The sun., 1917-08-26
MURPHY'S TYRANNY
SHACKLES LEADERS.
SAYS THOS. E. RUSH
PACKERS WANT
MEAT DICTATOR
Hoover Urged to Name Ruler;
Lacks Power to Fix Prices,
His Reply.
Special DeSrdfrk IN Tur Srx

CHICAGO, Aug. 25-Herbert c. Hoover.
Federal food administrator, came to
Chicago to-day to Took into the meat
situation"
He went away carrying In his pocket
formal request from the packers
adopted unanimously In advance OF his
arrival--that he appoint Federal ''dic-
tator at once to take over entire control
OF the live stock Industry.
Before departing Mr.. Hoover left al
invitation with the packers. commission
men and live stock producers to meet
MIN In washington on September s and
.. at which time there will be u general
conference In which the Secretary Of Ag-
riculture will participate. The packers
didn't meet Mr.. Hoover. who was In the
city only five hours They did business
with his representatives. N. L. Requa
and Edward c. Lancaster OF the United
States Live Stock Industries Commission.
at luncheon at the Saddle and Sirloin
Club at the stock yards.
PrOposnl by Packers.
Here is the proposal, formulated by
Thomas +. Wilson. head of Wilson 4
Co.. and unanimously indorsed by all in
terests which was made to Mr.. Hoover {:
Appoint big man, experienced in
business. to act as absolute dictator Of
the live stock industry. Let him CO.
operate with an advisory board, which
will consist of packing company. live
stock producers and railroad representa-
tives. Let this dictator work out an
equitable plan of distribution OF live
stock supplies. Let him dictate the plan
we should follow and we will abide by 1t
without question"
Mr.. Hoover said that under the food
law the Government cannot AK prices for
meat The Government might. however.
name fair profit. but there is no way
to enforce it. Cooperation by producers,
packers and Government agencies is the
only remedy for the meat situation. he
declared.
Mr.. Hoover talked over the situation
with Chicago members OF the live stock
industries commission late In the after
noon and received a great amount Of in
formation regarding the violent huctua-
tions In the live stock market recently,
which sent meats to record prices. He
also addressed meeting Of editors Of
farm papers In session at the Hotel Sher-
man.
The stock yards proposal was the big
thing of the food administrators visit.
From his arrival until his departure he
obtained detailed accounts OF the in
vestiSation into the meat industry which
has peen III progress.
Neat Worries Hoover.
To his advisers here Mr.. Hoover ex-
pressed himself as greatly concerned
over the meat situation. He pointed out
there must be the greatest stimulation
to production OF meat animals on the
Farms and ranges and also stricter
guard placed on the cattle markets, as
well as the packing concerns themselves.
He intimated that in this grea. crisis
the statutes are TO be stretched consid-
erably on the theory that the end tusti-
nes the means and that technicalities
are not to stand in the way Of insuring
the nation bountiful supply Of food. at
the same time providing a big excess
for our armies abroad and those Of our
allies.
The food administrator EXPRESSED
himself as highly pleased with the gen.
eral attitude of cooperation he found in
this section. The action OF the packers
was unexpected to him. but not to those
who have closely followed the pro-
gramme they have been mapping out at
the yards. Privately for some time
packers have been declaring the Govern
ment could take over their plants at
any time it saw fit.
In a statement issued tonight Mr.
Hoover denied there is any foundat ton
for statement that the Food Admins
tration has any intention 10 fix prices of
beef or pork products.
The administration hopes to develop
by discussion with representative COM
mlttees OF the hog producers. the cattle
producers, the commission men and the
packers" the statement says, greater
stabilization OF the Industry during the
var and in Sllch "a way IN