Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The Athena press. (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 30, 1918)
Are the PACKERS PROFITEERS? Plain Facts About the Meat Business The Federal Trade Commission in its recent report on war profits, stated that the five large meat packers have been profiteering and that they have a monopoly of the market. These conclusions, if fair and just, are matters of serious concern not only to those engaged in the meat packing business but to every other citizen of our country. The figures given on profits are misleading and the state ment that the packers have a monopoly is unsupported by the facts. The packers mentioned in the report stand ready to prove their profits reasonable and necessary. The meat business is one of the largest American indus tries. Any citizen who would familiarize himself with its details must be prepared for large totals. The report states that the aggregate profits of four large packers were $140,000,000 for the three war years. This sum is compared with $19,000,000 as the average annual profit for the three years before the war, making it appear that the war profit was $121,000,000 greater than the pre-war profit. This compares a three-year profit with a one-year profit a manifestly unfair method of comparison. It is not only misleading, but the Federal Trade Commission apparently has made a mistake in the figures themselves. The aggregate three-year profit of $140,000,000 was earned on sales of over four and a half billion dollars. It means about three cents on each dollar of sales or a mere fraction of a cent per pound of product. Packers' profits are a negligible factor in prices of live stock and meats. No other large business is conducted upon such small margins of profit. Furthermore and this is very important only a small Eortion of this profit has been paid in dividends. The alance has been put back into the businesses. It had to be, as you realize when you consider the problems the packers have had to solve and solve quickly during these war years. To conduct this business in war times, with higher costs and the necessity of paying two or three times the former prices of live stock, has required the use of two or three times the ordinary amount of working capital. The additional profit makes only a fair return on this, and as has been slated, the larger portion of the profits earned has been used to finance huge stocks of goods and to provide additions and improvements made necessary by the enormous demands of our Army and Navy and the Allies. j iL ,Jl3M!!B 1 ' If you are a business man you will appreciate the signifi cance of these facts. If you are unacquainted with business, talk this matter over with some business acquaintance with your banker, say and ask him to compare profits of the packing industry with those of any other large industry at the present time. No evidence is offered by the Federal Trade Commission in support of the statement that the large packers have a monopoly. The Commission's own report shows the large number and importance of other packers. The packers mentioned in the statement stand ready to prove to any fair-minded person that they are in keen competition with each other, and that they have no power to manipulate prices. If this were not true they would not dare to make this positive statement. Furthermore, Government figures show that the five large packers mentioned in the report account for only about one-third of the meat business of the country. They wish it were possible to interest you in the details of their business. Of how, for instance, they can sell dressed beef for less than the cost of the live animal, owing to utilization of by-products, and of the wonderful story of the methods of distribution throughout this broad land, as well as in other countries. The five packers mentioned feel justfied in co-operating with each other to the extent of together pretenting this public statement. k They have been able to do a big job for your Government in its time of need; they have met all war time demands promptly and completely and they are willing to trust their case to the fair-mindedness of the American people with the facts before them. Armour and Company Cudahy Packing Co. Morris & Company Swift & Company Wilson & Company DOCTOR URGED AN OPERATION Instead I took Lydia E. Pink ham's Vegetable Compound and Was Cured. Baltimore, Md. "Nearly four years I suffered from organic troubles, ner vousness and head aches and every month would have to stay in bed most of the time. Treat ments would relieve me for a time but my doctor was al ways urging me to ave an operation. SrV My sister asked me h a m's Vegetable Compound before consenting to an yl operation. I took I J five bottles of it and it has completely cured me and my work is a pleasure. I tell all my friends who have any trouble of this kind what Lydia E. Pinkham's Vegetable Com pound has done for me. Nellie B. Brittwgham, 609 Calverton Rd. , Balti more, Md. It is only natural for any woman to dread the thought of an operation. So many women have been restored to health by this famous remedy, Lydia E. Pinkham's Vegetable Compound, after an operation has been advised that it will pay any woman who suffers from such ailments to consider trying it be fore submitting to such a trying ordeal. T7 People to Avoid. "Some people," said Uncle Eben, 'regards givin' good advice as a form of amusement, same as telling funny stories. ' Fond of Army Life. Pete, an army mule at a camp near Portland, Me., was left on an island in Casco bay. The soldiers built a shed for him and left food and water, but Pete got homesick. He kicked off the top of the shed, gnawed his halter until he was free, plunged Into the sea, and swam back to the camp. Balance the Books Properly. When we are setting down the things that are against us, let's set down some of the things that are on o"r side. A practice of this kind would be good for all of us. New Houston Hotel Sixth and Everett Sis.. Portland, Ore. Pour blocks from Union Depot Two block! from! New Postoftice. Modern and fireproof Over lOOjratslde rooms. Rates 76c to 12.00. CHAS. G. HOPKINS, Manager. 