New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-09-23
PACKERS LAY SCARCITY
OF MEAT ON FARMERS
Situation of Consumer and
Dealer Called Most PreCariouS
in Country'S History.
TALK OF FUTURE FAMINE
Only Hope of Averting 1t Seen
in Small Tillers of the Soil
Raising More Cattle
for Market.

Chicago. Sept. 22-Responsibility for
averting future meat famine was placed
on small farmers by speakers at The
eighth annual convention Of the Amer-
can meat packers to-day. They all agreed
that II the decrease in meat production OF
the last ten years is not stopped the ques-
ton of the meat supply for the people Of
the United states will be serious. Among
the remedies suggested by the speakers
were
Every small farmer should raise at
least two beef steers year 70 offset the
decreased production Of the great ranches
OF the West.
The remaining ranges should be cut UP
into farms. to put all farmers on an equal
footing.
Development OF the hills Of New Eng
land. with their bountful springs and
prevailing shade. as a beef producing
country
Substitution ~ corn for cotton in the
Southern states. and the consequent de-
velopment Of the cattle and hog produc-
ton.
The report Of the executive committee
sounded the first note Of the danger OF a
famine
The American meat packing house
situation and that Of consumers 81 meat
food products in this country are both
In a condition more precarious than AT
any other time in our history" said the
report OF the executive committee.
We are facing conditions in the pro
duction Of meat food products which
would have been thought impossible ten
years ago The shortage Of livestock
which has been impressed upon Us as
packing house producers for several
years has been intensified during the last
year our population is growing at IT'S
normal rate. We have passed the point
where demand has overtaken production
and We arc now on a basis which shows
that demand exceeds the supply OF meat
food products 10 such an extent that we
have abnormally high prices for meat
food products
The farmers are not furnishing nearly
a sufficient number OF animals TO keep
the packing houses In operation on any
thing like fun time, and this results I'm
heavy losses. owing 20 lack OF volume OF
business. And there seems 10 be no
prospect OF relief Despite the higher
prices for livestock Of all kinds statistics
show that the farmers not only are not
increasing their production OF meat food
animals. but that such production is de-
creasing at an appalling rate
Among other causes for the shortage OF
meat, the report pointed out were the
loss OF meat food animals through pre-
ventable diseases and the unthinking
slaughter Of calves and especially heiier
calves"
The committee appointed 20 confer with
government officials regarding pure food
laws, in It's report challenged tho wisdom
OF the federal government debating what
ingredients should be used in meat prod
ucts.
our principal difficulty has been that
those In power know practically nothing
OF the actual conditions OF packing house
operations. We have been In the hands OF
capabl, well meaning scientists on one
hand and political ofiiceholders on the
other"
The report said that the action OF the
government I'm changing the character OF
labels on canned goods. after once they
had been accepted by the government
cost the packing industry $4,000 annually.
Speakers at the national convention OF
butter and eGg men urged the need oil
national legislation 10 regulate the stor-
age of these products. In order TO avoid
repeated charges Of price raising ana
monopoly.
This conference should advocate ma
tional legislation on the subject OF stor-
age" said j. L. Homigman, OF New YORK. /
In an address IF every state has us
own laws with regard to the length oil
time we may keep eggs and produce. we
,yiu soon have a condition like that
caused by the present divorce laws