Vernon Parish Democrat. (Leesville, La.) 1917-193?, 1919-08-23

prepared by the United States Depart
ment of Agriculture.)
With meat prices to the consumer
so high that he is denying himself,
and with the prices for live stock, espe-
cially beef and lambs, so low to the
producer that he is actually losing mon
ey, the nation is confronted with
grave problem which requires solution
if we are not to suffer decline in the
live stock industry.
1t is an anomalous situation. The
department has endeavored to inform
itself on the subject, and after confer
ence with senators and members of the
house who represent livestock produc-
ing regions and who also feel deep con-
Germ for the welfare of consumers,
deems it important to give to the pub
lie certain outstanding facts, which
may be summarized as follows:
There is no longer need for meat con-
servation. The supply is plentiful, and
patriotic citizens may freely disregard
the meat-saving placards which are
still displayed at many eating places.
Europe Needs Pork.
Europe needs our surplus pork, but
is filling It's beef requirements by Inn
pOrtations from South America and
Australia. Prices Of beef cattle have
fallen sharply since March 1 on &C
count Of the stOppage of exports for
army use, and a slack demand for
beef at home, due to the continuation
Of beef conservation under the mis-
taken idea that such conservation is
still necessary to feed the people OF
Europe. Beef producers and lamb pro-
ducers who sell their products at this
time are confronted with the danger
of heavy financial losses which tend
to restrict production and cause a Sc
riOus shortage in future.
The United States will never have
a satisfactory and permanent solution
of the problem until the manufacture,
sale and distribution of meat prod
ucts are officially supervised by au-
thorized agents of the government,
working in cooperation with state
and municipal authorities, whose only
aim is to serve the public at large
and not any particular class. When
the federal government is enabled by
law to maintain a just supervision
over the meat-producing industry that
will prevent unfair dealings, specula-
ton and profiteering, by furnishing
the public from an unimpeachable
source all the facts with regard to the
industry, and when the states and
municipalities are enabled by law to
exercise similar supervision over in
trastate and local business, then only
can we expect to have fair and stable
markets in which producer and con-
sumner alike will have a square deal.
Beef Industry Crisis.
Some of the particulars of the stu
alton are as follows.
The beef industry in the United
States faces a most serious crisis. !
For a decade before the outbreak of
war in Europe farmers and ranch !
men had been urged to increase beef
cattle production because the industry
was not keeping pace with the growth
of population. The lowest ebb in pro-
duetion was reached in the fiscal year
ended June 30, 1914, when we prac-
tically ceased to have fresh dressed
beef for export, but began to import
it from the southern hemisphere. The
campaign for increased production be-
gan to bear fruit with the outbreak Of
the war and beef again gained volume
in our exports. Prices rose and farm |
ers were encouraged to expand their |
beef-making operations With the en-
trance of the United States into the
war a vigorous successful effort was
made to increase the supply of meat |
for our army, especially beef, by CT !
william self-denial. Hotels and res
taurants, at the request of the gov
eminent, reduced the size Of their |
beef portions and regularly left beef
of their menus. Private families BY
thousands did likewise. Farmers and /
ranchmen exerted themselves to the
utmost at great risk in order that cur /
soldiers and sailors could have the
best food that skin and loving care
could produce. The result is history. /
From an export Of beef and beef prod
ucts OF $4,000 pounds in 1914, we
exported 590,OOO,OO0 pounds Of beef
and beef products In 191s-almost
eQualing the great surplus Of 1901, I