South Bend news-times., 1919-06-22
.[IKENS PACKERS
To KAISER; WILL
LOVE EN- ALIKE
Ohio Merchant Sends Com
plant to Capital, Charg-
ing Forced Prices.
BI LOUIS LUDLOW.
News-Times Washington Correspondent.

WASHINGTON. June 2I.-"The
position OF ne hackers today i
about as autocratic as the kaiser.
and we're soine 20 love them about
the same way"
This militant def is contained in
complaint sent 10 WASHINGTON by
Charles b. Wing. OF Mechanicsburg.
O.. who has national reputation
as a seed merchant and farmer.
1t foreshadows determination on
the part Of the meat producers OF
the country to make things hot for
the packers.
Mr.. Wing and other meat produc-
ers on a large scale make the direct
charge that since the government
released its war control over the
packers those captains OF industry
have deliberately forced down the
price paid for live stock. while at the
same time have continued 70 bleed
the public for war prices tor meats
Writes TO senator.
Mr.. Wing, in a letter TO sen
Pomerene. says.
Il desire To call your attention TO
situation which exists in the beet
industry. For several months after
the armisticc was signed, top cattle
in Chicago sold for around 20 cents
per pound one year ago At this
time they were about is cents per
pound When they reached 20 cents
the retailers, OF course, marked their
prices up 20 corresponding figure,
Since the armistice was signed there
has been no panic, no great calamity
OF any kind, labor has been quite
fully employed and at the present
moment most all lines of business
are in flOurishing condition.
About six or eight weeks ago the
government removed its control over
the packers. Not long after this
control was removed the packers be-
gan forcing the price Of beef down.
That is they forced II down on US
producers. The consun or today is
paying the same price that he PAID
two months ago. The farmer is re-
ceivins s. per 100 pounds less. and
in the meantime our exports abroad
are about double what they were
one year ago when, ~ / have just
mentioned. the top price in Chicago
was Is cents.
Cites Feed Prices.
In the meantime, also. the cost
Of feed has continually advanced.
ON the basis of the feed cost today
we need 20 cents per pound on the
farm to let US out on this beef. That
would be equivalent 10 about $50
corn. and we are lucky TO get corn
for $40. Hay is the highest priced
in my recollection. Oil meal, cotton
seed meal. tankage, in fact every
thing that we look at, is enormously
high
FINALLY. experts advise US that
monetary initiation today amounts 10
100 percent In other words, that
one dollar is worth just 20 cents
Therefore, why must we farmers be
punished as We are being? There is
not one steer going into market to-
dav that is paving anywhere near
the price Of his feed. The consumer
is not being benefited one penny.
Why is it that the meat-producins
industry should be singled out from
all others and forced 10 operate at
a sickening loss?
Saws Packers Get Money.
NV brother Just cashed III about
half the meat that he produced the
past year and donated 10 the pack
ers s.. .OOO worth Of corn. The packer
received il certainly. because the
consumer was not benefited one /
penny. Ny turn il next, as my cat /
tie will have TO go within the month I
or six weeks. There is no funda-
mental business reason for this de-
pression. because we have the in I.
formation from many authoritative
sources that the public : paying the /.
same price that il did at the maxi /
mum.
Wholesale Price stands.
Retailers claim that the packer .
has not lowered price to them
do not know about this. l dc know F,
that every one of W who feed Is be- .
ing deliberately swindled on every .
head Of stock We have. and We are .
being swindled simply because an (
almost omnipotent power says We
must he. The position Of the pack |
ers today is about as autocratic as /
the kaiser. and we are going 10 love I
them about the same way.
DO YOU know Of any real rea- 4
son why we should donate the pack /
cr hall the feed that goes into these |
cattle? There is not one meat pro- /
ducer in America today who is al /
lowed 20 break even on his feed aft I
or donating his labor
The complaint made BY Mr.. Wing I
will &c brought 70 the attention of
the senate committee on agriculture. /,