The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-01-28
'BLAMES TRUST FOR
HIGH PRICES OF
MEAT
A. S. Drake, Former Detroit Packer,
Says Big Cut Could Be Made and
Still Leave Comfortable
Margin of Profit.
Tells How the Octopus Gets Small
Butchers in It's Clutches-Good
Cattle Are Scarce.

That the packers trust can make
\ liberal reductions IN the prices OF
meat and still make n fair pront is
7 the interesting statement that comes
nom A. :. Drake, formerly a we'll
known packer In this city. but who
now owns a 10000 acre cattle ranch
in southwestern Kansas. Mr.. Drake
IS paying his annual visit To his
daughter. Mrs. W T.. Moss, No. 49,
Alexandrine-ave. west, wife of a
well.known banker and broker Many
Detroiters will remember Mr.. Drake
as a member OF the old packing firm
OF Belnap 4 Drake. though IL was
nearly 20 years ago thar he retired
from the business and moved 10 Kan
sas
AS cattle raiser. Mr.. Drake Is
thoroughly familiar with trust meth
DDS. and statement from him at this
time is OF more than usual interest.
There can be no question, he says.
that the trust controls prices OF meat
10 a considerable extent, though the
law of supply and demand is. after
all. the most important factor; ana
for that reason Mr. Drake points out.
the present widespread meat boycott
Is bound TO result in lower prices.
"This boycott is a good thing. ne
said to The Times. 1t will tend 10
clear things un and bring the trust
to time. II will show the big pack
ers that there is a limit 10 what the
people will stand Meat prices are
bound 10 take a drop. and the trust can
shave the prices quite little and stlil
sell meat nj a profit II Will have "a
come off the consumers end. because
we ~ the west cannot afford 10 sci
our cattle any cheaper than we have
been selling them. II is true that We
got e5 per head more for cattle
last year than we did in 1905 because
Il cost MS more TO raise thine cattle
but that does not explain the big az
vance in the price of meat. lh'
fault is not with the cattle raisers
Ii is with the trusts and the middle
men. who fix the prices to their Gus
toners to suit themselves. as rule
'.Rut the trust has gone little to-
far b. its tactics II has defeated II
own ends in some sections. and TIT
consequence is that it now has NOR
competition than il had previously
This is the way the trust works: |
will 90 20 4 butcher who is enjoyirj
n good trade. which he has built up b,
his own efforts through years OF strus
gle and close attention 10 business
He has his own slaughter house, doe
his own killing and is perfectly con
tented. The trust agent comes u
him and says:
We will sell you so and-so at sucl
and such a price. dressed and deliF
cred TO your shop. The price quoted
As n very liberal one The butcher
sees where he can cut of the expense
and labor connected with his slaugh'
tel house and the proposition appeals
70 him. He closes down his plant. sells
or his equipment and starts dealing
with the trust Then he finds that the
trust demands a settlement every
week and will extend no credit beyond
that time. while the butcher Is carry
ing many good customers who settle
monthly. He tells the trust that he
hasn't the necessary capital TO meet
his bills weekly. That is the trusts
opportunity.
We Will lend you the capital and
take your note the agent tells him.
THAT is the opening wedge This lit
Tic game has been worked on many
butchers throughout the country. with
the result that their shops are now
owned by the trust and they are SIM
ply the hired men.
MANY of the butchers. in reltalia-
ton. have gone back 10 the old way
and are now running their own slaugh-
ter houses once more BY buying 6
cheaper grade of meat they are able
10 undersell the trust and win their
old customers back This is the sort
OF competition the trust Is now facing
In many towns and cities and the re-
suit is that prices have been reduced
In these communities
But. while prices viii be lower than
they have becn heretofore as a result
OF the present agitation. they will COZ
tinue to he fairly nigh for some years
10 come. IN my opinion There is a
scarcity Of good cattle. due partly 10
the unusual demand and partly 70 the
breaking up OF many large ranches IN.
To smaller ones. There is no danger
OF a famine, but time must be allowed
20 let these smaller ranchmen g1t a
start"
Mr.. Drake has upward of 700 head
Of cattle on his ranch and sells about
500 head. yearly.
The trust does not confne its oper
ations to cattle. swine. and other live
stock of the four footed variety. Mr.
Drake says.
Last fall out in our state ne de
cIared, the trust sent its men through
the country buying up all TURKEYS thel
could get their hands on. They pu
them in cold storage. and whe,
Thanksgiving time came around the,
sold them to the dealers at % cents
mound aud told the dealers To charg
90 cents The result was that the pee
pie wouldn't buy the turkeys. but tool
chickens and geese instead So tn
trust was stuck with the turkeys an
had TO chip them elsewhere.
The trust also has men out buyinj
up eggs. which are likewise held fl
cold storage That is one reason VIII
eggs are so high.
Police Searel, FOR Pervert.
~. =. T..