Show If FIGHT MEATLESS DAYS PLENTY Of All MEAT MAT EXCEPT PORK SAYS Af SPEAKER 0 President Pryor of Livestock Livestock Live Live- stock Association Declares De De- Glares dares Production Is Dis Discouraged Discouraged Discouraged Dis- Dis Under System Believing that it would furnish an outlet to American markets for hundreds hundreds hundreds hun hun- of thousands of dollars worth of American cattle stolen in raids by Mexican bandits President I I. I T. T Pryor of the American National Livestock I association today sent a telegram to toI I David F. F Houston secretary of the department de department department de- de of agriculture of the United States asking that he make every ef efI effort ef- ef I fort fort to prevent the opening of the I Juarez packing plant at Juarez MexICO Mex Mex- ico leo I President Pryor declared that if itis it itI itis I is permitted to open thousands of I head of stolen American cattle will be marketed in the United States Mr Pryor predicted that if the packing I plant is is not permitted to resume op operations op- op ns there ia is still a chance for forI I American cattle men to identify and recover their lost herds A similar telegram was also sent to IZ Z Cobb collector of internal revenue revenue reve reve- I nue at El EI Paso Tex asking that he Imal make c every very effort to prevent the opening opening open open- ing 9 of the Mexican plant I elimination of IlIn I IMMEDIATE g meatless days in so far as I they apply to beef veal mutton and amI lamb was Avas urged upon the I national government today by 1 I. T. T Pr Pryor or president 0 the of-the the American Livestock association in his hiar address before the twenty-first twenty an annual annual annual an- an nual convention of that body which h opened this afternoon in the Hotel Utah President Pryor declared that elimination elimination elimination nation of meatless days days days' for beef veal mutton mutton an and lamb would encourage I consumption of these commodities of which he says there is a surplus and release for the consumption of the associates as associates associates as- as of the United States in the war of a vast amount of hog meat and fats so essential to the overseas nations nations nations na na- na- na and their armies Declaring that the United States al already already at- at ready leads the world in the production production production tion of meat and that Americans have not yet nearly reached the maximum utilization of their agricultural and livestock possibilities Mr Pryor urged that days days' take the place of the present broad national measure inthe Inthe in inthe the matter of abstaining from other meats on certain days weekly H He stated that farmers and stockmen re responded responded Te- Te to the call for increased production production production pro pro- with a will but are now combating combating combating com com- bating all suggestions of overproduction tion because of the material price declines declines declines de de- clines that such a condition on brings MANY DELEGATES The convention opened today with what was said to be e the largest attendance at attendance attendance at- at at any annual meeting since the organization of the association n in Salt Lake twenty-seven twenty years ago Representative men of the cattle and livestock industry o of the nation have been arriving in the city for several days South America Mexico Canada Canada Canada Can Can- ada and practically every cattle and Continued ContinUE on page 6 PLENTY OF MEAT SAY GROWERS VIERS C MEATlESS DAYS ARE OPPOSED BY STOCKEN president President Pryor Opens NaJ Naf Nai Na- Na J f i Convention With His Annual Address y s L Continued from page pas 1 to k producing staW in the Union Union h have ve n a voice In ill the convent convention on Tho The Tho convention opened this afternoon afternoon after after- noon with Invocation by Rev Peter A. A Simpkin of Salt Lake and addresses of welcome by Governor Simon Bamberger Bam Bam- b berger on behalf of the state Mayor W W. Mont Ferry on behalf of the city and M I K Parsons second vice president dent of the association for the stockmen stockmen stockmen stock stock- men of Utah and the intermountain West Vest John W. W Springer of Denver treasurer treasurer treasurer treas treas- of the national association re responded responded responded re- re to the addresses of welcome for the stockmen men Mr Springer complimented complimented com corn the delegates on their attend at attendance at- at tend nce and the obvious manifestation manifesta manifesta- tion of their interest in the important and vital questions to be considered SOUNDS KEYNOTE I IThe The address of President Pryor was the outstanding feature of the opening opening open open- ing fog session He put before the delegates dele lele- gates the vital questions of consumption consumption 1 which have held helda ti tion n and conservation a paramount place in the interests I of the industry since the Inception of the war Continuing his discourse Mr Pryor said in part Food administration is an experiment experiment ment in this tills country The task is gi gigantic gigantic gigantic gi- gi gantic the interests involved are exceedingly exceedingly ex ex- complex and it would in indeed indeed indeed in- in deed be a miracle if mistakes mistakes' were