The Columbus dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 19??-1922, 1920-11-28
MEAT MARKET MEN
ISSUE STATEMENT
STATEMENT GIVING THEIR
SIDE OF MEAT PRICE
AGITATION
IN OWN DEFENSE
Ask Questions of Leaders of
Movement About Cost of
observation-disclosures
Is Lengthy One.
IN OWN DEFENSE

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the public may have both sides of the
meat price reduction movement
launched recently by the housewives
of Columbus, The Dispatch presents
herewith a statement from the meat
market dealers of Columbus.
This statement is published as a
matter of simple justice to the meat
dealers, and it is given to the public
as their side of the controversy. The
Dispatch has published the statements
issued by the housewives in further
ance of their movement to lower the
price Of meat, and the market men
are, therefore, entitled to a presenta-
tion of their side Of the issue also.
This is done in the news columns
Of The Dispatch in the interest of
fairness and justice and without re-
ference to the merits Of the issue.
The market mems statement fol
lows:
We notice in a recent issue Of The
Dispatch an article on the meat situa-
ton. This movement is being agitat-
ed by the housewives Of Columbus,
and originated in the School of Git
izenship which is being conducted by
Prof. William Burgin of the Missis-
sippi State College for Women.
We wish to ask the housewives and
Prof. Burgin if either Of them have
ever operated a meat market; we want
to know if they investigated the cost
of operating a market before they ask
reduction of ten cents per pound on
all meats, that they might know that
the market man was profiteering, OF
did they go into it blindly with Prof
Burgin's aid and suggestions and ask
for something they absolutely know
nothing about? We want to ask the
housewives and Prof. Burgin if they
know what per cent. native Jersey
beef will dress net from gross weight
also the per centage Of loss in bone
and trimmings. We would like fol
them to tell us, when Jersey steer
cost six cents per pound gross wha
will he cost per pound net. Also give
us the percentage of loss in bone trim
mings, tallow, etc.
! We understand and have been tolt
: that the housewives presented thei
case to the secretary of the Chambe
of Commerce and he being a practica
business man, and wanting to adjus
matters satisfactorily and give facts il
the case, he furnished the housewife
with an itimized tabulated cost t,
run and operate market and becaus
! the facts in the case were in favo
of the market man the housewife
accused the secretary of the Chambe
of Commerce of being lined up wit
the market men. II seems they d
not want the facts in the case o
operating a meat market, the onl
thing they want is cheaper meats re
I gardless of the welfare of the marke
man. We want to ask the good house
wives did they ever stop to think tina
{ we have just passed through the he
summer months where the averag
market was run at loss on aecour
Of the expense of keeping ice, an
: having meat to spoil, etc. And no.
/ during the few fall months when tn
Z market man hoped to recuperate som
: Of his loss, and pick up little gail
= we are now being boy-cotted by III
I very parties whom we furnished meat
! during the summer months at a los
!. We, the market men, want to ask
4 the housewives with the aid of Pro
Z Burgin if they have investigated Il
3 prices being paid for meat in oth'
y towns. We know that the price
I meats in Columbus is on par and
y many instances cheaper than 9TH
4 cities.
Y Now, we, the operators of me
: markets in Columbus, only ask for
4 square deal, and if the good nous
y wives with the aid Of Prof. Burg
q can suggest a plan Of how the mark
= men can reduce the price of mea
q cheaper and yet make living for o
~ families and little rainy-day mon
= we will certainly appreciate and soli'
Y their help.
= We hear of few instances whe
II a few insanitary meat peddlers a
- offering and selling meats at priC