The High Price of Bacon and the Low Price of Hogs

To the Editor: By your issue of Dec. 3, big, jovial, optimistic C. M. McAlister hopped off the train at Kennewick and during his stay hopped on a recent interview in your paper by Geo. Finley in which the latter averred that the Union Meat company of Portland controlled the Northwest market, and the packers were not keeping their promise to the farmers to pay them Omaha prices, plus freight, should they go into hog raising. Mr. McAlister seems to be long on explaining the good virtues of his corporation, but from a little pig-raiser’s standpoint I wish he would be more specific: Why are we asked to raise more hogs if the market is flooded? If the market is so square and 'unfettered,' why has not the price of ham, bacon and lard been lowered to the working man who stows away chops and makes inroads upon the bacon and hams? You paint a pathetic picture of hard times. With the prices of grain going up, do you blame us for taking your interview with a little salt? It occurs to me that the administration might redeem one campaign pledge by ferreting out a reason for high bacon and cheap hogs.