The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1919-02-25
Armor & Co., Replies to an Article
Printed In News and Defends Packers

CHICAGO, ILL.,, Feb. IL, 1919
Editor Dawson News: In a recent
edition of your paper you publish, as
reprint, from the Lincolnton Jour
nal an editorial leading with the as
sertion:
"The American people have been
robbed of millions of dollars in the
past four years by the meat pack
ers."
This broad and damaging state
ment is so manifestly unjust, unfair
and untrue that we are going to
kindly ask you to give US an oppor-
tunity of presenting our side of the
case.
We think you will be surprised, as
most people are, when we tell you
that Armour and Company last year
made but 1.8c on each dollar of
sales. This includes every product
handled, and it is proper for you to
note that on our meat business the
profit per dollar was much less than
1.8c. The margin of profit was the
smallest in the history of the COM
pany. Do you think this unreason-
able? Do you think that this was
"robbing the people?" We feel sure
that you will agree with US that this
was carrying on a business upon the
smallest possible margin consistent
with business safety.
1t only was by exercising the
greatest efficiency, by scientific man
agement and by the loyal co-opera-
ton of its $4,000 employees that this
company was able to show a profit at
all, and to send to our fighting forces
overseas and our allies an average
of 100000 pounds of meat
month.
We agree with you that meat prices
are high, and we can appreciate the
attitude of mind that causes news
paper editors and the public to criti-
else and to chafe under those prices,
but we feel that you will, in all fair
ness, when you are acquainted with
the facts, agree with US in our con-
tention that Armour and Company
are not responsible for high prices.
The price of meat has paralleled
the rising curve in the cost of living
in common with nearly everything we
eat and wear and use in our every
day life. No doubt you have had
your own experiences in mounting
costs, in the instances of news print
paper and other material and GER
tainly in the added cost of labor. Ev-
erything that enters into the produc-
ton of pound of meat has advanc-
ed steadily, both before and during
the war period, and unfortunately
shows no immediate signs Of reced~
ing.
Live stock in this country has not
been produced in sufficient quantity
to keep pace with the increase in
population; there have been heavy
demands and still are heavy demands
from overseas. Europe now is so short
of food that it is estimated that this
country must ship abroad 100000
tons of meat, for the year ending
July l, 1919, an increase of over
100000 tons, or half again as much
as we shipped last year. Cattle are
insufficient in supply in this country
and the prices are high in the Chica-
go market, some steers selling at
over $40 a hundred on the day this
was written. Hogs, although they
have shown an increased number dur
ing the last year, have been main
tanned at a high price by the federal
government, the February price be-
ing fixed at $17.50 per hundred
pounds live weight, the average price
paid by the packers frequently rang
ing higher for heavy swine.
During the last year Armour and
Company paid live stock producers
more than S515, 100000, over 40
per cent. more than in the year pre-
ceding.
Live hogs for which the packers