Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1920-03-04
J. ODGEN ARMOUR GIVES
SOME INTERESTING FACTS.

J. Ogden Armour believes that:
"Only as we shoulder individual re-
sponsibilities shall be continue to sue
ceed nationally" This is his message
in the Armour year book for 1920.
"Unless we each recognize the 9TH
er's problems" maintains Mr.. Armour
conflict is inevitable. The citizen
must comprehend business for this
country's progress is built on business
activity and what injuries business in
juries the nation as whole.
Investment is essential to business
and investment will not be made
where there is constant harassment OF
capital.
Democratic principles upon which
this country is founded are safe so
long as we all respect them, reallz-
Ii ing that we are bound by mutual in
terests and that no one group can
permanently secure an unfair bar
gain at the expense Of others. u
! Mr.. Armour refers to the resDonsi-
Ebility of Armour and Company in
serving both producer and the con-
sumer, and continues:
Every investigation of our metods
has demonstrated that we do meet the
purposes and necessities for which
we exist, and that our operating costs
and profits are the smallest of any
large successful industry. There is
only one way to arrive at the truth
about the cost Of meat, and that is to
study the problem in it's entirity. A
investigation must cover the entire
field from the farm to the table,"
1t is pointed out that wholesale
beef prices which averaged $21.43 on
May 1. 1919, steadily declined to
$14.72 by December 1.
Armour and Company as result OF
doing business for many months on a
steadily falling market report that
their sales on dressed beef for the
year showed a decided net loss. Hogs
bought at high price in June were
Esold at a considerable loss in Octo-
iber.
| Referring to the high cost of livinp
it is held that Everybody is respon-
sible". Some of the reasons why
prices are high as set forth in the
year book are: Inflated currency
| scarcity of staple goods in Europe
higher wages; reduced output due tt
interrupted production on account Of
strikes and shorter hours; price fix
ling by the Government thus interfer
ling with natural laws of supply ant
demand; loss of life and colossa
consumption of food, fuel, metals ant
other industrial material during thu
war, together with wave of unpre
cedented buying extravaganza tha
has given every opportunity and en-
couragement toward price boostlns
and profteering. :.
Remedies suggested for the higl
cost of living are hard work, eco
Inomical buying, more goods, create
care in consumption, less credit.
In voluntarily agreeing to relin
lcuish certain so-called grocery lines
such as canned fruits, vegetables
grape juice, fish and condiments, AM
to sell all interests in the stockyards
terminals, public cold storage ware
houses and similar interests, the com
lpany says, it did so Frankly an.
! solely in Difference to public opinion,
while maintaining that its position
has been legally, morally and econo
mically sound and in the interest Q
consumers and producers.
The financial statement shows tina
although the company's gross bust
mess amounted to $1,038, 900 900, ex
Iceeding all previous records, with
met income Of $14,098, ,506, the retur'
Ifor each dollar of sales, amounting t
l1.35 cents net, was the smallest in tn
HISTORY of the organization. The re