This May Throw Some Light on
the Price You Pay for
Beefsteak.
Testifying recently before a body o?
-senators in Washington, a vice-presi
dent of one of the large packing con
cerns (F. Edson White of Armour and
Company) made the astounding state
ment that so far in their fiscal year,
which would cover the past eight or
nine months, his company had "made
no money whatever on beef."
This statement is doubtless well
nigh incredible to the average man.
Yet it was made in full knowledge that
the senators had access to the com
pany's books.
Recovering from the first shock, this
same average man will say, "Yes, but
the packers are shrewd ; what they do
not make on the beef they more than
make up on the hides."
But even this illusion was destined
to be shattered. Mr. White explained
that his statement included everything
that was derived from the steer as
purchased-the hide, fat, even the in
testines which are used largely for
sausage casings.
Make Money, Nevertheless.
Well the packers make money-how
do they do it? Mr. White admitted
that they did, quoting figures secured
by auditors of the Food Administra
tion, to the effect that packers' profits
on food commodities of ali kind last
.year were 1. 6/10 cents on each dol?
Jar taken In. These would include
such things as sausage, shortening,
canned meats, etc, in addition to fresh
meats, hams and bacon. On all the
products of his company, Mr. White
explained, comprising both foods and
inedible commodities, the profits dur
ing the same period were 1 8/10 cents
on each dollar sale.
All of which Would lead many to
say that the packing business is not
well understood. It isn't. Yet as one
of the leading industries of the coun
try, its workings and, above all, its
profits, should be familiar matters to
us. It is quite useless to orate against
the high iost of living without digging
into some of these fundamentals.
Sy-Products at Market Values.
One of the most enlightening bits of
Mr. Wfeite's testimony was his ex
planation of the way in which cost
price of beef is arrived at. If a steer
ls bought at $125.00 and hides are
bringing $16.00 in the open market,
then $16.00 is credited to the cost of
the steer. If hides are selling at $23.00
that amount is credited. The visceral
fat, offal and everything else that
comes from the steer are likewise
credited at their prevailing market
values. What remains is taken as the
cost price of the meat. The beef car
cass is thea shipped to one of the lo
cal distributing branch houses, and
the manager there is given the cost
price with instructions to sell the beef
at a profit if he can. But in any event,
whether the local market be lively or
dull, he must sell for what he can get,
for the commodity is a perishable one
and must be sold.
Manufacturer's Profit on By-Products.
However, there is another hitch to
the packing business, quite as little
understood apparently, that goes to
show hov.- a loss on fresh meats may
be accompanied by a profit on the to
tal amount of business done. Take,
for example, the banjo strings afore
mentioned, which are made from the
intestines '?f sheep. The department
that makes banjo* strings (and like
wise surgical ligatures, tennis strings,
etc.,) "buys" the intestines from the
sheep-killing department, paying ex
actly the same price that these bring
when sold to the outside market. On
this bjasis the string department manu
factures its strings and sells them,
bringing a profit into the business.
In like manner the fertilizer depart
ment buys blood and tankage; the soap
department buys fats ; the glue depart
ment buys hoofs, horns, bones and
6lnews; and so on through the list of
"by-products." The fertilizer, the
soap and the glue, just as the music
strings, bring in a manufacturer's
profit.
In all cases these by-products,
whether they be sold to outside man
ufacturers or to one of the manufac
turing departments in the business (at
the same prevailing market price), are
credited to the cost of the meat por
tion of the animals, just as in the in
stance of the hides mentioned above.
Thus the "utilization of by-products"
system of which we#have heard mach,
and the method by which it is con
ducted, show the packers* manufactur
ing profit on a great variety of com
modities ranging all the way from
pharmaceuticals to glue, do, in reality,
bear the burden of fresh meat prices.
I Senator Kellogg, of Minnesota, Int
I discussing maladministration off
I railroads by the Government, J
I said: j
? 'There never was a Government!
i operation that M'as not wasteful f
I and Inefficient, ll: Is Inevitable un- !
