The Washington herald., 1922-02-12
FIGHT OF PACKERS
SPLITS ARGENTINE
CATTLE RAEERS
American Companies Ar
q Defended by Rural
Society.

BUENos AIRES. Feb. iI.-Arr.n|
tine cattle growers have lined up int
two vigorously opposed camps sincl
the Argentine Rural Society sent
report 70 congress q few months ar]
sbsolving American and other foreigl
packers from blame for the presen|
depression IN the cattle and Tneal
business The Argentine Rural SocietI
Ia the most important organizatio
Of its kind In the republic and NUM-
bers among its members almost al
the really big cattle growers. As th|
result OF the Rural Societys reporl
congress dropped all pending anti
packers legislation and absoI bed ind
the Official records the society's I'd
port, including its accommodated
that the government assist the AID
gentine cattle industry by adoptinl
Legislation that would facilitate eI
port. instead OF considering legisIs
ton that would be detrimental d
the packers, who. the society said
had done more than any other on|
factor 20 bring the cattle industrI
Of the country TO its present hfEl
Level.
Society Bttssriy crfueiseS.
The Argentine Rural Society u NOD
being bitterly criticised by a grou|
Of csttlemen who bought cattle I
high prices and rented expensive lar,l
on which to fstten them for markeI
These men operate for the most pa
on narrowed capital and when al
meat market became depressed Il
sympathy with all the other cor}
modify markets after the artifct{
boom following the armistice. the
men were unable 70 meet their obi
cations to the banks or to abso
their losses. They are now loud
their demands for governmental
nancial assistance ana recently calf
q mass meeting at which th1
launched a bitter campaign again
the packers. whom they blame Il
artincially holding down the price
cattle.
The Rural Society was not invit,
to attend this mass meeting At Viii,
it was rouDdly criticised for its Z
port to congress. This open v1rfa
on the Rural Society because Of
stand regarding the packers has dol
more than anything else 10 discred
the present agitation against Il
packers as the Rural Society Is ur1
versslly recognized az the Or
authority on this subject In ArFeI
tina
Paper Defe.ds Paekern
After carefully going over the RurI
Society's report. point BY point,
its editorials. the biggest newspapN
In Buenos Aires, La Prensa, has tax
up the defense OF the packing
dustry In the most positive FASH,
and is devoting much space BON
its news columns and its editorIs
to combating the agitation Of d
small cattle growers and the ediooriI
campaign OF other newspapers Will
have always consistently lent then
selves TO any campaign In oppo5
ton to foreign capital IN Argentiu
regardless OF whether II IS inyestN
in British railways, in America
packing plants. or in foreign banI
IL is also pointed out that
charge that packers are keeping doy
the price OF cattle f. based on
comparison OF current prices "
those paid during the boom day,
1919 and 1890, rather than on
comparison with preWAr levels.
a matter Of fact. the packers q
paying centavos "a little over
cents goldD more than they
4 in 1913.
Cattle prices IN Argentina slvs
are lowest at the end OF the We
but a comparison OF December prid
since 1903 show that prices tod
are equal TO those paid IN 1916 a
higher than those paid IN airy I'd
previous 10 1916, and they were
ceeded only in the years 1919, 10
and 1890.