200 Rooms 100 Baths Nes- Both rpou Absolutely Fireproof Hotel Hoyt Corner Sixth and Hoyt Sts.. Portland, Ore. LOU UIMES, Manager. RATES:-75c to t2. SPECIAL-Week 'or Month One Cause of Failure. We are fickle and uncertain, ever falling, ever liable to be disappointed and dissatisfied, often only because we have not realized our appointed mis sion and its necessities. Rev. T. T. Carter. Might Have Changed History. Joseph's correct interpretation of Pharaoh's dream of the fat and the lean klne, and the full and withered ears, saved a mighty nation from hun ger. Had Caesar but heeded Calpur nia's dream and not gone out the eventful day, Rome might have still been what she was. If Pilate had paid attention to his wife's dream, the Scriptures would give us a different story about the Savior. Optimistic Thought. It is io live twice when you can en joy a retrospect of your former life. Cuticura Complexions, Nothing better thnn Cuticura Sonp dally and Ointment as needed to make the complexion clear, scnlp clean and hands soft and white. For free sam ples address "Cutlcurn, Dept. X, Bos ton." Sold by druggists nnd by mall. Soap 25, Ointment 25 nnd 00. Adv. Improving His Family. According to the Tuscaloosa News there is a boy in Tuscaloosa county who is teaching his father, mother, and grandmother to read and write. We dare say this little professor has abolished corporal punishment in his school. Montgomery Advertiser. AT AN END the "female complaints and weaknesses that make woman's life a misery. They are relieved by Dr. Pierce's Favorite Prescription. For all the derangements, disor ders, and diseases peculiar to the sex, this Is the only I remedy certain to benefit. VU It's a legitimate medicine r for woman, carefully adapt ed in her delicate organlza L lion, ami conflicting IJg wilii any ot her conditions. It regulateB and promotes all the proper functions, builds up and Invigorates the entire system, and re stores health and strength. Are you weak, nervous and ailing, or "run-down" and overworked? Then It will bring you special help. It's the mother's friend. It lessens pain and insures life of both mother and child. Dr. Pierce's Favorite Prescription has a record of years of cureB. It is the most potent Invigorating tonic and strengthening nervine known to medi cal science. It 1b mado of tho glyceric extracts of native medicinal roots found in our forests and contains not a drop of alcohol or harmful drugs. Sol IdnTbal EATOIN XZ& VB Sold in Tablet or Liquid form by deal ers. Tablets 60c Adv. World's Debt to Printing Press. What gunpowder did for war, the printing presB has done for the mind; the statesman is no longer clad in tho steel of special education, but every reading man is his judge. Wendell Phillips. She Had One. I admit It. I had many parcels, but there were extenuating circumstances that need not be mentioned here. The oar was toll and the aisles crowded. I was shouldered against a seat contain ing a large woman and child. My par cels went awry. "Would you could you," I began, "take one of these for a moment" "Why, I've got one of my own," re plied the sizable lady, showing a small parcel on the seat between her and the child. All things are possible. Somehow I managed to scrabble those bundles to gether and hang on to a strap for two arm-weary miles. Exchange. A Hot One. The New City Official (his first In terview) Now, I don't want the public to think I'm in the habit of talking for publication. The Reporter They won't, when they see what yon say In the paper. Awake. Mrs. Oldwed You were talking, but I'm Bure you were not asleep. Mr. Oldwed Why so? Mrs. Oldwed Most of your talk was about how much yon thought of my mother. Not a 8 pedes. , "Groundfish," which to many is a term of mystery, Is not used to desig nate any particular species, but means rather the large class of fish, that live on or near the bottom of the sea, In cluding cod, pollock, haddock, halibut, hake, sole, and many other leas com mon than these. Biblical Names Popular. A paragrapher asserts that England can boast that no other country pos sesses so many Scriptural place names as are found In that country. The name of Jericho occurs six times on the maps, Paradise five times and Nineveh, Mt Zlon, Mt Ararat and ML Bphralm three times each. Deceitful Billy. Mother (sternly to young married daughter "Really, my dear, I am astonished at your allowing Billy to attend that farewell supper to Mr. Soakem. I understand It was a moat disgraceful affair." Daughter (Indig nantly) "Why, mother, how can you? I am quite sure it must have been very sad. Billy distinctly told me the men filled right up, and even the main speaker of the evening was too full for utterance!" Laughter. Laughter begins either with the mouth or the eyes. Then, come the other muscular groups, and' then come the vocal expressions of laughter, such as brays, cackles, sniggers, sim pers, giggles, snorts, grunts, foghorn rumbles, yells, shrieks, guffaws, mils, chuckles, sniffles, and all sorbs eg pe culiar bird notes and musical sounds. From the B. C. & B Journal. natives' and tourists." "I always had believed," he wrote, "that the Pacific