The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-08-28
PrOfiteering Agitation Having
Effect Over Country.
Five Cents a Pound Cheaper in
Topeka Stores.
HOGS DOWN $3.50 IN 2 DAYS
Eastern Storage Houses Crowd
ed With the Goods.
Packers Remain Out of the
Market Today.

1t costs less to eat meat in Topeka
today than it did a week or so ago
when the profiteering agitation was
a its height.
1t costs slightly more to eat vege-
tables.
1t costs slightly more TO eat fruits.
1t costs about the same to eat bread
and butter and eggs.
Has the profiteering agitation been
fruitful?
That is the question that every To-
peka housewife is asking.
The prices quoted at Topeka stores
today indicate most clearly that IL
the profiteering charges are true, they
have been brought home to the doors
of the big packers and the traders
and markets that govern prices
In other words. Topekans are pay
ing less for meat on their tables be-
cause the tremendous agitation over
the country has frightened packers and
traders to a reduction in prices. This
means that Topeka meat markets and
retailers are absolutely helpless in the
hands of the market manipulators.
The quotations today relieve to a
great extent the sentiment that has
been prevalent against local dealers in
food stuffs. On the other hand the
quotations show clearly that profiteer-
ing efforts must be concentrated
against the foundation of the coun-
trys suppies-the packers and trad
ers in the east and at the big city
centers.
Cents a Pound Cheaper.
Take the meat prices in Topeka to-
day for insetance:
Round steak now sells for 35 cents.
Price a short time ago, 40 cents.
Pork chops, now 40 cents, were 45
and 48 cents.
Loin steak, now 40 cents, was 45
cents.
Roast, now 80 cents, was s5 cents.
Biggest Slump Since Panic.
Chicago, Aug. 28.-A fall of hog
prices to SIS a hundredweight within
three days was forecast by represen-
tatives of the big packing companies
at the stock yards today when re-
sumption of trading showed the cause
of Wednesdays slump still prevalent.
Hogs of the canning variety listed at
Wednesdays close at $17, a drop of
sl.5O in one day, were offered today
at SIG with few changing hands. The
bulk Of sales at the opening of the
market was around SIT, compared
with $23.65 early this month.
The packers remained out of the
market and livestock experts predicted
the biggest slump since the "Roose-
welt panic" in 1907. The drop in live
hog prices contributed to a weakened
grain market, corn dropping an ex-
trene of "a cents a bushel and oats
%c. Dessed pork tumbled, the Sep
tember delivery opening at 1880, an
even 50 lower than the last sale yes
terday. Lard and ribs also declined.
In explanation of the lowered prices,
traders said agitation against the high
cost of living was bearing fruit and
that an outlet for large stocks of pro-
visions was wanting.
1t was declared that eastern stor-
age houses were crowded and that un-
less a further drop came there would
be no outlet for the meat products.
Drop in Kansas City.
Kansas City. Aug. 2S.-A drop in
hog prices in two days of $3.50 here
reflected a falling off in the export de-
mand, a possible diminution of re-
quirements for home consumption and
official efforts to reduce the high cost
of living. Sales today were generally
IS cents TO 81 lower than yesterday.
The packer market. influenced by the
large quantities of meat in storage
was 81 lower. with trade slow on that
basis. The bulk of sales was from SIS
IN SIq50