New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-10-24
GERMAN CHANCELLOR
SPEAKS HASTILY OF j. S.
SAYS America Is Impossible as
Source of Meat Supply,
Owing to Texas Fever.
CHALLENGE BY SEC. WILSON
Head of Department of Agrlcult-
ure Considers Excuse Given
TO Reichstag for Excluding
Our Beef a Poor One.

Washington, oct 23.-The Secretary ~
Agriculture. apropos # the statement Of
the German Imperial Chancellor that
America was impossible as n source Of
supply for beef because Of the preva-
lonce Of Texas fever. said tonight that
such an excuse for excluding American
meat was a very poor one
Wherever there is Texas fever" said
lIr. Wilson. 1T is quarantned. II never
goes abroad and it is never communi-
Gated % Northern cattle. II exists only
fra the South. but most Southern cattle
are immune from Il. and even where It
does exist We are gradually reducing the
affected area. The agency by which the
disease is spread is the fever tick. For
that reason We never permit Southern
cattle 20 he brought North except I'm the
winter time. when they are free from
the tick. As a result our Northern cat
tle are entirely unaffected. and in gen
eral are the healthlest cattle IN the
world Europe need not have the slight
est fear on account of the Texas fever"
Berlin. oct. 27-There was a large at
tendance OF members and secretaries Of
state in the Reichsfag to-day in anticipa-
tion Of the Chancelior's replies TO ques-
ttors regarding the greatly increased cost
of the uecsssaries OF life. This subject is
occupying the attention of the public al
81. Of r,1
fair. the Italian seizure Of Tripoli and the
revolution in China. The coming general
election viii probably be fought on this
issue.
The Socialists and Radicals are making
terrific Onslaughts on the tariffs affecting
the cost OF food and demanding the free
importation Of American meats. Clericals
Radicals and Socialists were all prepared
with questions when Or. Won Bethmann-
Hollweg took his seat.
After representatives of the Acrarian and
Centre parties had opposed any measures
except slight modification IN the system
of rebates on grain exports. and the So
cialists and Radicals had attacked the high
tariff system restrictions on foreign meats
as responsible for the situation, Chancellor
Won Bethmaun- Hollweg replied in a speech
that frequently caused disorderly incidents.
He rejected all proposals entailing change
IN the present economic system because the
crisis. he said. was produced by the 'tri-
cnn!aI drouth." adding that measures 70
tide over the immediate stringency were
al that the situation demanded. 4 reduc-
ticn u the duties on foodstufs. he con-
tended. would benefit the middlemen and
not help the consumers.
Discussing the cost Of meats. food and
grains the Chancellor said that conditions
we're not essentially bad He placed the
blame for the high prices partly upon the
retailers and partly upon the political cam
paign Of the Opposition. which. he declared,
amid rdicule and protest from tho Left
lad encouraged dealers 20 advance prices.
Germany. he added. must look within her
borders for a way in which 10 lower meat
prices. since Russia and America the two
outside sources Of supply, were impossible
because of the prevalence I'm those couu-
tries respectively OF anthrax and Texas
fever Accordingly. he appealed 10 the
Aerarlans 70 expand in the matter Of cattle
raising and expressed the hope that much
would come from the ventures Of local au-
thorities in selling direct 20 the consumers.
The Chancellors conclusion was that the
Germans must he prepared 70 pay for the
recent great economic development and for
better standard Of living with a higher