The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1921-08-08
FUTURE BETTER
FOR LIVESTOCK
ASSERTS
President of American Institute
of Meat Packers Also De-
fends Big Houses
POINTS OUT CONDITIONS

Chicago, Aug. 8.-ThOmas T.. Will
son, president of the Institute of
American Meat Packers, the trade and
research association Of the largest in
dustry in the United States, in ad-
dressing hundreds Of meat packers
from all parts of the country at the
annual convention of the institute to-
day, said in part:
1--WE have every reason to look. to
the future with confidence, yet we
should not be unmindful that con-
tinuation of the present policy Of
strict economy is very essential"
Speaking of packing house values.
Mr.. Wilson said:
"PracticaYly all by-products are
lower now than in 1913, and many of
them can not be manufactured except
at a loss on account of the poor de-
mand."
Program OF Packers.
Mr.. Wilson formally stated the pro-
gram which the packing industry, re-
Gently shown by the census reports
on 1906 establishments to be the lar
gest in the United States, purposes to
follow. Through the Institute Of
American Meat Packers, he said, it
purposes:
"TO secure cooperation among Tie
meat packers of the United States III
lawfully furthering and protecting
the interests and general welfare oil
the industry.
ITO afford a means of cooperation
with the federal and state govern
ments in all matters of general con-
cern to the industry.
"To promote and foster domestic
and foreign trade in American meat
products.
ITO promote the public interest and
mutual welfare of its members in the
study of the arts and sciences con-
nected with the meat packing industry.
"To inform and interest the Ameri-
can public as to the economic worth
of the meat packing industry.
ITO encOuage cooperation with live
stock producers and distributors of
meat food products"
The speaker stated that he recent
ly directed the institute to make d
survey of hide and by-product prices.
1t was found, he declared, that be-
tween Aug. 2, 1919, and April %,
1921, heavy native steer hides declin-
ed 81 per cent, 40 per cent below pre-
war quotations.; Colorado steer hides,
SO per cent, and so per cent below
pre-war figures; edible tallow, II per
cent, and rs per cent below pre-wa,
level; prime oleo stearine, 78 per
cent from the peak quotation and
more than 40 per cent below pre-war
levels.
1.-THE decline of packinghouse prod
ucts," Mr.. Wilson declared, "should
be conclusive proof of the statements
made by the packers that the business
is governed by the law of supply and
demand and is not and can not be
artificially controlled
In summarizing the meat packing
business during the last year, Mr..
Wilson, while expressing confidence
as to the present and future, said in
part.
1.-The processes of reimbursement
and reconstruction have been mani
fest throughout the year.
Asserts Both Suffer.
1.-THE producer of live stock and the
packer both have suffered from a
continuous decline IN values. Heavy
declines in exports, as we'll as de-
creased domestic consumption, gener-
al industrial depression, unemploy-
ment and restricted credits have been
contributing factors to very unsat-
isfactory year for producer and pack
err alike. We exported in 1919 prac-
tically three billion pounds Of mea'
products, worth approximately $780,
100000. In 1920, we exported less
than 1,73O,0OO,000 pounds, valued at
less than $41500O,000, a loss in on2
year in exports of 1,27O,O00,0 600 pounds
and in values of $526,013,456.
"If the farmer and the laborins
man could study these figures and the
details of the several items included
in such totals much of the complaint
about declining live stick prices ano
the necessity for wage reduction
should disappear.
Figuring the packers possible
profit at per cent on the turnover
on what he lost in this shrinkagt
alone in 1920, as compared with 1919
it would amount to more than eigh
million dollars Since labor's part II
| each dollar of turnover is almost II
! cents, it's loss in earnings amounted
to more than fifty-two million dollars
while the producers S5 cents of eacl
of the dollars represents a loss O
receipts Of about four hundred mil
; lion dollars. If this lost volume o
foreign business increased our loca
supply to the same extent, 1t, Q
course, still further affected and de
Continued on Page Five)