The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-07-13
BY William r. SANRORN.

The woes of the farmer in this per-
iod of deflation of farm prices is an
oft-told tale. 1t is the story most often
told in Washington Of late. Also it is
the most impressive story to reach the
ears of congress and the members OF
the various committees which are
wrestling with problems affecting
farmers most profoundly first OF all,
and most directly. but also in the final
analysis affecting every industry and
every family in America.
The fact that all stock-raising farm
ers have lost heavily through the de-
clines in prices on the hoof during the
past II months is more easily discov-
cred from reading the market reports
than from patronizing butchers and
market men. Many of these appar-
enty take no note of the lowering of
their costs in the wholesale meat
markets, or of the fact that they are
buying killing stock at less than fifty
cents on the dollar of peak prices, so
far as their own customers, the con-
sumers, are concerned. This Is 4
countrywide condition, in the main,
and of this fact there is no attempted
denial, either in Maine, Indiana or on
the FaClIlC coast.
Prices Greatly Out Of Line.
This largely explains the compare
tive under-consumption of meats, not
merely now IN hot weather but
throughout the year. Retail prices are
too much and generally out of line
with costs of live stock and the shrink
ing of incomes of millions OF people.
This is so broadly true that it may be
said to represent an almost universal
condition in this country. AS matter
of fact, our study of farm markets and
conditions in the central west, and the
close reading of the most reliable in
formation, trade statistics and retail
market comment and advertising in
various publications, has failed to de-
velop single town on the entire
map where consumers have noticeably
benefited by the continuous decline
in cattle, hogs sheep and lambs dur
ing the past II months.
Senator Capper's Views
In his address in the senate devot
ed specifically to the meat packing
industry, last spring, Mr.. Capper cited
a single instance in illustrating his
point with reference to live STOCK
growers losses. Had the feeder hello
MS cattle unIll now MS loss "OulC
have been still heavier. 1t may be
said, too, that Mr.. Hunter whom tht
senator cites, was not as heavy {
loser as were many in every corr
belt state. In relation to his subjec
Mr. Capper said, in part:
1T is obvious that it is no fault o
the producer that the consumer j
still charged extortionate prices 70
most of what he buys All farmer
have suffered losses during the pas
year-thousands have gone bankrupt
I cite a single case that might be du
plicated thousand times. The mex
time any one pays a Washington din
ner check, with his steak costing hin
anywhere from So to 81 pound, lie
him reflect on the case of this Ne
braska farmer. Last October Char
les Hunter, an Inavale cattlemar
shipped TO his feed lots 102 head o
beef steers, which cost him s10,S1
delivered in his lots, or 1912 cents
pound. He sold them seven month
later on the Chicago market for SO
684, or 715 cents a pound loss O
cents a pound-besides having t
pay an 1892 freight bill for shippin