The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-08-29
NINETY DAYS TO
SEE A COLLAPSE
IN FOOD MARKET
PaImer's Assistant Promises
ShOpmen Material Decreases.
General Reduction of 25 Per
Cent Is Predicted.
MEAT CRASH IS INEVITABLE
May Take Two Weeks, but It's
Coming, Is Assurance.
Hog and Produce Prices Are
Still Sliding Today.
MEAT CRASH IS Inevitable
May Take Two Weeks, but It's
Coming, Is Assurance.
Hog and Produce Prices Are
Still Sliding Today.

Washington. Aug. z9.-Very ma
terial decreases in food prices will o.
cur within ninety days, Judge Ames
assistant attorney general in charge Of
the governments price campaign, pre-
dicted today.
A general reduction of 25 per cent
will finally result from the govern
ment's effort, Ames further pre-
dicted.
Follows Rail UItimatun1.
Ames' statement followed a letter by
the shopmen leaders advising their
men to withhold striking for ninety
days to give the government a chance
to make good in its fight to bring
down prices.
Immediately after making his pre-
diction, Ames went into conference
with governors of seven states and At
nors are here to offer state aid in cut
ting prices
Reductions" Ames said, "already
have been forced In many localities
including New York. Tennessee, and
Idaho. A big drop in hog prices,
which occurred yesterday at Chicago
is one indication of the effect of the
governments campaign. Another is
the general decrease in prices of Sc
curities of companies dealing in food
products and clothing.
'Prices will continue on a down
grade from now on"
Following their conference with
Palmer. the governors were to see
President Wilson. With Palmer. the
governors were to plan the details of
campaigns to be waged in each state
to cut living costs in cooperation with
the government in its campaign.
Meat Crash Inevitable.
Chicago. Aug. 29.-Retail prices of
meat are not expected to follow the
downward trend OF the wholesale mar
kets for at least seven to ten days. ac-
cording to Sol Westerfield. chairman
of the central executive committee of
5000 food distributors of the city, who
exhorted the public to be patient, in a
statement made public today. He said
from one to two weeks is necessary be-
fore meats purchased at the low prices
recorded in the last two days would
reach the retail market, especially in
the price of beef, which requires at
least ten days of seasoning" How
ever. with steadily increasing supplies
and no market for the stock now in
pens the stockyards market experts
said that a collapse in meat prices was
inevitable.
Sec H. c. L. Fight Effects.
Chicagoans today saw their efforts
against the high costs of living re-
warded by a steadily declining price
list.
with hogs selling at the stockyards
here at SO lower than they were three
days ago and SIS less than the record
price reached July 81, practically all
! other food commodities in local mar
kets showed lower figures.
Reason for the slump in living costs
was given as a desire by packers to
quit killing livestock while housewives
continue to use sparingly of fresh
l &c 70 rd
ers continued to ship stock to the
Chicago markets, fearing further low
cred prices. Consequently, pens were
crowded beyond capacity, the effect OF
| the abundance being felt in other
1 lines.
More than $4,000 head of hogs re-
manned unsold here yesterday. The
average price paid yesterday was
| $17.70.
"Porker" Balloon Pricked.
st. Louis. Mo. Aug. 29-The pork
er" balloon has been punctured.
| Attorney General PaImer's anti
aircraft guns scored here today wher
/ hog prices dropped 81 and $1.25 or
the local market The reduction /:
the biggest in over year.
| The drop in hog prices here today
followed a series of smaller cuts ex-
tending over the last week. With to-
days lowering, porkers have declined
$2.65 since last Friday for the top and
the bulk of sales 81, making today.
! top $19.T5. Since Monday hog prices
are off $2.10.
The declining market was felt II
cows and sheep during the week
| Sheep and lamps here today are from
so cents to 81 lower since yesterday:
/ close.
New Low Price at Kansas City.
Kansas City, Mo-, Aug. 2e.-Hog:
offered at the opening of the Kansa:
! City market today sold at $1.25 les,
per hundred weight than yesterday
| Hog prices were lower here toda,
than at any time since last March
when they were quoted at $40.
Top prices Of cattle showed som'
decline and sheep were quoted q
cents lower at a top of $15.75.
Retail prices have not yet been ma
terially affected.