The sun., 1917-04-17
Predict Prices Exceeding
Civil War Unless Action
Is Taken Now.
FEAR MEATLESS DAYS
Daily Conservation in the
Household Urged to Com
hat Stringency.
FARM ARMY Is SOUGHT
Measure Is introduced in Con-
ercss to Force Employ
ment in Fields.
FARM ARMY Is SOUGHT

WARRINGTON. April I6-Predicting
meat prices that will overshadow those
Of the civil war II immediate steps are
not taken by the Government. represen-
tatives OF some OF the largest packing
houses in the country came to WASH
ington to.iay to canvass the situation
with Secretary Houston Of the Depart
ment OF Agriculture and Julius Rosen-
wald. chairman OF the committee on sup-
plies of the Council Of National Defence
Among those IN the party were J. Ogden
Armour, Edward A Cudahy. Thomas e.
Wilson. l., F. Swift and Edward Morris
They called iirs, on Mr. Rosenwald and
were accompa MED by him to the office
OF Secretary Houston.
The packers offered TO turn over their
plants for Government requirements
during the war. and TO cooperate in every
way possible to furnish provisions for
the army and navy.
That the country might have to go
on a schedule OF meat less days. as is
done in England and others OF the war
ring nations. was the suggestion
seriously made by several Of the packers.
All agreed that the situation was SO
grave az to demand radical treatment
They had not fixed upon a plan them
selves. but wished to talk over the sub
ject with the authorities here before
they advocated any defnite move. Tho
measures which received consideration
In the conference were meatless days
and other means Of conservation, stimu-
la ton OF production and price fixing.
Packers Ready to Aid.
Meatless DAYS will not be to the ad
vantage Of the packers. but they wish 20
act In the spirit OF the Presidents en-
hortation and cooperate with the Cow
ernnent in keeping the food situation
so we'll in hand that the public VIII not
be greatly inconven!enced. They SAID
to-day that the PRONUNCIATION OF meat
less days bv the Government wouid d"
entirely satisfactory to them II this ap-
reared the best way OF meeting the
situation.
The meat packers hoped the Govern
men, would not find IL necessary to fix
prices. They preferred to cooperate 10
an extent which would not compel TINS
recourse, although admitting that II
might have 70 come ns hnal expedlent'
They thought that for the present
curta ilment In the consumption OF meat.
the elimination OF waste by the general
public and the Introduction OF methoos
OF stimulation OF the live stock industry
throughout the country would serve to
solve the problem or Mt least to keep
meat prices out Of the prohibition realm.
stocks Dumped on Market.
Recent temporary declines in meat
rrices were eXp,a! !ned by the packers as
being due to the fear in Some quarters
that the Government proposed at once 70
fix an arbitrary price on meat products
Producers therefore dumped lot OK
their stock on the market. with the re-
suit that prices dropped. Another result
was the further depletion OF the scan'y
supply OF meat
ceutrating every energy in persuad!na
the farmers to put in crops to the limit
Of their acreage and 20 do their part In
: reducing the meat shortage by breeding
greater numbers Of cattle, sheep and
, swine.
The great problem Of farm help is 60
ing to be met by the cooperation OF tno
Department OF Labor with DR. Beverly
r. Galloway. formerly Assistant secre-
tarN OF AkrlCultuTc, WIN
designated to take charge OF the food
situation for the Department Of Agri-
culture, The Department OF Labor by
means of a form Of census will be able
to inform Dr. Galloway or his agents
where the help may be obtained.
Representative Mccormick. Illinois.
: Introduced a bill to provide volunteer
army for increasing agricultural produc-
tion during the war. II Is based on the
plan worked out by the University OF
/ Illinois.
The measure provides for the enlist
ment of volunteers OF three classes into
an agricultural army. The classes are !:
! !, Men above military age. 2. Men OF
military age, but physically unfit for
! service. 3. Boys from II to military
age. il physically At for farm work.
Farmers Of the spring wheat belt, par
.lcularly those OF North Dakota, Mime
| sofa, South Dakota. Washington. Mon
tana and Idaho. were called upon by
| Secretary Houston to-day TO plant more
wheat Immediately. to make UP the Sc
rious shortage threatened by the unprom-
| ising condition Of the winter wheat crop.
Lane Issues Appeal.
Secretary Lane tonight appealed to
| holders OF land made valuable by Gov
| ernmeut reclamation work to put all
| their available soil In food crops He
| said land in excess OF 100000 acres
made useful by the Government and not
| under tillage II planted would produce
$l5, 900, 900 worth OF food this year.
! "I.oyalty and patriotism. as we'll as
economic necessity" said the Secretary.
"demand that you get busy and put this
land into food crops this year and next
! The United States cannot perform her
1ust function In the world crisis In
which we are now precip!tated unless our
| farmers do their full duty.
'-rhesc lands are not public lands.
| They belong to private owners. and II
| they do not utilize their property, the
| time may not be far Off when our ma :
| tional needs Will require conhscatio
and Government cultivation. No ono is
| entitled to that which he does not use"