Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1910-01-27
FARMERS MAY TAKE
HAND AT BOYCoTTING
Meeting At frankfort Discusses z
Big Campaign.

One cIIeCg OF LIE hoat lDvgSNes y
that the farmers are hurrying their
stock to market, fearing a slump In
values. The railroads have taken
big shipments out Of Abilene every
night this week.
A meeting was held in Frankfort,
Marshall county, yesterday which
was attended by number Of the
leading farmers and stcckmen Of the
community, for the purpose Of organ
ing boycott against the meat strlk-
ers.
The farmers propose to fight back
in a manner that will be effective,
and while the foolish fad which y
sweeping over the country, and which
is being taken up By labor unions az
a pledge, and also being agitated by
the newspapers as a soc'ai spasm
nay be considered as a jtke by them,
ara with the rank and file Of the
people entering into It may believe
to be a fight again1. the packers and
meat trust, yet 10 tho feeder ana
farmer and to every business man
and working man in a farming com
munity, it has a different meaning.
Those who have studied the matter
to any great extend will not only see
that it does not effect the packer, but
that 1t is in the interest Of the pack
or, and they believe that the packers
are at the bottom Of the scheme, and
they have good argument to prove
their assertion.
The feeder. alone is the man who
will suffer the first loss, but with
him will follow every farmer, and
every one in the farming community.
II the meat strike becomes world
wide as It now seems probable, It
will not only ruin the price Of cattle
and hogs now in the feed lots, but
1t will affect the value of everything
grown on the farm. 1t will drive
many feeders out Of business, de-
stroy their confidence in the future,
and while 1t will undoubtedly break
the markets, 1t will also reduce the
supply for another year.
Even now the feeders claim their
margin Of profits are small, and at
the prices they are paying for feed, a
drop of So a hundred would prove
rulnous. But they are hopeless to
defend themselves on such short
notice, hence they are at the mercy
Of this public and crazy fad.
But they are going to fight back
in a different manner than the meat
strikers have probably thought Of.
They say, you boycott us for thirty
days and we'll boycott you for one
year."
II this meat-eaters' strike can be
made a matter of organized labor
and is carried out, then the farmer
proposes to wage an Incorporating
war on every labor organization that
enters into his boycott. They will
unite, for the first time In history
against the labor organizations. Not
only will they also pledge themselves
not to buy anything manufactured
by such labor organizations for one
year, but they will advocate free
trade along with It.
They will not make It party Is
sue, but they Will make It their poll
tics, regardless Of party affiliations.
In fact they are ready to start the
biggest boycott ever known. They
are agitating the proposition Of clos
ing down. stopping every expense,
buying absolutely nothing for one
year but actual necessities, making
no improvements buying no new
machinery, no buggies. no dry goods
or clothing that they can possibly
get along without. In this movement
they expect to get the support Of
every country merchant, farmer and
business man generally. They In
tend TO make It a year Of economy,
as well as a year Of settling up with
their home merchant. But nothing
is to be bought from the bOycotters.
not even II the men have to wear old
clothes and the women their last.
year dresses.