#beef trust

Another Rise In Sight

April 22, 1910

A large man labeled U.S. Beef Trust if being chased by a bull labeled Australian Beef. A wall labeled Tariff is behind them.

Australian beef was being sold for 3 to 6 cents less a pound than U.S. beef in the US, prompting calls for a raise in the beef tariff from the Trust.

From Hennepin County Library

Beating the Beef Trust

June 26, 1909

In the first panel, a man shouts "Don't buy any more beef my dear, we'll get our meat some other way." He holds a newspaper reading "Beef prices go up again" In the next panel he prepares his fishing gear and says "I can catch fish enough to last a week!" In the final panel, he arrives with several small fish but his wife looks over the bill for all the various expenses of fishing, far more than beef would cost. His son says "See what we git for Sunday Dinner!"

From Hennepin County Library

Be Careful, Mr. Farmer, In Protecting Your Hide, You Do Not Get Skinned

June 21, 1909

In the first panel, a Farmer speaks to Congress, who carries a Tariff ladder "Give us the tariff on hides, by all means." The beef trust looks on grinning. In the second panel, the beef trust sits atop a packing house, tanneries, and the shoe business, telling the farmer "Drive 'em right in Mr. Farmer- Sure the hide goes with the beef." In the last panel the Beef trust offers expensive shoes and harnesses to the farmer, who says "This is where I pay the tariff." The shoes are marked "Shoes at Beef Trust Prices" In the background, Congress says "I suppose I should have told him".

Congress had adjusted the tariff to protect the beef trust, helping the farmers with meat prices, but hurting them on leather goods.

From Hennepin County Library

Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde - Up To Date

June 16, 1909

Jekyll, the High Protectionist (Beef Trust) holds a hat full of protections for ranchers, farmers, and cattle raisers. Behind him, Mr. Hide (Beef Trust) crouches, controlling 55% of the hides of the country, with ownership of 30 tanneries and the club of war on the independent tanneries.

Basically the Beef Trust was pretending to care about the average rancher, etc. but were using the tariffs to exploit those who worked with the animal skins.

From Hennepin County Library

During his career he was famous for two things.

First, for feuding with another comedian over the name "Billy Watson," which led to our Billy being billed as "Original" Billy Watson and the other being billed as "Sliding" Billy Watson. (The irony, of course, is that "Original" Billy Watson was not actually Billy Watson at all. his real name was Isaac Levie and he stole the name from a third comedian!)

The second was his back-up act: "The Beef Trust," a chorus line of obese women. The act appealed to old-timers who prefered a zaftig body type, as well as the finicky fetishists who were quickly becoming burlesque’s primary audience. Watson made bank with the Beef Trust, and eventually retired to manage his real estate investments. He licensed out the rights to the Beef Trust act, which continued to do well until the burlesque circuit finally died.

Old “House”-Dog Tray In Bad Company

June 23, 1906

The Congressman hound with Joe Cannon’s face stands with the Lobby Opposing Pure Food Bill dog and the Beef Trust dog.

The House had passed a very different version of the Pure Food bill from the Senate, slowing, and possibly preventing its eventual passage.

See Also: Joe Cannon; Trusts and Antitrust

From Hennepin County Library

Inspection on the Hoof

June 21, 1906

Uncle Sam kicks the canned meat beef trust output with a boot that says "O.K. Uncle Sam Inspected on the hoof 23" Sam says "You pay me for the trouble of this little O.K."

The caption reads "The senate may yet carry out the president's idea that Uncle Sam gives canned beef the inspection kick because it was needed and that the Beef Trust should pay."

The president was calling for congress to include language that the meat packers would be responsible for paying for the inspections of their product.

See Also: Trusts and Antitrust

From Hennepin County Library

The Doctors Agree - So Does the Patient 

June 19, 1906

Doctor Roosevelt holds the Beef Trust boy still so that Doctor Cannon can give him the Meat Inspection medicine.

The caption reads "Beef Trust Boy - Why, really, I believe I do need to take something."

The President had approved a revised Meat bill passed by Congress, that was more stringent than the previous one. Cannon was Speaker of the House.

See Also: Theodore Roosevelt; Trusts and Antitrust; Joe Cannon

From Hennepin County Library