factory in the city met to discuss
he increased cost OF living. They
agreed, from talks they had with the
3yage earners under them. that the
aboring people of Cleveland could
Endure the exactions of the food trus,
no longer modest dinner was
Berved at the gathering. AS they
alked they calculated the cost OF the
real
Meat was the most expensive item
Pn the bill OF fare. and it was voted
Il once that meat should be boycotted
rom the tables OF every one present
or two months.
When the men under these factory
people heard OF their decision they
bleaded for aid in organizing and
Ipreading the meat strike" into their
bwn homes. Women and children vol
pnteered TO sacrifice meat and To eat
Eothing but vegetables and other sub
titutes for meat.
Blame Chicago Packers.
The pledge was their declaration
II independence against the butchers,
Who are no wunder an iron bound boy
oft OF the skilled laboring people OF
his city.
This strike was not originated by
nion labor men. Union and non
Mon men joined hands / the big is
ue. o the day the strike started it
las predicted that $1,000 people
yould be on vegetable diet in Cleve-
lnd within three days. Indeed all
lasses focked TO the thousands of the
trikers by the thousands. Cleveland
as population OF about half a mil
lon.
Demands upon the country. state
nd city authorities by these men are
hat something should be done at once
b fix the blame for the present un-
easonable prices demanded by butch
RS. The butchers defend themselves
y showing that their profits are com
aratively small and blame the Chi
ago packing houses for the condi-
ions that they call unwarranted.
f. W. Sebelin. member who at
ended the first session OF the factory
cremen and superintendents, is con-
ulting on what the best substitutes
or meat are.
This sacrifice by some 10000 women
just their way OF making peaceful
yar on conditions that have caused
apprehension I'm every home In the
ity since the recent jump in prices
ollowing the signing of the tariff bill.
they feel that only the most heroic
leasures will bring the food trusts to
FERNS.
The prices that forced the boycott
n Cleveland were: Chickens. % cents
per pound; turkeyso 81 cents; ducks,
Is cents rib roast. Is cents; steak,
6 to 2S cents; mutton, Is cents; pork
hops, 1S cents; veal outlets, 20 cents;
beef, round, l6 cents; corned beef,
2 to Ia cents; leg lamb, Is cents.
Eggs were 80 cents for strictly fresh
md butter from 3S To 40 cents. Every
hing else was IN proportion.
Another remarkable feature OF the
heat strike at first was its lack of
Organization, and was the result of
ong-pent-up anger.
Clerks, professional men, merchants
md the entire middle class of this
kity Joined | nthc movement Pledges
we're printed by thousands and carried
bout by earnest men and woman for
igners.
Legislature Is Interested.
The legislature in session at Column
rus, which started an inquiry into the
prices OF food, now is ready TO insist
) nthe prosecution of the people re-
ponsible for the cause of extoI tion,
ht least that Is the talk.
But the leaders recognize that the
movement must become national be-
fore IL will be effective When the
packers In Chicago heard of the boy
tOtt theY ordered their Cleveland
cgents TO forward the refrigerator car
Dads OF meat, that were on the way
here. to eastern cities. IL is In the
east that the food strike pioneers nope
the movement will spread
In fact. the attitude OF the packers
is that of defiance to the revolt of the
people.
What are they going TO do about
it?" asked VIM Nash. vice-president
of the Cleveland Provision Co. They
Isay they will not eat meat. What will
they eat? There are no fresh veget-
ables and the price OF eggs is so high
THAT they can't substitute them. i
II can't see that the boycott will do
any good"
Aud students Of the present cost OF
living profess to see in this mans at
titude the whole scheme OF the pack
Ing interests The packers by their
cold storage system of warehouses and
cars have forced UP eggs and other
commodities until they suppose the
people MUST eat meat or pay like tri-
butte TO the beef barons on whatever
they adopt as substitute.
ROBERT EDESON
in "A Mans Man" az the Detroit op-