The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1889-09-05
MIR. VEST DEFIED.
Chicago's Wealthy Dressed Beef
Merchants Refuse to Attend the
Senatorial Investigation.
The Missouri Senator Reads Tele-
gram Showing How CompetitIo"
is Met by the Combine,
Armour Excuses His Refusal to Testify by
Accusing Vest Of Being PreJ1diced
Against the Business

CHICAGO, Sept. 4-The senatorial inves-
tigation into the dressed beef and trans
portation Industries arrived at the point
this morning where it became necessary TO
resort TO vigorous means or acknowledge
the whole affair a farce. G. T. Swift, the
millionaire dressed beef dealer, had been
subrensed for the third time and it was
reported be agreed TO appear this morning.
He did not come. p. ID. Armour, on whom
a summons was served, stated he could
not come at the hour named, but would let
the commissioners know when he would
be able to attend. Secretary George T.
Williams, of the Union stock YARDS, was
ordered TO appear with list of the stock
holders of the company and other informa-
ton on hand; but on the advice OF counsel
he refused TO give the names. The hTst
witness examined was President Sherman,
Of the Stock Yards company. His testi-
mOny gave an insight into the extent of the
business methods Of the company. In an
swer 20 question as TO whether there
were any relations between the stock
Yards at OmahR and Kansas City and those
at Chicago, be said there was none.
At the afternoon session Chairman Vest,
in discussing the absence of Mr.. Armour
and other gentlemen. said he was sorry
these gentlemen had refused 10 attend.
They could compel the attendance OF un-
willing witnesses. 81 have here tele-
gram" continued Mr.. Vest, "abOut which
| have desired % personally ask MI AT
mOur, but as he has refused to appear here
| will read tt anyway. IL was sent 70 me
by a gentleman about whose respectability
there can be no question. The message is
as follows:
FREEMAN, Pa. Dec. Is. 'SS-Can't
allow Schwab to continue killing live
stock: il he will not stop make other ar
raneements, and make the price so we can
get his trade. ARMOUR & Co."
The following was then unanimously
passed. after which the committee ad-
Whereas. Philip Armour, Nelson Nor
ris Louis F. Swift, Frank L.
Vogel, j. 5. Newman and Jacob Meyer
having been duly and lawfully summoned
To appear as witnesses before this commit
tee, have repeatedly refused to obey the
same, it is ordered that the facts be re-
ported to the chairman of the senate OF the
United States at its next session.
A reporter for the Associated Press
called on Mr. Armour and asked for an
interview. Mr. Armour made the follow
ing statement:
"The reason we did not appear before
the senatorial committee was that we
knew we could not expect fair treatment
from the hands of Senator Vest, who is
notorious aud on record as opposed to the
dressed beef business. Heis the champion
and advocate of st. Louis. deserted cattle
market, and opposed TO Chicago interests.
spection bills that have been introduced IN
the various state legislatures against Chi
cago dressed beef, which, IL passed, would
have DESTROYED this business. We are per-
fectly willing to appear before an impartial
committee and give any information
pertaining to our business which
is not of strictly private nature
We have never exerted any influence to de-
press the price of cattle or TO increase the
price of dressed beef; on the other hand IL
rs q well known fact cattle are SlOO per
DDuursd higher Iney W0nld oe fT u was not
for the dressed beef Industry, and we can
get a great deal more out OF the bullock
than the butcher or the man who kills in
small quantities We have never had any
association with Swift, Hammond OF
Morris directly or indirectly in the Dur
chase of cattle. The telegram Mr.. Vest
read this afternoon for the sake of getting
il on record was directed TO
our own agent, whom we had
a perfect right 10 tell that he should not
kill cattle If he sold our dressed beef, and
il is entirely stripped of its force when the
fact is understood that he is our own rep
resentative-"
Senator Vest was shown Mr.. ArmouT's
statement tonight. He said: "Mr. Ar
mOur must know that as chairman OF this
committee L have no more power than any
other member. Again. If / have any sym
pathy at all with the Missouri cattle trade,
have been a resident of Kansas City for
seven years and believe IL is generally con-
ceded the cattle trade of that city is IN
sympathy with that of Chicago. As to Mr..
ArmOur's telegram, il was directed to his
agent. but instructed him to compel
Schwab, who was not his agent, to quit
killing cattle"