Omaha daily bee., 1919-08-28
Palmer Urges Against Public
Being Influenced by Propa-
ganda of Merchants Who
Wish to Sell Wares.
HOG AND CATTLE
PRICES SLUMP 81
Master Butchers Of America
of New York State Agree On
Tentative Fair Margin Sched-
uIe Covering Meat Items.

Washington, Aug. 27--(By The
Associated Press.)-Prices are be-
ginning to turn downward in vari-
ous parts Of the country. but the
slump has not yet gathered mo-
mentum sufficient to affect pur1
chases for immediate use, according
to reports to the Department Of JUS
tice.
Attorney General Palmer asked
today how soon results could be ex-
pected from the campaign to reduce
the cost of living, said all the gov
ernment wanted was a fair chance
to show what could be done to take
the artificial initiation out Of the
market. He said officials were we'll
pleased with the success so far at
tanned and that cumulative results
were expected when congress enacts
amendments to the food control law
by which criminal penalties can be
imposed on profiteers and hoard
crs. ssF
I'VE hope the public will begin
to reap the benefit of our efforts
before long" Mr.. Palmer said. "For
instance, we are making progress in
obtaining promises from shoe nanu-
facturers as to fixing limit beyond
which prices shall not CO."
q
Shopkeepers' Propaganda.
Propaganda, which apparently is
nation-w wide, on the part of shop
keepers seeking to induce purchases
now on the pretext that prices will
be materially higher next season.
was condmned by Mr.. Palmer as one
certain thing which would make
prices continue rising if needed. His
attention was called to advertise
ments in various papers stating
straw hats, clothing and other non
perishable articles should be bought
before next years prices become
effective.
ut is very unfortunate that some
merchants take that attitude and we
have been studying the situation"
the attorney general said. "Exten-
sive purchases now. reducing the
supply and increasing the demand,
would make their predictions come
true, whereas we hope for normal
price level if the people do not stam-
pede into buying hysteria."
Hogs and Cattle Cheaper.
Chicago, Aug. IA drop of 81
a 100 pounds on the average for
hogs, with lower prices for beef cat
tie at the stock yards today was !.
ascribed to several reasons and par
tally to the general protest against
the high cost of living. Market men
said the tendency was for still lower
hog prices, particularly after the fall
marketing, and they professed to see
a break in high living costs.
The public has curtailed its buy
ing of pork and beef recently. while
live stock receipts are large. The .
eastern market failed to act as an
outlet, and the packers
Withdrew their buyers from
the pens today, leaving thousands OF
hogs and cattle without buyers and
SPECTATORS were hard hit
Export business has been de-
pressed by the foreign exchange sit
uation, live stock men say. and the
receipts of accumulations of hogs on
the farms during the recent strike
Of railroad shopmen and strong !.
run of hogs in prospect, caused the
weak market. Ea
$3.50 Difference in Day.
While the average drop for hogs G
was at 81, the difference between
today's lowest point and yesterdays
high point was fully $l.50, live stock
authorities said, while the average
drop for beef cattle today ranged