Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-06-05
PACKERS SERVING NOTICE ON
RETAILERS OF ADVANCE IN
PRICE.
EFFECT OF BOOST TO BE
FELT BY CONSUMERS
Agent for Packers Say Shortage Of
Livestock Makes Advance Necessary
Commission Merchants Directly
Blamed for Bidding Up Prices ION
the Aoof'-Eneet Soon Apparent.

Chicago, Juno 5.-The price of meat
Is to advance.
Within the next few days the con-
sumner will have to pay from y to l
cent more per pound for beef. This
word was sent out yesterday by the
Chicago packers to all retailers Of the
city. John T. Russell. national presi-
dent Of the United Master Butchers
Association Of America, said the same
advice would be communicated to
the retail butchers thruout the coun-
try, and within a short time the con-
sumers everywhere would feel the ef-
fects Of the raise in price.
The direct cause of the predicted ad-
vance is attributed 70 the activity of
the commission merchants in boosting
the price for stock on the hoof. An
other cause is said to be the scarcity
of cattle.
Farmers Raise Less Stock.
This situation is due to the fact. it
was pointed out by Mr.. Russell, that
the farmers are devoting their attention
to the cultivation of crops rather than
to stock raising.
VI Il
was being made to raise the price OF
beef from 8 to liz cents a pound on
the hoof.
The commission DEALER he said. "is
irving to stand in with the farmer. The
retail butcher has been endeavorinS to
keep the price of meat down. 1t is to
his interest to do this. because he deals
with the consumer. while the commits
the consumer, is looking out for his
customers"
Mr.. Russell said the butcher is not
making any profit because the middle
man has boosted the price of meat un-
til the consumer simply refuses to
buy.
The working class are the meat
eaters" he said. During the last year
the meat sales have fallen off from 80
10 40 per cent. This is due to the fact
tina, the people will not stand for the
high prices for which the middleman is
responsible"
Mr.. Russell stated that the packers
were justified in issuing the order for
an increase in the prices of meat be-
cause the commission merchant had
fixed a higher price for livestock.
Conservation Law Needed.
"The United Master Butchers Assoc
citation notified the authorities at
Washington several years ago of the
threatened danger in the scarcity IN
livestock Mr.. Russell added. I'VE
also asked for legislation restricting
the slaughter of calves. Until some
thing is done in this direction the price
of meat will continue to soar.
The spectators and middlemen are
taking advantage of this shortage or
livestock to raise the prices.
He said that the commission men
were offering from s25 to ss5 head
for unborn calves for delivery next
November. The time is coming when
the retailer and consumer will refuse
to stand for these outrageous prices.
Breeding Cattle Scarce.
Mr.. Russell explained that the cattle
ranges in the west have been depicted
OF breeding cattle by the high prices
being offered for cows for slaughter.
He said it would take ten years to re-
place the breeding cattle which nave
been sold during the last few years.
LAS a result Of the high cost OF live
stock. a 40 per cent decrease in the
consumption of meat has been noted,
he said. Mr.. Russell declared that leg :
tsIa ton should be enacted compelling
each state to maintain a certain per
cent OF breeding cattle.