The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1919-07-11
CONTROL
MEAT INDUSTRY AS
REMEDY FOR MENACE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
THROWS LIGHT ON LIVE
STOCK SITUATION.
SQUARE DEAL FOR ALL SOUGHT
Producer Not Getting Enough and
Consumer Paying Too Mueh.--No
Longer Need for Conservation of
Beef.

Declaring that America is facing a
decline in the live stock industry II
something Is not done to lower the
price of beef to the consumer and ad-
yocating government regulation of the
meat industry, the department of agri-
culture has issued statement design
ed to awaken the public to the gravi-
thy of the situation and cause congress
sional action that will prevent disas-
| ter.
The statement gives as causes for
decreased consumption of meat, espec-
tally beef and lambs, the fact that re-
tail prices are so high that many con-
sumers are denying themselves as a
matter of economy and that there is
remaining in some city and sections
the idea that conservation of meat is
necessary and patriotic. The first
cause can be removed only by COMPEL
ing a reduction in retail prices. The
other cause may be removed merely by
Informing the people that conserva-
ton OF meat is no longer either nee
essary or an act of patriotism, be-
cause there is now an abundance of
meat OF all kinds and the people of
Europe are not only producing large
| number of cattle but also are buying
an immense quantity from South
America and Australia. Consequent
ly the patriotic thing to do is to eat
more beef and lamb in order to pre-
vent a still greater decline in the price
of cattle and lambs.
| 1t is admitted, however, that there
is not going to be an increase in the
consumption of beef and lamb as long
as the retail price remains so high as
compared with the price of animals on
foot. The statement shows that while
the price Of cattle on foot has declined
25 per cent since March /, the retail
hiOuI pilSc lido ucCilcu only VI
per cent. The decline of live stock
prices was due to the stoppage of eX-
port cattle for army use and slack
demand for beef at home.
r. A fear is expressed in the state
ment that the country may return to
the conditions of 1914, when the pro-
duction of live stock reached it's low
ebb and beef was imported from South
America, if there is not sufficient in
crease in the use of beef to justify
the farmers and ranch owners in pro.
ducing large numbers of cattle. The
situation is said toibe real menace to
the farmer and the consuming pub,
lie as well, because the farmer will
refuse to raise cattle if he cannot sell
for profit. That will reduce meat
stocks and raise prices, but in the
meantime there will be no live stock
growing on which the farmer may prof
it, because he will have abandoned or
reduced his herds. The immediate
menace lies in the fact that in re-
Spouse to the call of the government
the production of live stock was in
creased. These cattle are now coming
on the market. The supply is enor-
nous. If prices continue low the
farmers are going to suffer. They
should not be penaliZed for their pa
triotism, but should be supported by
the consuming public in an effort to
restore consumption to normal with
out delay. ...
The statement declares that retail
prices of meat throughout the country
are not justified by the wholesale
quotations, and cites market prices,
both wholesale and retail, in num-
Der of cities to substantiate its asser
ton
Federal, state and municipal super
vision over the manufacture, sale and
distribution of meat products is advo-
Gated as a means by which both the
producer and consumer may have
square deal.