Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-02-03
The Worried Cattlemcn
ny Frederic =. Hsskfn


cooperation between tho cattiernen, the
packers and the municipal governrnents,
beef can be sold TO the peopis at far
prices Of which tho cattIemsn VIII get a fair
share--thnt IA the most interesting con-
structivs suggestion which has emerged
from tho present confusion OF the Two
stock business. u
This suggestion secrns 20 hAve originated
At the recent convention Of tho AnSricnn
National Livestock Association In ~
Paso, where the principal cattlsgrowers OF
America met to discuss their serious
troubles Tn. bottom is falling out Of tho
market for their product, the country /
is being flooded with cheap meats and i
hides from the Argentine, Mexieo, Aus |
tralia and other foreign parts and many |
Of tho weaker growers face bankruptcy. |
It's evident that the stoekmen have |
done some deep thinking since the collapse
Of war time prices. And If they have not
formulated complete and consistent pro-
gram, they have at least reached some
interesting conclusions.
The stockmen seem agreed that thsr
industry faces crisis, and thst radical
measures ore necessary 20 save II. Thsy
seem further agreed that the retail prles
of meat has not dropped nearly as fast ~
/ far as the prices which they are getting
/
/ almost every retail buyer OF meats, such
es you and viii agree With them
cur OUT srDDBEags.
| From thi. they deduoe that the proper
way 10 make oattle-raisfng profitable Tor
| the ranchnan and meat cheap for The con-
slmer is 10 simplify distribution, elirni-
| nate large numbers Of middismer, ana 30
| bring those two sufferers, the producer
/ 4 -. eli her
Hence the suggestion for municipal uiar-
| kets. A committee vas appointed by the
stocknen 10 confer with government
experfs in the Bureau Of Markets Of the
Department Of Agriculture and evolve =
definite plan.
The other IDEAS evolved by the cattle
men we're not 20 original They want n
protective tariff on meat and cattle, al
though they seem 70 realize that this ls
not real solution Of their problem, but
merely a palliative. They want me
government 70 regulate The packers, but
theY are opposed 70 the Gronna bill which
would form a government livestock com
mission.
There is 4 general conviction srnong z
tho oattIerren that they should he given
soroe form Of protection from The influx of
foreian cattle and meat. One hears men
descrihe themselves ~ protection demo
crafts The cause Of most of the present
trouble IL the enormous importation of
Canaey>n and Mexican cattle, Argentine
beef. nd Australian ard New Zealand
lamb
when II comes 10 the question % mar
ketin0 cattle. and handling stockyards,
thore IL vide difference of opinion This
vas brought 10 focal point by the die
o1lssion over the bin introduced n thS
rrrifed states senate by Senator Gronns
~ North Dakota Briefly this bill pro
nosea a Federal livestock cou1rnission tc
3 regulate and control the entire lHdusfr,
including the stockyards and the pack
cries.
. .ha+ Il would dn nothing 70 stimulate pro
, Cuction. equalire receipts, or encon,ss'
the consumption of meat. Further, Their
]; i a decided feeling azainst taking th'
r experienced packers out ot the pacnnt
:. business and putting this most important
rhase Of the industry 10 the hands o
roliticians or directly under their order
ard directions. The cattlernan says tha
the hackers bear down unduiy on him a
tirnea. but that the packer knows n
,,taineas and can talk 20 and do busIres
With the grower as 10 outsider can
The cattlenan's point of view ls con
eiitIoued more and more by the fact that n
he i heavy investor All the ranches G
me West and Southwest are under iene'
the cattle are highly bred IRON the oses
imported stock. and because OF these y
vp@trnent= The cattle are cared for, on 20
ranch almost rs closely as the cattle on 70
Fa~ns ~ Illinois and Iowa. It - n
loruer rossible for the stockman TO cor
at duct his business with bankbook and
a good memory. In fact on the blg rsncnt
y the accounting system Is IS thorough as
anv other business. To add 70 the preser
problems. cattle cannot De trsnsterTe
he from one section of the cattle country
e another when feed IL short, as N the Of
!, DAYS The present type OF grade eatt
u nannot be sent over the long drives
it several hundred miles, and she sdvanC
- ia railroad rates, makes Shipping "a
growing cattle a poor investment % IN
stoctxnan buys feed and OF cake 70 Ses
his stock alive during the dFuugns &C
he bad weather fIls their hides as tight as
can and hopes for the oe st. FOR tnis IS Il
ie business OF hope. There 8 20 other !l'
&c like It.
A GUARANTEE FUND.
The California cattlemen have an SIS
- citation which aims 70 staoillEe pElcess
- far as the producer IS concerned. ne
nave GENzsAC0 Il ANAsAA 49,
Quarter of a million dollars and have
'eF committee 10 make classification OF nv
an stock. instruct the marketing OF certa
grades specified times, and hx minimtS
nrice 10 be received for them. II the actu
sale Is rnsde for less, the difference is pa
~ 10 the producer from the gurantee tun
+ II he receives more than the guarantee,
x pavs one-haif of the excess into the ttG
X and retains the other half The main o
If jeet is 20 keep the stock moving IA
y regulated way so as 70 AVOID glutt'
y markets and 20 get reasonable price z
y the grower Meanwhile there IS CO
= slant campaign within the association I
\ growing only the very best grades sr
y bringing them 70 market in the mo
= salable condition. This seems to be aho'
Y what the organized fluit growers na'
= been doing so successfully for wears.
u CLAIM OIL pISsLAcEs SEAr.
IT The cattlemen ask urgentlyfor the pI
* lection of a tariff against foreign me
X cattle and dressed meats. The cial m
# made that the people Of Europe have
ri come consumers Of vegetable oils
II the plase of meats, and that they
f+ therefore not in the market for meats
IL any extent, nor viii thes be IN the tutu
ii That leaves the United States the lsrS'
Il consumer market now open, and brings
II this country the surplus cattle and mes
Ii OF all other producing countries !
~ caftleman wants this COMPETITION heac