The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-02-09

of Kansas and the strength of the
governor will be used to help the work
along.
Send Packers to Prison.
IF the market is being controlled,
as it obviously is, there are laws
which will reach it. We are going to
have a full and complete investigation.
If the packers are in the wrong the
time is coming when they will go to
prison or mend their ways.
1T is evident the livestock industry
of Kansas can never grow to capacity
until the marketing system is inn
proved. 1 think if the federal off
Gals will enforce the laws we already
have, the sale of livestock through
ordinary channels will be much more
steady and profitable to the producers
In addition to this, the effort must be
made to provide competition in other
ways. Why, for example, should there
not be a considerable development in
this country of cooperative packing
| plants? We are making rapid pro-
gress in Kansas in cooperative eff
| forts; the grain elevators, the Farmers
| Union, the Grange and many other
| forms of cooperative effort are show
/ ing surprisingly successful growth
The people of the state are getting
used to co-operation-they are seeing
| that it is profitable and right, that 1t is
doing a great deal to develop our
greatest industry and that, as we all
know, is farming. I believe we have
!
in Kansas and the west so that we
can take up other forms of co-opera-
tive effort, and especially cooperative
packing plants
Advocates Municipal Plants.
eff, after a careful study this is
not considered feasible, perhaps
municipal owned packing plants en-
stuff dressed instead OF on the hoof,
might afford the necessary competi-
ton to insure right prices,
This has been the way that the
movement has gone forward in other
nations where the cooperative idea
has been developed farther than III
this country In Denmark, which is
leading the world in cooperative eff
fort, 60, or about two-thirds of the
packing plants of the country, are
owned in cooperation, mostly by
farmers, and they have $4,000 share
holders This system eliminates six
of the eleven profits that are made
under our present plan after the
stock leaves the producer and before
it reaches the consumer. These
profits are the shippers profit, freight
to market, terminal or swltchlng
charge, yardage, feed, commission, a
and expenses, freight to the retail
market, drayage and butchers pro
fit The meat from these plants In
Denmark has set the standard in the
markets of Europe, and the producers
are getting all that the product brings
from the consumer, less the actual
cost of manufact uring, selling and
transportation.
"All that Kansas farmers are ask
ing, as I understand it, is a square
deal; that the market shall be con
trolled by the old law of supply ano
demand. No men have a better right
to a square deal and 1 am with them
body and soul in that demand. 1t Is
, the basis of all business life. If the
market conditions can be placed on &
satisfactory basis the livestock bust
ness will make a big growth in the
next five years. Nothing better coult
happen to Kansas. L want you t.
, know you can count on me at every
, turn of the road in this or any othel
matter that will help you get VIVA
honestly belongs to YOU"