El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-01-26
KILL s
COMPETITION
Government Control of In
dustry Urged by Ne
braska Grower.

Competition is dead. having been
killed by the packers, Edward L Burke
Of Omaha. Neb.. told the livestock men
in convention Wednesday. His solution
of the great meat problem Of the coun-
try was by government control, the
establishment of rival packeries, suit
against the packers and the curtail-
ment of production.
In his address TO the packers he said-
For several years past il has
gradually been borne in on producers
OF meat animals. that all is not well
with the industry That there are at
work, at all of the principal livestock
markets in this country certain forces
which deprive the producer OF his fair
share of the returns, that there is q
concentration of control at these mar
kets into the hands Of a few very rich
ana powerful buying concerns, whose
selfish and unfair methods bid fair 20
Ilrst ruin the producers and later -e-
act with crushing force on the buyers
themselves in the shape of diminished
production.
Enormous LOSSES
at isn't necessary for me to 90 into
the details OF the enormous losses Of
cattle feeders during the past two or
three years. Coincideut with their
great losses, the great packing institu-
tons have been absorbing a larger
proportion of the business and have
been Diling up the greatest net
earnings in the history Of their bust
ness. From bitter experience YOU are
too well aware Of the existing condi-
tions-
Disaster To Industry.
1T is rapidly becoming apparent 70
all that disaster to the livestock indus
try and hardship to the consumer viii
result, unless prompt steps are taken te
find and apply a remedy for present
unfair conditions. There must be some
line Of justice and fairness ascer-
tanned and established between the
producers OF livestock and the few men
who buy their product With this idea
in mind. last july the president OF your
association requested David F. HOus-
ton. secretary Of agriculture, to call
meeting and invite all the various in
terests corrected with the livestock
industry, especially the producers and
the packers to attend. The producers
went 10 a great deal of trouble and
expense to prepare their side of the
question. and to go to Chicago. only to
find that the big packers practically
refused 10 have anything to do with the
meeting.
Associations Responsibility
This association has, at this time. a
duty 10 perform II has heavy re-
spOnsibility. and on the way in which
il faces this responsibility Will depend
very largely its future. It is the re-
sponsibility Of leadership in a crisis.
Thousands of producers are looking
for a way out, solution of this baf-
fling problem. The action taken on
this marketing question may make or
break the organization. It's our prob
lem. and it behOoves US TO face il
courageOusly and 10 solve II wisely
If We are afraid Of it and run away. IL
will rise up again and again TO curse
US. but if we work out happy solu-
tiOn. our children and our children's
children will bless US
Competition Eliminated
CAS- the country has grown olcer and
business more complicated. with the
large corporations doing the bulk OF
the big business, the community of in
terest idea has stepped in and gradu-
ally competition has been eliminated in
certain lines, so that prices are no
longer subject to natural laws That is
just what has happened in the greatest
industry in our country / refer 10 the (
control of the prices OF meat animals |
and meat products by the leading pack !
ing concerns
Put in its simplest form. shall four
or five very small groups OF men. with
unlimited financial power control the
meat supply of 100.000.000 people, eX-
plotting the producer on the one hand I
and the consumer on the other2
Several Ways Out.
There would seem to be several |
ways open toward al least lettering /
present conditions First, trying TO !
force competition between the buyers. |
Second. government supervision. or l
even regulation The latter would 4
probably ultimately lead clear to the !
regulation of prices. Third. actions for /
damages against the packers for losses /
sustained by the seller, involving the !
proving Of the breaking Of the anti 1
trust laws. Fourth, establishment OF I
competitive plants. either privately or 4
municipality owned Fifth. cooperative /
marketing. which has been SO success
full in various other lines. Sixth,
thorough investigation of the packing
business and all subsidiaries Seventh,
curtailment in production"