Los Angeles herald., 1910-01-23

With thousands taking the same stand
the result is inevitable.
1t is admitted that the high prices
| asked for meat are not the only staples
which may suffer. Sugar, butter, oil
and flour are considered too costly for
the average workingman. while we
| admit that we now are being paid more
than several years ago., said promi-
| nent union man yesterday, lit is an
undeniable fact that the cost of nearly
every commodity has increased out or
proportion to the increase of salaries.
| Even the better class of restaurants
and cafes feel the results of the battle,
| while none of the local packers is able
| to predict what the result will be- They
are, however, unanimous in attributing
| the high prices to natural causes rather
| than to the trusts
1--WE people eat too much meat" was
| the naive explanation of H. j. HauSer,
of the Hauser Packing company, for
the sudden marked increase in the
price of meat. Mr.. Hauser, who is suf-
ficiently thin and abstemious in appear
ance to be absolved from the charge
which he makes against the people,
had a neat economic formula ready to
prove that the problem is merely the
inevitable result of the working out
of the law of supply and demand. 1t is
simple as walking in your sleep. Peo-
pie have become so prosperous they
must have meat. They buy meat and
the price goes up. The cattle owners
also are particeps crimina with the
people, according to Mr.. Hauser.
"Those who own CATTLE" he said,
"hold on to their stock, knowing that
the supply is limited, and that they
may wait patiently until the packing
houses pay their price" Mr. Hauser
pointed out that the packers are re-
l,,,A oil lnH m
when the hard-hearted cattle owners
take advantage of the fact that they
have the cattle. The recent washouts
on the Salt Lake railroad and general
difficulty in shipping also were mem
toned by Mr. Hauser as contributing
causes to the increased prices here.
Hotel keepers and restaurant man
ayers protested against the raise in
wholesalers prices, but when attempts
were made to get them definitely to
place the blame their replies were as
evasive as the shifty card in a rouge
ct noir deck
Part of Trust Campaign
"Of course, don't want to be quoted
in this" said one agitated boniface,
looking about furtively to make sure
that he was not overheard. Don't
quote me, bat you know it's all part
of a big campaign which the meat
trust has begun" Happily, there were
no minions of the hated meat trust hid
den anywhere about, and the bold
restaurant man still is doing business.
Produce dealers have given attention
to the advanced prices in meats, ana
are wondering what will happen if all
the people go on strike and turn vege-
tarians for a month or six weeks. One
of the jobbers in discussing the situ-
alton said last night:
II don't think there will be any
marked advance, if any at all, in the
price of market goods. We have
great abundance of everything that can
be grown in Southern California, and
can meet any ordinary condition or
demand. / think the people, If they
give up the meat eating habit, will go
after fish. eggs, potatoes, fruits and
vegetables. We can load up for a rush
| if il comes. We are now experiencing
| increased demand for supplies. AS to
possible rise in prices. 1 am not author-
| ized to state at this time. 1t will all
depend upon the demand and supply"