Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-02-05
THE WORRIED CATTLEMAN
BY Frederic j. Haskin
rXTASHINGTON, D. c.. Jan. 31.-The es-
wv Enlistment of municipal meat mar

|
some plan of cooperation between the cat
tlemen, the packers and the municipal gov
ernments beef can be sold to the psople at
fair prices of which the cattlemen will get
fair share-that is the most interesting con-
structive suggestion which has emereed from
the present confusion of the live stock busi-
ness.
| This suggestion seems to have originated
at the recent convention OF the American
National Livestock association in Ell Paso,
where the principal cattle growers of Ameri-
ca met to discuss their serious troubles The
bottom is falling out Of the market for their
product, the country is being flooded with
cheap meats and hides from the Argentine,
Mexico, Australia, and other foreign parts,
and many of the weaker growers face bank
ruptcy.
| 1t is evident that the stockmen have done
some deep thinking since the collapse of war
| time prices And If they have not formulated
| complete and consistent program, they
have at least reached some interesting con-
illusions.
The stockmen seem agreed that their in
dustry faces crisis, and that radical meas
ures are necessary to save it. They seem
| further agreed that the retail price of meat
has not dropped nearly as fast nor as far as
| the prices which they are getting for cattle
on the hoof. In this conclusion almost ev-
! cry retail buyer of meats, such as you and I,
will agree with them.
Cut Out Middlemen
| From this they deduce that the proper
way to make cattle-raising profitable for the
iranchman and meat cheap for the consumer
! is to simplify distribution, eliminate large
numbers of middlemen, and so bring those
| two sufferers the producer and the con-
sumner, closer together.
Hence the suggestion for municipal mar
kets A committee was appointed by the
stockmen to confer with government experts
oFY rlYofc IF fho r m
of agriculture and evolve definite plan.
The other ideas evolved by the cattlemen
were not so original. They want protective
tariff on meat and cattle, although they seem
to realize that this is not real solution OF
their problem, but merely palliative. They
want the government to regulate the pack
ers, but they are opposed to the Gronna Dill
which would form a government live stock
commission.
There is a general conviction among the
cattlemen that they should be giveL some
form of protection from the influx of foreign
cattle and meat. One hears men describe
themselves as "protection democrats" The
cause of most of the present trouble is the
enormous importation of Canadian and Next
can cattle, Argentine beef and Australian
and New Zealand lamb
When it comes to the question of market
ing cattle, and handling stockyards, there is
wide dilIerence of opinion This was
brought to focal point by the discussion
over the bill introduced in the United States
senate by Senator Gronna, of orth Dakota.
Briefly this bill proposes federal live stock
commission to regulate and control the en-
tire industry including the stockyards and
the packeries.
This proposal is offered on the ground that
it would do nothing to stimulate production,
equalize receipts, or encourage the consump-
ton of meat. Further, there is a decided
feeling against taking the experienced pack
ers out OF the packing business and putting
this most important phase of the industry in
the hands of politicians or directly under
their orders and directions. The cattleman
says that the packers bear down unduly on
him at times, but tina the packer knows his
business and can talk to and do business
with the grower as no outsider can.
The cattleman's point of view is condi-
toned more and more by the fact that he is
a heavy investor. All the ranches Of the
west and southwest are under fence, the cat
tie are highly bred from the best imported
stock, and because of these investments the
cattle are cared for on the ranch almost as
closely as the cattle on the farms in Illinois
and Iowa. Il is no longer possible for the
stockman to con 1uct his business with bank
book and a good memory In fact on the
big anches the accounting system is as thor
ough in any other business. To add to
the present problems, cattle cannot be trans
ferred from one section of the cattle country
to another when feed Is short, as in the old
days Tho present type of grade cattle can
not be sent over the long drives of several
hundred miles, and the advance in railroad
rates makes shipping the growing cattle
poor investment. So the stockman buys feed
and oil cake to keep his stock alive during
the droughts and bad weather, fills their
hides tight as he and hopes for the
best. For this is the business of hope. There
is no other just like it.
Guarantee Fund
The California cattlemen have an associa-
ton which aims to stabilize prices SO far as
the producer is concerned. They have created
a guarantee fund of a quarter of million
dollars and have a committee to make a
classification of live stock, instruct the mar
keting of certain grades at specified times,
and fix a minimum price to be received for
them If the actual sale is made for less
the difference is pal to the producer from
theguarantee fund. If he receives more than
the guarantee fund. If he receives more than
into the fund and retains the other half. The
main object is to keep the stock moving in
regulated way so as to avoid glutted mar
kets and to get reasonable price for the
grower. Meanwhile there is a constant cam
paign within the association for growing only
the very best grades and bringing them to
market in the most salable condition. This
seems to be about what the organized fruit
growers have been doing so successfully for
years.
Claim Oil Displaces Meat
The cattlemen ask urgently for the protec-
ton of tariff against foreign meat cattle
and dressed meats. The claim is made that
the people of Europe have become consum-
ers of vegetable oils in the place OF meats.