The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-01-26
Kansas Farmers Feel Effect of
Meat Strike.
Intended as a Blow at Packers
But 1t Is Not.
IT'S A SOCIAL SPASM.
Raisers and Feeders of Stock
Stand the Loss.
Resent Action of Unions and
Retaliate in Kind.

frankfort, Kan, Jan ga meet
ing was held here which was attended
by a number of the leading farmers
and stockmesl Of the community, for
the purpose of organizing a boycott
against the meat strikers.
The farmers propose to fight back
IN manner that will be effective, and
While the foolish fad which is sweep
ing over the country, and which is be-
ing taken un by labor unions as a
pledge. and also being agitated by the
newspapers as a social spasm, may be
considered as a joke by. them, and
which the rank and file of the people
entering into it may believe to be a
hight against the packers and meat
trust, yet to The feeder and farmer and
TO every business man and working
man in farming community, it has a
different meaning.
Packer Is Not Affected.
Those who have studied the matter
to any grea. extent. will not only see
that it does not affect the packer, but
that it is in the interest of the packer,
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
VIII follow every farmer, and every
one in the farming community.
If 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 it will
affect the value. of everything grown
on the farm 1t will drive many feed
erS out Of business, destroy their con-
hdence in the. future. and while It will
undoubtedly break the markets, it Will
also reduce the supply for another
year. a 80
: Feeders Claim Profit Is Small.
Even now the feeders claim their
margin of profits is small, and at the
prices they are. paving for feed, drop
of 81 hundred would prove ruinous.
But they are helpless to defend them
selves on such short notice. hence
they are at the mercy of this public
and crazy fad.
But they are going to fight back in
different manner than the meat strik-
ers have probably thought of. They
say, You boycott US for thirty days
and We'll boycott you for one year"
Farmers to Fight Organized Labor.
If this u1sat-eaters,. strike can be
made mattoroof organized labor, and
is carried Out. then the farmer pro-
poses to wage an uIcoTnpromiSing war
on every: iabur Organization that enters
into this 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 a party issue,
but they will make it their politics,
regardless of party affiliations.
VIII Be Greatest Boycott Ever Known.
In fact, they are ready to start the
biggest boycott ever known. They are
agitating the proposition of closing
down, stopping every expense, buying
absolutely nothing for one year but
actual necessities, making no improve
ments, 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 intend to make it a year of
economy, as we'll as a year of settling
up with thor home merchant. But
nothing is TO be bought from the boy
cotters. not even if the men have to
wear old clothes and the women their
last years dresses.
This is not a newspaper story, but
is true statement of the news of the
situation. Il is talked by the leading
farmers and representative men of the
community AID the meeting held here
was only the beginning of a movement
along these lines which seems prob
able to sweep the entire country If the
present meat-eaters' strike is carried
out as is now proposed.