Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1910-01-25
Boycottfng

The meat boycott in Milwaukee.
Cleveland and other cities is an inter
esting incident in economic history.
The sudden cutting of the price one
half by some of the dealers with their
statement that they could yet make
good profit, shows how arbitrarily
and unjustly prices are fixed. In
mass-meeting of laboring men called
to secure united action in the war
fare against this robbery, retail
merchant mentioned a dealer who
was selling butteR at 40 cents, for
which he had paid only 20 cents. He
also mentioned firm having 1000, 900
pounds of butter for which they paid
20 cents, and were retailing it at 40
cents
The outcome of the boycott seems
likely to result in a temporary lower
ing Of price for meat and butter
Having secured some relief in the
matter of food, will they next demand
relief in the price of clothing which
is also equally arbitrary and unjust.
Within the last decade the quality of
goods has been reduced fifty per cent.
while the price has been about equally
advanced. A suit of clothes such as
a farmer or laboring. man could buy
for twelve dollars now costs about
sixteen dollars while its quality makes
it now worth eight or nine dollars. A
clerk or professional man who wears
linen shirts like the Monarch and
Wilson Bros. grades, finds that
change that used to last a year now
lasts scarcely four months.
Should success crown such an effort
to reduce the cost of clothing
would the public be emboldened to
strike for lowering of the cost of
houses? The price of lumber is out
rageously high, far beyond the mark
which would yield legitimate profits.
Lumber, though not all, is sold in
Wausau at hundred per cent. net
profit. Why? Because in addition to
prohibitory tariff rates, the manu-
facturers are in unlawful combinations
in restraint of trade. The Retail
Dealers association, The Hemlock
Dealers association and the Hard
wood Dealers association are illegal
combinations not only to fix and re-
adjust prices but also to parcel out
the territory so that no one may sell
outside of his allotment without be-
coming liable to heavy penalties.
Nearly if not quite all lines of bust
ness are likewise combined, if not by
definite compact yet by "gentlemen's
governments" to rob the general
public, The railroads are their allies
in addition to their combinations and
robberies on their own account.
Freight rates are large element in
the cost of commodities. A local
dealer says that the freight on car
load of fruit from the West to Wau-
sau is from four hundred to four hun
dred and fifty dollars per car. Much
of the fruit raised both East and
West because of the combination of
cold storage plants and Transports
tion companies fail to reach the con-
sumner. How long will the people en-
dure the plundering? The meat boy
colt indicates that change is at
hand.
The local 30-cent daily from $780,
600 (?) plant will have to dig up sew
eral more price lists of the necessaries
of life, when foods were hauled by
team from Stevens Point or Gills
Landing, TO prove that these condi-
tions are just and fair under modern
methods of manufacture and trans
portatioI. According to this adyo-
cate of the privileges of the interests,
all advantages of modern improve
ments should accrue to the rich.
An election of congressman is at
hand and opportunity will be given
to retire the servants of the corpora