The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1921-02-12

Washington, ID. C.-The establish
ment Of municipal meat markets n
american cities, where by some piaI
Of cooperation between the cattle
men, the packers and the municipa
governments, beef ian be sold to thu
people at fair prices Of which thu
| cattlemen will get q fair share-tha
Ia the most interesting constructive
suggestion which has emerged from
the present confusion OF the livestock
business.
This suggestion seems to have
originated at the recent convention o.
the American National Livestock AS
ISOLATION in Ell Paso, where the prin
cipal cattlegrowers Of America me
to discuss their serious troubles. Thu
bottom is falling put of the markei
for their product. the country is be
ing flooded with cheap meats and
hides from the Argentine. Mexico
Australia and other foreign parts
and many of the weaker growers fact
bankruptcy.
1t is evident that the stockmer
have done some deep thinking since
the collapse of wartime prices. And
IL they have not formulated a com
plete and consistent program, they
have at least reached some interest
ing conclusions.
The stockmen seem agreed that
their industry faces a crises. and that
radical measures are necessary to
save 1t. 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 con-
clusion almost every retail buyer OF
meats, such as you and 1, will agree
with them.
CUT OUT MIDDLEMEN
From this they deduce that the
proper way to make cattle-raising
profitable for the ranchman and meat
cheap for the onsum is to simplify
distribution, eliminate large numbers
of middlemen. and so bring those two
sufferers, the producer and consum-
er, closer together.
Hence the suggestion for NUM-
cipal markets. A committee was ap-
pointed by the stockmen to confer
with government experts in the bu-
reau of markets Of the Department of
Agriculture and evolve a definite
plan.
The other ideas evolved by the
cattlemen were not so original. They
want a protective tariff ON meat and
cattle, although they seem to realize
that this is not a real solution OF
their problem, but merely a pallia-
tive. They want the Government to
regulate the packers, but they are OPP
posed to the Gronna bill. which would
form a Government livestock com.
mission.
There is a general conviction among
the cattlemen that they should be
given 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 Can
adian and Mexican cattle, Argentin,
beef. and Australian and New Zelant
lamb.
When ii zones to the question o
marketing cattle. and handling stock
yards, there is a wide difference o
opinion. This was brought to a 10
cal point by the discussion over tn
bill introduced in the United State
Senate by Senator Gronna of Nortl
Dakota. Briefly, this bill proposes
Federal livestock commission to reg
ulate the control the entire industry
including the stockyards and tn
packeries.
INVESTMENT Is HEAVY
This proposal is opposed on tn
ground that it would be nothing t
stimulate production, equalize re