?der our organization that it should]
I be so. It is not the province or i
i the prerogative of a Democracy ]
I like ours, instituted for the best?
I Government on the face of the ?
f earth, to manage the business of?!
? the country." j
^-Congressional Record, Aug. 5. j
Suffrage Opinion Written by
Wolfe.
S. M. Wolfe, attorney general, yes
'iterday gave an opinion in which h
I holds that should women of the state
procure the ballot in the immediate
future, they will not be denied the
right to register to vote ;n the gen
eral election this fall t cause of in
ability to produce poll tax receipts.
The tax has not been levied, conse
quently this can not be invoked to
, debar the women from voting, should
ithe equal suffrage amendment be rat
lilied by one more state prior to the
general election.
J Mr. Wolfe also points out that the
women can qualify to vote in the
Democratic primaries, if slight modi
ifications to the Democratic party
'rules are made at the state Demo
, eratic convention in Columbia May
?19. The opinion follows:
J Mrs. Eulalie Sal^ey, Preside?..
South Carolina Equal Suffrage
J League, Aiken, S. C.: Replying to
your inquiry of March 19, I direct
. your attention to Article 2 of the
?constitution of 1895, which sets forth
requisites for suffrage in this state.
Of course the term "male" in Sec
tion 3 of this article will have been
superseded by the 19th amendment
to the constitution in the event that
this amendment is duly ratified and
so promulgated by the secretary of
the state. Otherwise the qualifica
tions of this article will apply. It may
not be amiss, however, for me to sug
gest that subdivision (a) of Section
4 of Article 2 relative to the payment
of poll tax could not be invoked as
'against women voters, inasmuch as
the language of that section is that
there must be proof of payment six
months before any election of any
poll tax "then due and payable." Un
less, therefore, the women citizens of
the state were under law liable to
j poll tax six months prior to an elec
tion, there would naturally be no poll
tax due at that time.
Of course, the Democratic primary
is governed entirely by the rules of
^the Democratic party in this state,
adopted at their regular annual con
ventions. This year I understand the
convention is to be held May 19, at
which time some slight modifications
of the present rules may be adopted
so as to render eligible all legalized
voters in the state, f you will write
to John Gary Evans of Spartanburg,
S. C., who is chairman of the state
Democratic executive committee, he
will be glad to furnish you such in
formation as you desire in this con
nection.-The State.
COULD HARDLY
STAND ALONE
_ \
Terrible Suffering From Headache,
Sideache, Backache, and Weak
ness, Relieved by Cardoi,
Says This Texas Lady.
Gonzales, Tex.- Mrs. Minnie Phil
pot, of this place, writes: "Five years
ago I was taken with a rain in my
left side. It was right under my
left rib. It would commence with an
aching and extend up into my left
shoulder and on down Into my back.
By that time the pain would be BO
severe I would have to take to bed,
and suffered usually about three days
.. .1 suffered this way for three years,
and got to be a m?re skeleton and was
BO weak I could hardly stand alone.
Was not able to go anywhere and had
to let my house work go...I suffered
awful with a pain in my back and I
had the headache all the time. I just
was unable to do a thing. My life
was a misery, my stomach got in an
awful condition, caused from taking
BO much medicine. I suffered BO much
pain. I had just about given up all
hopes of our getting anything to help
me.
One day a Birthday Almanac was
thrown in my yard. After reading
its testimonials I decided to try Car
dui, and am so thankful that I did,
for I began to Improve when on the
Becond bottle...I am now a well
woman and feeling fine and the cure
has been permanent for it has been
two years since my awful bad health.
I will always praise and recommend
CarduL" Try Cardui today. E 78
If you anticipate the erection of
Marble or Granite Monument,
Marker or Headstone, it will be to
your interest to consult us.
Large assortment of finished mon
uments on hand ready for lettering.
Workmanship and materials first
class. Prices reasonable.
S. R. KELLY & SON
9th and Fenwick Sts., Augusta, Ga.
One Block South Union Sta.
To Prevent Blood Poisoning
ripply at once the wonderful old reliable DR.
