New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-06-01
T. f. Wilson Asserts Live.
stock Grower Must Work
With Capital and Labor
to Avert Disaster
Years Needed for Task
Great Nations Must Assist
Smaller Ones With Credit
Systems, in His Opinion

Food conditions in Europe are criti-
cal. according to Thomas +. Wilson
president of Wilson & Co., Chicago
meat packers, who returned yesterday
on the Rotterdam. Mr.. Wilson made q
two months investigation of the food
situation in England, France, Belgium
and other Allied countries, as we'll as
IN the occupied portion of Germany.
The results of his observations are:
1t will be many years before Geo.
nomic conditions in Europe are on
normal basis;
The great nations of the world will
have to establish workable fnan-
fit of the smaller nations;
The American livestock producer and
grower of food products will have
to work hand in hand with labor
and capital if catastrophe is to
be avoided.
THE seriousness of the situation"
said Mr.. Wilson, "is clearly shown by
The results of superficial survey of
an area Of 1900 miles in occupied Ger
man territory, regarded as part of the
best agricultural section of the country.
The figures show there are in that sec
ton HOO horses, 1900 cattle and 1900
hogs-less than one horse, ! p cattle
Cows Worked in Fields
1.-THE cows are worked in the fields or
on the roads, as we'll as MIXED, and
they cannot be spared for meat. There
Is great shortage of milk. This is an
indication of the condition which exists
largely through the Central Powers.
They have not livestock enough to
breed so that they may again build up
their herds, even if no cattle were used
for immediate food emergencies.
This same condition exists, of
course to lesser degree, in the Allied
and neutral countries, where, because
of the very high prices realized for
fats and meats and the lack of cattle
feeds, their herds have been, reduced to
minimum. 1t will be a long time
before they can fully supply their own
requirements, so their suffering neigh
bors will get little help from them.
Our army of occupation is in SPLEEN
did spirits, is being we'll fed and many
American soldiers are sharing their
food with the children and women.
Great work has been done by the Amer
lean organizations over there, and
much credit is due them, especially
to Mr.. Hoover for his untiring efforts
to relieve the distress. Without this
relief l am satisfied the conditions
when known would have shocked the
civilized world.
Definite Programme Needed
Unfortunately no definite plans
have been perfected for the continual
ton of this wonderful work, and with
out it. or adequate plans to assist
these people until they can begin to
help themselves, the results will be
more appalling than the war itself.
"The problems of the American peo-
pie in this grave situation are many
and the responsibilities are tremen-
dous. l believe the solution rests
largely with us. No country in the
world to-day is so we'll equipped to
meet the situation. The American
farmer must undertake for humanity's
sake the production of grain and meat
animals to the maximum. In doing so
he is serving civilization and himself
The markets of the world are his if
the situation otherwise is intelligently
handled
MANY Of the foreign countries can
not maintain gold basis, and we must
share in solving this problem. Above
all, America must approach this task
with solid front-the farmer, the
laborer, capital and government, as
we'll as industry generally, must
honestly, earnestly and seriously CO.
operate, otherwise failure is certain"