Arizona republican., 1917-01-19

ton which / have always received
from them.
AT the time this committee was APP
pointed is was realized that without
the assurance of ample funds to back
| its Investigations it could accomplish
! but little, ana an inspiring demon
stratiOn of the way in which the aver
age stockman is always prepared to
back his words by deeds was given
at the close of our convention in Ell
| Paso. when within thirty minutes a
guaranty fund of $54, 900 was raised
by the members of our association and
paced at the disposal of the members
| of the market committee.
I'm my judgement, this committee
was fortunate in securing, as counsel
Hon. Walter L. Fisher, former secre-
| tary of the interior-a man of large
| training and experience In inVestiga
tons o. this character.
Later during this convention the
market committee will make its full,
detailed report. for which | bespeak
your most careful attention. This
committee has worked earnestly, I'M
selfishly, and with a fine spirit of
public service: but the great work
undertaken has 1ut just begun, and
if we are to secure the permanent
Improvement Of this marketing situa-
ton, we must be prepared not only
to maintain the market committee, but
to give it our liberal financial back
ing. We must remember, not only
that these men give of their own
time which is valuable, without re-
compense, but also that they are hlaZ-
ing the trail for an improvement in
marketing conditions which will event
ually benefit every man and woman
on rod n N
this country.
We have put our hand to pillow; the
task is an immense one, but we must
run straight furroW to the very
end. While our work must be
thorough, it must be free from malice,
openly conducted, always constructive
and not destructive. We have no OBJ
lection to big business because it is
big, and if IN the general investigation
into the live stock industry which is
about to be carried on, methods of
change can be suggested in the pro-
ducing branch of the business, we
should be as ready to put into effect
such changes as we are ready to de-
mand Of the packing interests changes
in their methods.
Shortly after our last annual meet
ing at Ell Paso, Congressman Borl&nd.
of Missouri, introduced a resolution
in congress asking for thorough in
VeStigatiOn of the marketing of meat
products. Neither the market COM
mittee nor the association was in any
way sponsor for the introduction of
this resolution; out, having been in
troduced. members of the market COM
mittee attended a congressional hear
ing on the subject and presented the
case of the livestock producers and
feeders. Wide circulation was given
at that time by the press to violent
and sensational statements made by
others who testified at this hearing,
but whose statements were in no sense
Endorsed by this association or it's
market committee. The Borland reso-
luton finally died in committee, and
the packers had apparently scored in
the first round
This preliminary skirmish. into
which the members of the market
committee were really brought against
their Will, convinced them as well as
! heir counsel, Mr.. Fisher that, in order
to get at the root of the trouble il
the marketing of live stock-to ascer-
tain whether. through some method.
actual competition for the purchase of
live stock was impeded or altogether
| eliminated-it would he necessary to
secure an investigation through some
!
| fullest authority to subpoena wit
nesses, take testimony under oath, eX-
anime books, and, liz cooperation with
| the very effective office of markets of
the department of agriculture, go into
| this whole live stock marketing prob
lem thoroughly. They were also con-
WINGED that to secure favorable con-
gressional action along these lines.
| they should be willing that the entire
live stock industry be subject to in
spection and investigation, as we'll as
the Strengthening branch of it.
AS a matter of fact, the United
States government, realizing the ne
cessty from the standpoint of the
neople's food supply, of getting all the
facts as to the cost of live stock pro-
duction. the methods and cost of feed
ing cattle, and the statistics as to
live stock in this and other countries
of the world, has already gone into
the production of live stock with the
greatest thoroughness.
This question of the cost of pro-
duction and feeding is eXhaustively
treated in reports Nos. 109 and 11S, is
sued by the United States department