124 MISSOURI AGRICULTURAL RLPORT. 



registered cattle. Consumption has but little to do with the price, for 

 the price paid for cattle on foot has no relative ratio to the price the re- 

 tailer sells to the customer, or the price the Retailer pays to the packer. 

 The long headed packer, years ago, studied out the problem that the 

 private butcher wras a menace to his business and by a systematic freez- 

 ing out process eliminated the butcher. But one fact now remains to 

 keep the packer from having absolute control of the markets, both in 

 buying and selling, and that one factor is organized labor. Whether 

 the unions are a blessing or a curse to the cattle raiser and feeder is an 

 unsolved problem. Cattle last year just before the strike were slowly 

 advancing and all who were interested in raising or feeding cattle were 

 hopeful that the cattle business was coming back to a paying basis. 

 The strike was peculiar. The skilled workmen were satisfied with their 

 wages, but in a spirit of brotherly kindness, at the expense of the [ ackers, 

 they demanded higher wages for the unskilled laborer. The packers 

 naturally refused. Then the tie-up in business. The packers could 

 take but a limited supply, could not fill their orders, consumption fell 

 off, people found that they could live without meat and feel good on a 

 cheaper ration, but this state of affairs hurt the cattle raisers and cattle 

 feeders in the pocket book, the most sensitive and vital part of business. 

 The unions lost out, for public sentiment was against their generosity for 

 their fellow laborers, in calling out their men to help force the packer to 

 pay, not them;, but their unskilled brothers higher wages, and the union of 

 skilled labor getting the honor for the generous deed, put me in mind of 

 a story related by Rabelas. A cook was roasting a goose in a Httle 

 alcove on the street A laborer passing along at the noon hour and 

 seeing the warm grate and smelling the rich flavor of the goose, took out 

 a large loaf of bread, his only dinner, and would break off a piece and 

 hold it over the goose. The fragrant vapor both warmed and flavored 

 his dry bread and he enjoyed the comforts. When he had finished his 

 meal the cook demanded pay, but the laborer refused. Why, he said, the 

 vapor was floating away and was of no account to you. But said the 

 cook, did it not help your bread? Yes, replied the laborer, but I have 

 not wronged you. While they were disputing a crowd gathered. 

 Finally the cook said that they would leave the case to be settled by the 

 town fool — both agreed. We have such a one in every town. We call 

 him the town wit or wag. You have all met him. One who sees the 

 comic side even in tragedy, and turns the most sorrowful woe into a 

 smile of joy; one who sees the truth in a cloud of bog and can scien- 

 tifically turn on the X-ray. Well, says the wit to the laborer, you 

 got the vapor from the goose, it flavored and warmed and moistened 

 your dry bread and made it eat good. Yes, responded the laborer. 