PORTER'S ANTISEPTIC HEALING OIL,a sur
gical dressing; that relieves pain and heals at
thc same ti IP e. .Not ? liniment. JSc. ^"^^VIK
WOULD LOGALIZIN
MEAT TRADE PAY
Senator Currie, Stock Raiser
Nebraska, Makes Ex
periment. ^ ."
Meat Is high; the packers admit
though they say that other foods a
higher in proportion. The farmer sa;
he is not getting too much for his C?
tlc, in fact not enough, he says. Ho
about numerous local slaughterh
plants scattered throughout the coi
munities of our country, or a more c
rect-from-farmer-to-consuraer relatio:
ship?
There is almost a sentimental attra
tiveness about the thought, like drean
of one's boyhood home. It looks s
simple. Indeed, it Is simple after
fashion, and is the way most met
was handled before the industry gre
to national and International propo:
tlons. But would it pay?
Tried to Build Up Local Market
Experimentation and testing 1
doubtless the best teacher. And ii
quiring minds have not 'hesitated t
dig into the matter. Senator P. &
Currie of Broken Bow, Neb., himsel
a stock raiser, relates a blt of expt
rience of his own along this line.
He tried for years, he tells ns, t
establish a market for fat cattle witi
local butchers, invariably finding tha
he could not meet the price made t
them by the packers.
"In other words," he says, "the pack
ers could pay us more for our cattl
on foot, and sell the product to on
local butchers for less money thai
they (the butchers) could pay ns fo:
our cattle and slaughter the beef them
selves."
During the fore part of the presen
year he carried his inquiry further. Hi
shipped two carloads of cows tt
Omaha, and they were sold to Armoni
and Company for $7.90 per hundred
weight. Among these was one co*
which he wished to have himself foi
beef. This cow weighed 840 pounds
and therefore brought him $66.36. Th?
animal was tagged and the Identical
carcass was shipped to him by ex
press to Thedford, Neb., and charged
to him at the prevailing whole
sale price of such meat on that day In
Kansas City, Omaha and Minneapolis.
The carcass included carrying charges
of about $6.00, cost him $60.11, or
$6.25 less than he sold the animal for
In Omaha.
What Cow Would Cost Consumer.
"Now," continues the Senator, "sup
pose a consumer in Omaha .had or
dered this meat direct from me, and I
had slaughtered the beef at the ranch
and sent the meat direct to the con
sumer. Taking as a basis the price
received for this cow in Omaha, $66.36,
less the freight of 17% cents per hun
dred, it would make the cow worth on
the ranch $65.00."
To this $65.00 he adds $3.00 for
slaughtering at home and $6.00 for ex
press from Thedford to Omaha, and
he deducts $7.00 credit for the hide.
According to these figures the
dressed carcass of his cow would be
worth $67.00 in Omaha, as against the
packers' price of approximately $54.00
(which is derived by deducting the ex
press charges to Thedford, $6.00, from
the price the carcass was sold to him,
$60.11).
Cheaper to Buy Than Kill.
"After thorough investigation," the
Senator says, "I ara convinced that
it does not pay for us to slaughter
our own meat at the ranch; that we
would better ship our cattle to
Omaha, and buy our beef from the
packer. I have been engaged in the
cattle producing business all my life;
there is no particular reason why I
should be friendly to the packers, but
I am thoroughly convinced I am re
ceiving, and always have received
more for my cattle on foot, than If I
had been able to sell direct to the con
sumer, and consequently the consumer
has been able to buy my product for
less money through the packer ttuin
under any other system which is
known to business up to the present
time."
SENATOR KENYON'S CONTRAST
ING VIEWS.
Just what is the purpose of the
Kenyon bill now in hearing at Wash
ington would be hard to deduce from
Senator Kenyon's own statements. In
the bill itself the purpose is set forth
as follows: "To stimulate the pro?
duction, sale, and distribution of live
stock and live stock products, and for
other purposes." This stimulation of
live stock production may be well
taken as a bid to the consumer to hope
for lower meat prices.