not made However if all the interests interests interests inter inter- ests concerned will patiently and consistently consistently consistently con con- assist and if the food administration administration ad administration ad- ad ministration will rectify any mistakes I feel confident that the food problem problem lem will be solved with a minimum of Injustice to any anyone one interest and a maximum of benefit to our cause Ve We should be glad to dedicate our best in intelligence intelligence intelligence in- in I and energy to that end for forwe forwe forwe we know that Su unfailing supply of food is the ono one essential of winning the Uie war A widespread discussion of the food question will surely result in a better understanding by th the public and our government of some of our many jany difficult problems and arid the fundamental fun fun- economic factors involved It t is only through a thorough knowledge knowl- knowl edge and recognition recognition- of these these- difficulties coupled with intelligent action action ac ac- ac- ac ti tion n that food administration can be successful For more than sixty years the United States has ranked as the largest largest larg larg- est cat surplus nation in meat and other food products Our unrivaled agricultural agricultural agricultural tural resources have permitted us to supply the rest of the world with a large share of its needed food Thus we repaid the debtor balance contracted contracted contracted con con- in iii the earlier periods of our national life In the years immediately immediately immedi immedi- atel preceding the present war our exports of meat products were relatively relatively rela rola- less but we still retained the leading position Our ability to in increase in- in crease our production need not be doubted 1 d. d for we have not r reached ached the maximum utilization of our agricultural t tural ralan and l livestock possibilities U. U S S. S DIG PRODUCER PRODUCE The United States today produces produces' third one-third of the meat ment products of of the civilized world exclusive of China Si Since ce the war began bes-an we have been exporting orting approximately 13 to 15 per percent percent cent cit of our production of hog products pro pro- ducts and about 5 per cent of our beef products Our exports of hog products have always the largest percentage percentage percentage per per- of meat exports and they will likely continue in that proportion at Jem so long as we raise the bulk of f fth th the worlds world's corn crop The greatest s need of our allies ailles and tHeir eh civilian population is hog prod prod- For the purpose of increasing our production of hogs the foo administration administration administration ad- ad ministration established until further notice a minimum price on hogs For Forn n next s seasons season's crop it announced a rati ratio ra ra- ra- ra ti tio tig base based l cn en the price of corn Tl That at action was vaS b both th tim timely ly and wise It Should hould secure the necessary increase in lu production and at the same time protect prote l. l the producer from hazards Although not lot a money guarantee guarantee guar guar- antee producers generally have construed con con- trued stilled it as such ch and any failure of the food administration to make it would be mo most t unfortunate The purchase of or meat supplies for our associates in the war our army o our r navy navy the Red Cross Cross and and the Belgian Belgian Bel Bel- gian gl n relief has been centralized into one one- one agency which is operating directly through the meat division of the food administration With the leverage of ot these thE purchases there Is no no reasonable rea rca onabe doubt about the ability of c. c our cur r government to maintain its guarantee as to hog prices The of r reasonable prices on cattle and sheep will oe e e more more difficult On account of the smaller volume of such purchases chases the market will be largely governed b. b bythe by bythe the domes ric demand The broadening of of- this derand by encouraging ing consumption consumption con con- aid increasing our s govern overn- ri menta ments nt's purchases would go far Car toward vips the situation m. m FAVORS LICENSE Another excellent act act or ort of t the e meat division of he iIO food administration tion was to place all the meat packers tinder unde license fixing their profits and exercising a supervision over their op op- op erat on They are now a regulated monopoly T-o T opol I believe will prove qiong long step stepin in the right dIrection provided pro- pro v vided our government will also see she that fair and reasonable prices price for livestock livestock livestock live- live stock arc paid by the monopoly which it it is regulating Unless this thiC i ia is done the producer will be worse off than tha Farmers and stockmen are not l lacking in patriotism tho they loyall loyally re responded responded re- re to the tIle call for increased sed pro pro- All An that they ask aRl Is la the strong arm Jirm of our government go t protect them from the tho disasters which may flow from fron abnormal production or other causes over which they thy have haYe con rib con xo-con- trot Sit Sit-li h prot protection Is Imperative in order to Insure that increased production production