Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-02-27
PPEAL TO REASON OF RAILROADS
Adopt Resolutions Showing the Inde-
fensible Injustice of Move.
WILL FOLLOW THIS UP IF IT FAILS
Have Cooperation of Powerful Busi-
ness Interests Affected.
SIOUX CITY WILL ALSO JOIN IN
Addressed to the BurIinE-
ton, Northwestern and Rock Island,
Chief COnspiratOrs in This Plot
of Commercial AssassinatiOn,

IA MS EAON
of Commercial AssassinatiOn,
Omaha, South Omaha and tho immense
live stock and packing interests Of Ne
braska, took their first step in n move
ment designed to restrain the action OF
the railroads in raising the rate on dressed
beef between Omaha and Chicago thus
discriminating against this city and Sioux
City I'm favor OF Kansas City and st.
Joseph, yesterday afternoon by adapting a
resolution amounting to an appeal to the
reason Of the railroads, to their sense OF
Judgment and fair play In behalf of these
cities, this state the tributary country
and the great business of live stock pro-
duction and its kindred interests.
The resolutions are addressed TO the Bur
lington, Northwestern and Rock Island
railroads. If these resolutions fan upon
deaf ears, II these railroads refuse to re-
organize the tremndous injury they are
about to inflict upon people and industries
that have contributed so vastly to their
enrichment and the enrichment of other
railroads, this step will be quickly followed
by another, and IL that fails by another,
and so the campaign Of defense will be
waged until the victory is won and the
offending railroads brought into submis7
sion.
Strong Men Take the Lead.
These resolutions we're adopted by the
executive committee OF the South Omaha
Live Stock exchange, which met at the
Commercial club. Represented in that
meeting was the Cudahy Packing COM
psny, the buyers, shippers and other large
interests. Thomas b. Mcpherson, president
Of the exchange; A. f. Stryker, secretary;
Everett Buckingham, general manager and
j. A, McNaughton, traffic man OF the Cud-
ahy company, were active in the meeting.
The situation was canvassed from every
conceivable standpoint and some very en-
phatic sentiments were expressed, ali COM
ing to the common focus that the rail-
roads had invited the biggest fight they
ever had on their hands In this part of the
west by planning this unwarranted dis
elimination on Omaha and Sioux City,
The resolutions adopted ring with dec
larations of the most vital concern. They
show that the Aonly possible excuse the
railroads can offer for their action is a
selfish desire 70 increase their already
plethoric revenues. They show, ~too, that
this avarice is not restrained even by the
fact that Omaha, Nebraska and tributary
financial prowess OF these same railroads.
They show that the packers. live stock
men and allied interests have not only
paid millions to the railroads for ship
ment of live stock and dressed meat, but
have poured other millions into their cof-
fers for the transportation OF materials
and articles used in the maintenance and
upkeep of these businesses They show,
too, that If the railroads carry out their
dire threat the ultimate effect will be to
deprive the stock raiser of this section OF
the Omaha market which has actually
made his business for these years.
Carefully Planned Campaign.
The campaign of opposition is carefully
laid out and will be systematically promul-
gated as the attitude of the railroads
renders necessary, Sioux City, which is
sufferer with Omaha, will lend its CO.
operation and every town in the state of
Nebraska and adjacent country will fall
in line.
Here are the resolutions in full:
Whereas, The action Of the Burlington
Northwestern and the Rock Island rail-
roads, in publishing their intention to ad-
vance rates cents per 100 pounds upon
packing house products from South Omaha
to Chicago. when destined east notwilh-
standing the fact that the rates now eff
fective will still remain in force at Kansas
City and st. Joseph, will cause many thou
sands OF head of live stock which ara now,
and will hereafter be raised and fed in ter
ritory clearly tributary to South Omaha,
to move to markets located on the lower
| river; and,
Whereas, Much live stock will be forced
| to Chicago which should be slaughtered or
af IVA I4o haa -
the difference in freight rates between CiI-
cago and the eastern markets and Omaha
and the eastern markets will be 23n cents
per 100 pounds in favor Of Chicago, aud The
balance Of the through rates from Omaha
on practically all OF the live stock origi-
mating at points 200 miles or more west Of
Omaha Is not to exceed II cents per 100
| pounds-this In face OF the fact that Chi
! cago today Is but 1914 cents per 100 pounds
nearer the eastern market than is Omaha
on packing house products; and,
Cannot he Justified,
Whereas, This discriminatory increase
| on packing house product rates cannot be
upheld II any just consideration is to be
accorded the magnificent interests at
Omaha which can continue 10 exist only
so long as the freight adjustments between
this and other competitive points are based
on fairness to our industries; and.
Whereas This raise in rates seems 20
be the elimination OF carefully thought
ont plan Of the railroads to force live stock
and kindred products from the territory
west Of the Missouri river to use the rail-
roads serving this territory to the greatest
/ extent possible giving no consideration
| whatever TO the interests OF the tock-
raiser or feeder, or to the waifare and sue
! 90 rrhn no gN
| market place OF the entire west and north
west at the expense OF millions OF dollars
! invested In stock yards. packing houses,
| banks, ETC., and,
Whereas. The railroads seem bent upon
making this advance in rates, regardieFs
OF the resulting injury 10 Omaha, evan -
! the possible extent OF gripping this mar
| ket, which has done so much TO enhance
/ the vnlma Of eNarN acre OF land living I'm