The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-01-29
FARMERS join TO
BOYCOTT BUYERS
REACTION OF CONSUMERS MEAT
BOYCOTT WOULD WIPE OUT
PACKERS MIDDLEMEN.

PACKERS MlDDLEMEN.
ST. Paul, Jan. 2s.--Reports from
Iowa. North Dakota and Montana
stock shipping points, obtained last
night, indicate q general sympathy
with the probable similar action to
the boycott initiated ut Grand Meadow,
Mimi. yesterday against stock buyers
and middlen1en for at least sixty days.
This action was being taken by petit
ton in coo operation with the spirit Of
the meat boycott by consumers to
force out the alleged excessive profits
between the producer and the man
who eats.
A special from Great Falls, Mont,
says The sentiment among stock
men in this section Of the country Is
in favor Of the action taken by the
Minnesota stock raisers and stock
buyers In demanding that the middle
or commission man Of the stock yard
terminals must go or reduce the fee
charged for their services.
Western stoclxmen do not favor the
ultimate elimination Of the nniddlemen
unless some substitute Is offered to
perform their services. They claim
that It is a decided advantage to feel.
upon arrival at the stock yards In
South st. Paul that commission men
viii have food and water ready for
their stock as we'll as a buyer.
special from Minot, N. D., quotes
Williston, N. D., stock raiser as say
ing that the ranchmen of North Da-
kota will CO. operate with the Mime
sofa producers in an effort to lower
the prices of meat by beycotting the
middlemen. Other stockmen were also
heartily in favor of the plan.
Advocates General Boycott,
The president Of the bank, Mr.. Ria
that the farmers Of Scott county,
Iowa, in session at Davenport, at
tack the middlemen In the packing
interests. The more radical farmers
said their comrades all over the coun-
try were justified in Withholding all
their produce from the markets. The
more conservative element Of the in
stitute, however. deplored the action
OF merchants and buyers throughout
| Iowa in charging the prevailing high
prices, especially Of meats, TO the
farmers and passed the following
| resolution:
I'VE believe the farmers and stock
growers will be justified in withhold
ing any or all of their products from
| the market until such time as the
growing appetite will insure them a
fair return for their labor. Further
we most emphatically condemn as un-
warranted ana unjust the avidity
with which great meat packing inter
ests of the country seize upon these
conditions and offer them as an excuse
for q bear raid on the products of thu
farmer and stock men"
Buyers Bears on Cattle Prices.
- The situation is further accentuatet
by the tip which seems to have beer
passed along to buyers in Montana and
the Dakotas to bear down on cattle
prices It is believed at some points
that this will eventually result in &
movement of positiveness, like the
Grand Meadow, Mimi, petitions. The
stock raisers, especially the farmers
who engage in stock raising only in {
small way, feel that they are beinl
made to suffer for nigh meat prices
established by meat packing concerns
far beyond their control through thu
ordinary means OF business.
The middlemen, however. who pur
chase stock for feeding, before sale tt
packing buyers, are not being included
in the rancor of agricultural insur
gency. Omaha, Billings, Mont, Fargo
Aberdeen. and Mobridge, S. D., farm
ers and stock raisers agree that tn
middlenan would be missed. He ha
"a duty to perform in the preparing o
cattle for the market, and he does /
in an accomplished manner, say TIL
producers, especially when he is doini
IT ION mis- own hook" which woult
make his absence felt.
Boycott Aimed at Packers.
For this reason most of the stocl
raisers agree their boycott is aimed a
the institution higher up, meaning tn
buyers for the packers.
A special from Omaha says, in quot
ing packers buyers at that point sue
a reversion to customs of slaughterin
and marketing meat in vogue fit
| years ago would embarrass the mea
business of the nation, and result i
| general confusion, among consumer
middlemen and producers.
The movement to boycott buyer
was initiated by Pres r. II. Crane q
the local Farmers Of Equity at Gran
Meadow, MINI. Copies of a pledg
have been sent throughout the coun
try surrounding Grand Meadow, an
this pledge is being freely signed ]
| reads:
ITO wllom it may concern:
Realizing the need of united effol
on the part of both producer an
consumer to properly trim the pack
er's profit, and approaching tn
noble work of the consumer In boycot
ting all forms of flesh for a perio
OF thirty days, we, the farmers an
producers of tne corn belt, do hereh
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