tion Hon which the government seeks It Itis ItLa Itis is La hardly necessary to point out to o an audience of stockmen my reason for I that statement Tl Those ose even partly familiar with the tragic history of the livestock Industry caused by overproduction overproduction overproduction over over- production and the tremendous decline lc I in prices to a point below the cost of production followed by acute shortage in supply and higher prices will understand understand understand un un- un- un my reason The agricultural and livestock In Industries industries industries in- in of this country have arrived at a period in their history when or organization organization organization or- or and amI united action are im im- irn- irn The Increased production cf the farm and ranch Is as Important as as- the tho arm army of our men In the field if not more so Without the necessities necessities necessities ties to sustain life our army would amount to little In Europe Hence It i It is up to us to do our utmost toward sustaining sustaining sus sus- taming pr production Such an organization organization organ organ- as the American National Livestock Livestock Live Live- stock association if properly supported support support- ed and with united action can accomplish plush much toward this end The urgent need of the time Is in increased increased in- in creased production of the necessities of life The impression is gaining ground among the population of our cities cities- especially the man manufacturing centers centers- that the farmers and ranchmen are making exorbitant pro profits its from the operation of the farms and ranches of the country I hear that men high up in authority are lending a Willing ear to this tIlls Idea Mea The consumers rs who wh outnumber the producers cers many times t take ke into consideration consideration consideration con con- con con- only the one fact namely fact namely that th they y are paying a high price for what they consume compared with a afew afew afew few years ears ago They do not stop to consider the tile high cost of everything Including labor necessary to produce that which they consume CRITICISM UNFAIR f fie We ie are criticized as not being patriotic patriotic patriotic pa pa- because In such s tImes as these we want to produce livestock at a reasonable profit In my opinion the first and hl highest hest proof of patriotism Isto is isto isto to give our sons to the cause for which we are fighting the second test Is giving ones one's time without compensation tion which many patriotic men and women are doing the third is subscription subscription tion to the Red TIed Cross the army Y M. M C. C A. A and the Y W. W C. C A. A and the last is the purchase of Liberty bonds It would be an unfair test of patriotism patriotism pa pa- to expect farmers and stockmen stockmen stockmen stock stock- men to produce at a loss that which our associates and our army must have Give us a It reasonable profit and andI I wager my existence that the farmer and tho stockman of this country willm will m meet et ct the issue In the right spirit I Take away the producers' producers profits and and the they will have nothing with which to show their patriotism Allow them to make a fair profit on their Investment investment Invest invest- ment merit and It will stimulate them to greater efforts that they may make makem m more re money with which to help their country thus securing the much needed Increased production as well as as' placing in the hands of the stockmen stockmen stockmen stock stock- men and farmer funds which will enable enable enable en en- I able them to do their full share to toward toward toward to- to ward helping their country with dona dona- donations donations donations and subscriptions I am m greatly pleased to Inform you that the honorable secretary of agriculture agriculture agriculture agri agri- culture has decided to defer any ac action action action ac- ac tion In connection with any advance in grazing fees on national forests fore ts forthe forthe for forthe the present R Receipts of cattle at forty eight leading markets in the country for the first eleven months of 1917 are as follows lol- lol lows Cattle Cattle 1916 1916 1917 6 increase 9 The increase in cattle of Ismore is ismore ismore more than 27 7 per centI centI cent I 1 believe that It Is safe to state slate that this 27 per cent increase in market centers indicates some increase on farms and ranches Thousands of the cattle received at these market centers are breeding stock stock many many of them In such bad condition that they were necessarily sold a s canners In the last season Texas and the inc Southwest have Ilave suffered the most de devastating devastating de- de drouth ever recorded The losses have been tremendous and th the I end i Is not yet in sight Wherever possible possible possible pos pos- sible the livestock In the drouth I stricken areas h has s been removed to other states or to market Other sections sec sec- I of the country also have had un unusual unusual un- un un-I. un I usual conditions i t iThe 1 The annual loss of or livestock by predatory wild animals amounts toI to 1 I millions of dollars In order to cope I with this evil congress should grant a larger appropriation I recommend that you reaffirm your action |