THE FOOD CRISIS AND AMERICANISM 35 



concerns the largest and most basic of all our in- 

 dustries, and directly affects practically every farmer 

 north of the Mason-Dixon line. Every one of the 

 millions of consumers has a right to know whether 

 the exorbitant price paid for meat goes to stimulate 

 the industry, and thus by increasing production re- 

 duces the price; or if it goes to swell the already over- 

 filled pockets of the profiteers, discouraging production 

 and increasing prices. Would not the feeling of an- 

 tipathy of the consumer, paying what he thinks ex- 

 tortionate prices for meat, toward the farmers be less 

 if he knew that they have received no profit on hog 

 feeding during the war that is, the corn fed them 

 was worth more than the hog brought? 



As the circular sent out by the Head of the Meat 

 Division of the Food Administration was dated No- 

 vember 3, 1917 about six days later than the date 

 of the commission's report, October 27, 1917, what 

 time was there for others than himself (and that very 

 scant) seriously to consider that report; and who is 

 the Head of the Meat Division of the Food Admin- 

 istration, and what his experience to qualify him so 

 summarily to pass upon a report that required weeks, 

 if not months, in its preparation a report whose 

 subject directly affects, either as a consumer or a 

 producer, more than 98 per cent, of the American 

 people ? Would either organized capital, or organized 

 labor, submit in silence to such treatment of a report 

 made by a Federal Commission directly affecting its 

 interests ? Have they ever been put to the test ? 



" Porkless Days " should not have been discon- 

 tinued. The enforced slaughter of brood animals and 