ocean wsb salty, yet we pay ten cents a pound for the same salt out here that we used to buy for three cents a pound in Indianapolis and I never beard of any 'native' salt being dis covered in White river, Fall creek, Pogues and Pleasant runs." Hla Experience. Meeks Well, let us come to an agreement of some kind and put It in black and white. Talk Is cheap, you know. Weeks Yes, and Ink Is often expen sive. Meeks What do you mean? Weeks I let a drop of It scatter over the back of a friend's note three years ago and I'm still making pay ments on 1L "Now." "Now," Is a constant syllable tick ing from the clock of time. "Now" Is the watchword of the wise. "Now" la cm the banner of the prudent. Let us keep this little word always in our mind; and whenever anytning nmunii itself to us In the shape of work, whether mental or physical, we should do It with all our might, re membering that "now" 1b the only una for us. It Is. Indeed, a sorry way to get through the world by putting off till tomorrow, saying, "men i win do It. No! this will never answer. "Now" Is ours, "Then" may never be. -Alcohol From Sawdust. Experiments havo shown that a ton dry sawdust will yield with proper treatment twonty to twenty-flvo gal lons of 95 per cent ethyl or grain alcohol. Aged by Monotonous Work. Men of the laboring classes wear out earlier than men of other classes be cause they have no break or variation In their work, no rest, no change. It is not effort, but continuous monoton ous labor which ages a man. Exchange. Not Due to Religious Ardor. Shears "How is It that Scriblelgli has been attending church so regularly of late?" Typo "Why, ho sayB that he likes to go where ho is always sure of having hiB contributions accepted." The Lamb. IS"S"S"S.4S.4"SS..S.S..S.SS"S Hurrah ! How's This Cincinnati authority says corns dry up and lift out with fingers. Ouch I ?! ?! ! ThlB kind of rough talk will be heard less here in town If people troubled with corns will follow the simple advice of this Cincinnati authority, who claims that a few drops of a drug called freezone when applied to a tender, aching corn or hardened callous stops soreness at once, and soon the corn or callous dries up and lifts right off without pain. He says freezone dries Immediately and never Inflames or even Irritates tho surrounding Bkln. A small bottle of freezone will cost very little at any drug store, but will positively remove every bard or soft corn or callous from one's ftet. Millions of America's women will welcome this announce ment since the Inauguration of the high heels. If your druggist doesn't have freezone tell him to order a small bottle for you. Adv. Javanese Fond of Theatricals. The Javaneso bo enjoy the wander ing theaters of their land that they will walk miles to see one of their epics or folk tales produced by pup pets or by real players. Whenever the manager seta up his stage and proper ties there is the jabbering Javanese crowd, eager for evening and the pros pective treat. Pomegranate Long Neglected. Pliny, a good horticulturist of sonic time ago, says that fruits of pomegra nate wero sold in the city of Carthage (not either in Missouri or Illinois.) As this was some time B. 0 it is a marvel that pomegranates have not been brought to bear better fruits, for very ew relish them. Timepieces Need Care. Clocks will keep good time if they are not wound too tightly and never allowed to ruii down. An eight-day clock should be wound once in four days, and then half or little more than half way each time. A watch that is wound twice a day will keep better time than if It Is wound up quite tight overy 24 hours. Made Careless by Prosperity. When all Is prosperity and peace a nation seems to bo nearest a crisis. Peace and prosperity seem to muku a people careless. Atchison Olobe. Little Brother's Guess. Baby had just cut her first tooth and of course all 111 the family were talking about it. The next day, while the family was eating dinner, tho baby began to cry and little brother looked up with a twinkle In his eyo and said: "What Is the matter, baby? Have you got the toothache?" Never Learned It. Wo askod the young lady across the way if sho ever used the thesaurus when sho had anything to write and she said she'd never learned to oper ate it and still used her fountain pen. That grounded maxim, so rife and celebrated in tho mouths of wisest men, that to tho public good privato respects must yield Milton. Cuticura Promotes Hair Health Soap 25c. Ointment 25c 1 50c Earn More Young Women and Men Huwineas o4m for t mint J rninijH. GrtiHp your opportunity. Knorll now In Northwest'! ljiiim"it busineHH coJloi luhiike-Wulker, 1'ortliim). Kreo Oatetog, Hides, Pelts, WVool&Mohaii We wist all isi kin. Wills 1st Pikes td3taiaf Tin. THE H. P. NORTON COMPANY, Portland. Ore.. Seattle. Wn.. UelUnarham. Wn. "To Thine Ownself Be True." If a man has nothing to reproach himself with, he can bear anything. 1'hllllps Brooks. Wanted to Die Among Books. Robert Boggs, keeper of Ye Olds Franklin book shop In Brooklyn, when found near death from age and star- - M yM,.1.. TllSMUlsU n To keep clean and healthy take Dr. Pierce's Pleasant Pellets. They regu late liver, bowels and stomach. Horse's Musical Sense. The musical acuteness of horses 1b shown by the rapidity with which cav alry horses learn the significance of trumpet calls. nijin V""1- Porl- Beef' rllsT Poultry, Butter, Eggi and Farm Produce, to the OH tMlabla Eventing limine with a record of 46 years ef Square I IssumMl, and las uaaured of TOP MARKET PRICES. F. M. CRONKHITE, 45-47 Front Streat, Portland, Oregon FRED DUNDEE MOTOR CAR REPAIRING MACHINE WORK MAGNETO SERVICE STATION ALL KINDS OF WELDING