But he has a different thought to
present to producers. In a letter ad
dressed recently to the Wallace Farm
er he says: "I do not believe myself
that the situation as to restricted
consumption is going to be chang?d
very much, and there will be the neces
sity of less production." Of course
less production would supposedly mean
higher prices for live stock, but also
higher prices for meat.
Are either the general public or the
farmer going to be fooled by this
method of playing up the one against
the other? It is not likely. Farmers
and consumers are both coming to the
realization that hampering the pack
ers !s not going to bring higher prices
for live stock nor lower prices for
meat, but quite the opposite. I
i.. Mi
mm
Dodge I Oldsmobile
Cars
wm
The season is about upon us when everybody who
does not already own a car will want one, and we
desire to inform the public that we sell Dodge and
Oldsmobile cars. Both of these lines have been on
the market a number of years, and have stood the
severest test over all kinds of roads.
We shall be pleased to give you a demonstration.
Drop us a card or call on us.
We also carry a full line of tires, tubes and ac
cessories at reasonable prices.
Our force of mechanics can do your repairing on
short notice and in the most approved manner.
Give us a trial.
Reliable Motor Sales Co.
Phone No. 69
Johnston, S. G.
I
J. H. CANTELOU
Attorney at Law
Will Practice in All Courts.
Office Over Store
of
REYNOLDS & PADGETT
Telephone No 103.
The Best Hot Weather Tonic
GROVE'S TASTELESS chill TONIC euriches the
ilood, builds up ?he whole system End will won
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he deorrssinc effect of the hot summer. 50c
Double Seal Piston Rings for
Automobiles are Guaranteed
We guarantee double rings to give entire satisfaction v:hen. a
FULL SET is properly installed. If, within 60 days after purchase,
the user should become dissatisfied with the rings, we will refund the
money we receive for them upon receipt of the rings, and the origi
nal invoice showing purchase. The rings should be returned through
the channels received. Ask for "Keep Upkeep Down."
Columbia Supply Company
823 West Gervais St., Columbia, S. C.
Upon These
Arguments We
YOU, the buyers, are the real builders of wagons. You put
the final Okay upon the use of certain materials and con-,
struction when you buy a wagon containing them-and
refuse to buy a wagon that does not. We want to show you how
the Thornhill Wagon is built. Upon a plain statement of facts
we are willing to rest our case. We believe the Thornhill way
would be your way if you should build a wagon. ~
For spokes and axles tough second growth highland hickory is
used For hubs and felloes the sturdy white oak is preferred.
This wood grows upon the mountain side. Thc ground is hard
the climate severe. It has to fiplit for life. It has nearly^ twice
the Strength of oak and hickory that grows under softer conditions.
Outdoors under shelter it. remains for three to five years. Th?
?ap dries in it, giving it a strength tim's kin to steel.
Full Circle Iron
Malleable Front Houri Plate
Trussed Bolsters and
Gears
Long Wear Beds
SoUters Cant
Mans tn Turning
In taming and backing up, with the ordi
nary circle iron, which is only a half cireie,
sisters run off the end of the track and
nang. It is difficult to make short turns and
back up. The Thomhdl full circle iron
gives a continuous track on which the bol
sters can tum.
The gears of Thornhill wagons stay in line for
life. Instead of the usual front hound plate,
a hound plate of malleable ii on is used. It is
a metal jacket braced at eight points that
keeps gears from ever getting out of line.
Note the
Adjustable
Brake Lover
On the front bolsters of Thornhill wagons
are heavy iron plates running along top and
bottom-connected by rivets that run clear
through the bolster. Strength and lightness
are combined. Rear gears are strongly
ironed. There are braces on both top and
bottom that extend thc full length of the
. hounds.
Solid trust bars extend the full length of the
axles givuig them double strength.
If you examine the beds of Thornhill
Wagons closely you will see at once the
superiority of the construction. The
bottoms are rc-inforccd over front and
rear bolsters.
Come in and examine this wagon for
yourself. We will take pleasure and
pride in showing you a Thornhill-The
wagon made of tough highland oak and
hickory-with features ail others lack.
[610-Nl
BETTIS CANTELOU