The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1919-01-20

xV5HEN the War Finance Board announced
w hat Il was prepared 10 extend aid TO live
stoek growers In the drouth. stricken dis
trets Of The southwest. Senator Fail Of New Mex
ieo, whose urgent demand 20 the treasury depart
ment initiated the action. stated that he did not
expect the method adopted Tor extending the aid
TO prove effective In giving relief 20 stockmep In
this state II has turned out a. Senator Fall fore
casied. New Mexico stockncn have received abso-
lntely no aid up 10 this time, and unless there j. an
immediate reversal Of the present attitude OF the
War Finance hoard authorities and their agents.
the Stockmcn OF this state will be permitted 20
hnht their own way through . most critical situa-
ton. while stochmen Of other states. notably
thosr Of Texas, have received very substantial as.
sstance.
The gravity Of The situation In the southwest
became apparent early in the spring Of 1915. The
continued droufh had left the range bare in many
sections and thin in all sections. The now fully
Developed policy Of the livestock loan companies
20 call loans. a. they maturcd In drouth stricken
areas, had appeared. II was clear that unless
prompt relief could be rendered many s,ockimen
would be forced TO let their breeding cattle 90 70
a falling market, controlled by the packers that
the industry would be sacrificed.
senator Fall acted promptly. lie asked the
treasury department and the War Finance board
20 act Immediately. His request was that money be
placed in New Mexico banks In sufficient volume 10
enable bankers 10 carry the customers whom they
knew aud whose claims 10 credit they could cstab-
~ W|NNN NMMU vi VtNtI NNfUfls " NNIN'A
method was not adopted. however, for the War
Finance hoard placed the making Of loans in the
Federal Reserve banks ~ Dallas and Kansas City
and these agencies IN turn delegated the work 20
committees.
There were long delays in getting the aid
machinery into operation. Still New Mexico live
stock growers confidently expected assistance and
sfockmen who had reached the legal limit Of their
credit az their banks firmly anticipated a practical
form Of federal ad which would pull them
through
Then came the announcement that no loans
would be made save ON cattle IN fenced pastures.
Al first this order did not apply 20 sheep and sheep
owners continued negotiations for loans. Some such
loans were definitely arranged for; Finally the or
der restricting AND 70 fenced pastures was made APP
rlicable 20 sheep also. Thus the entire sheep in.
dustry % Ncw Mexico, Arizona and Colorado was
eliminated from participation.
The cattle growers In Texas, with owned
range aud fenced pastures, received ample federal
aid Those Of New Mexico got none.
The final restriction ON the federal aid ma.
ehinery came when the War Finance board, eager
10 have done with is wartime duties, announced
that no loans would he considered for which APP
Jplicafion uas made after December ], 1918. BE-
cause they did not know the procedure, the great
majority OF New Mexico livestock growers who ex-
pected 10 apply for federal aid, did not make their
application prior 20 December ]. Even such appli-
cations a. we're made prior TO that date are still
ned up.
Both cattle and sheep growers, individually
snd through their organizations have filed urgent
protests and appeals with the War Finance com
mitfee, the federal loan agencies at Dallas and
Kansas City, ,pd with the members Of the New
Mexico delegation in congress. A particular APP
peal has bscn made 20 Senator Jones, who is re-
garded as very close 10 the administration, 20 make
a special effort 10 get this federal aid extended TO
New Mexico stockmen, IN immediate practical
form.
The governor and members Of the Legislature
now in session AZ Santa Fe are kecnly interested m
helping the New Mexico s~toekmen. They need help