The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-02-14
LIVESTOCK
MEN URGING
CONTROL BY
]. S. BOARD
Present Memorial to Presiden
Wilson Calling Attention
to Problems
FAVOR A JOINT COMMITTEE
Think Department Of Agriculture
and Food Administration
Should Act.
FAVOR A JOINT COMMITTEE

SAOuAS <ANVs
Washington, D. c., Feb. l4.-Presi
dent Wilson was urged Wednesday by
a delegation from the American Live
stock association to adopt national
livestock policy covering production
and distribution as one problem. 1t
was suggested that joint committee
OF the department Of agriculture and
the food administration formulate
such a policy.
In a formal address accompanying
the presentation of resolutions adopt
ed by the associations convention,
Dwight B. Heard declared that the
hard and fast line, drawn between pro-
duction and distribution was respon-
sible for unsatisfactory conditions.
While the meat producer" he said,
"sees. his industry in serious danger
as the result Of the conditions men.
toned, he finds labor amply protected
and receiving liberal returns, and the
meat packers, as, we'll as producers OF
steel, copper, -four, sugar, lumber and
many other, commodities making lib
eral profits and as q livestock produc-
or, he naturally feels that he is en-.
titled to fair returns" p.
President Wilson and other govern
ment officials were presented with a
formal address and copies of the reso-
lutious adopted by the National Live
stock association at their recent con-
vention in, Salt Lake City. A special
delegation from the organization,
headed by l. T. Pryor, president and
r. w. Tomlinson, secretary, made the
presentations. The formal address set
forth the viewpoint Of the association,
regarding livestock conditions in gen
eral, was as follows:
Danger Of Food Shortage.
'The democracies Of the world to-
day fighting to maintain their political
independence, and to secure for their
children freedom from Prussian dom
nation The danger of food shortage
in America for the supply Of our allies,
is threatening success in the war For
this reason we deem it the part of
good citizenship to call your attention
to essential facts.
while for twenty years the in
crease of live stock for meat purposes
In the United States has not kept pace
with the increase Of population we be.
lieve that there has been in the year
just gone the greatest sacrifice of
breeding stock which has occurred in
any one of the past twenty years.
Seventeen million, five hundred
ns,I ,s,,S.
six head Of cattle passed through the
live stock Centers in 1916 while in
1917 no less than 22,239,62S passed
through the same stock yards. OF the
increased number Of cattle slaughter
ed, about 100000 were immature
steers and young COWS.
- Shortage Of Feed.
"The feed shortage resulting from
unprecedented drought over large
area Of the nation was such as to re-
qutre heavy Strengthening of the calf
crop in order that there might be a
greater probability of saving the lives
OF the mother cows This makes in.
evttable q short yearling crop for 1918.
The severity of the winter storms in
the northwest also tended to bring
about the same result. AS conse-
quence Of the impoverished conditions
OF the mother COW it is inevitable that
they will produce a greatly reduced
crop of calves in 1918. Thus the feed
conditions OF 1917 will have affected
the yearling crop of 1919. ~,
'Notwiths standing the conditions
above mentioned the past six months
have seen hundreds of thousands of
young and immature cattle slaught-
cred. returning to owners less than
cost of production. This slaughter of
Immature steers and young COWS has
cut into the beef supply of the i'm.
mediate future as we'll as into the
foundation for the production Of years
to come. Many beef cattle being mark.
eted at the present time are showing
losses to owners. Since 1914 two OF
the three crops of beef marketed have
returned loss to the feeders, This,
when we have a world war and every
part Of the animal being paid for at
the highest price to the consumer in
the history Of the country. In spite
Of the results to the producer, the in.
tereSts that handle the products from
our cattle have shown for these same
years enormous profits. This fact, we
think, will be made clear by the re-
port OF the Federal Trade Commission
on the packing industry. which we
venture to hope will shortly he made
public.
The Dairy FARMER.
The dairy farmer has Jared no
better economically than his meat pro.
ducing brother. In addition to his &c.
onomic losses. when organizing for the
purpose Of securing fair price for his
product he has been threatened with
wholesale prosecution and in some in.
cidents indicted under. the Antitrust
law. Events of 1917 will long be re
by. the dairy farmers Of
America 49,
Farm labor is the poorest paid la
Dor Of any Of the basic. industries. The
that the producer receives
of what the consumer pays for the
Of the farm is, insufficient to
permit the farmer to compete in wages
with the transportation, merchandise
ng and manufacturing industries
those whose part it is to produce. are
Unable, by reason Of scarcity Of labor.
ligh interest and difficulties Of distrib
ltion, to increase the output of the
arm and ranch and stand HELPLESS ir /
he face Of an impending food short
ge.s Is not this at matter OF nationar