The Sun. [volume] (Price, Utah) 1915-1932, 1920-12-03

embargo would be an injustice to the
consumer. This is manifestly untrue.
Market records show that the whole
sale prices of lamb, for example or
lamb on the hoof at the great market
centers, has gone off about 40 per
cent during the year. On the other
hand, retail prices in 1920 have actu-
ally averaged higher than they were
in 1919. The same is true of beef.
As 20 wool, it is a determined fact
that If some altruistic agency should
furnish the manufacturer with his
wool gratis the consumer would never
get enough benefit 10 know the differ
enle. For instance, a tariff Of thirty
cents a clean pound on wool would
mean about n dollar on the retail
price Of an all wool suit Of clothes of
thirteen-ounce goods, which is the
average weight used for suits. On the
other hand, this apparently small sum
per suit represents the difference be-
tween ability and inability to produce
wool in the United States. IL means
the life or death Of one of the stable
industries of the Rocky Mountain and
Great Plains areas.
1.-THE question has passed beyond
the point of party politics. II is a
plain, broad business proposition in
which every man, woman and child
west Of the Missouri river is directly
interested. II is not question Of
profit or loss for few individuals
interested in a certain industry, but
is q question Of the survival or pass
ing Of one Of the three great indus
tries that sustain and vitalize the
West today. a mine or n manufactur-
ing plant, when the conditions become
unbearable, may close down, ald when
conditions are better can start up
again. This truly is a hardship on
the community. But in the case Of
live stock, when n COW is slaughtered
or n eve goes 10 the shambles she can
never have another calf or lamb, for
the productive plant is destroyed. The
stockmnn cannot close down. He must
feed his animals and care for them or
else liquidate by shipment TO market,
end this is a calamity
solf-Preservation Necessity.
"The Western senator's and repre-
seniatives, regardless Of politics, have
become thoroughly awakened TO the
situation and have resolved that Am
erica and her citizenship and rights
come first. Both Utah senator's are n
unit In their view of the necessities Of
the ease. and all Western senator's,
with one or two exceptions, are of the
same mind. There are times when
sclf-prcscrvation is truly mans first
concern. This happens TO be one Of
those times. Conditions which have
brought about the present situation
in live stock production are very APP
parent. The drought OF 1919, follow
ed by winter most severe, the smash
in wool and meat prices and the
breaking down Of the credit structure,
for a while at least, have proved q
combination too heavy for the indus
try to bear. III any one of the calauh-
ties had not occurred the situation
would not have been 70 critical. Ey-
erything has happened which could
possibly have happened in the way If
rcyerses, with not one single iuy0ring
factor in the situation, except that
range conditions are excellent and
feed Is abundant and also reasonably
cheap. But there is no money in sight
10 buy food.
"Rospohsible government officials
have failed TO grasp the seriousness
and necessities of the live stock situa-
ton. Their idea seems 30 be that a
COW or a sheep can 60 10 sleep over a
period of adjustment and wake up
again without expense 20 the owner
when needed. This, in effect, is the
government attitude. take off my
hat 10 the broad, constructive states,
manship and sterling courage shown
by the great majority OF bankers in
handling this difficult situation. They
are standing shoulder TO shoulder
under the burden and are virtually
performing the functions Of govern,
ment in this crisis. -