Omaha daily bee., 1902-10-03
BIDING THEIR TIME.
Packing House Merger Delayed, but
Not Abandoned.

Not Abandoned.
Baltimore American (rep.)
1t might do just as we'll to be a little
credulous in accepting the report from Chi
cago that efforts to combine the b~eef-pack-
ing industry have been abandoned. Chicago
has ways Of its own in doing things and.
considering all Of the attendant circum-
stances, this report may be one Of them.
The rumored beef trust is a creature OF
evolution. The great packers, who virtually
control the supply of fresh meat, would pre-
fer to retain their independence. Combina-
tion to the extent Of merging their proper
ties under a common control has never been
viewed favorably by them. Only when
hauled into court for conspiring in violation
Of the Sherman antitrust act did they show
a disposition to effect an actual combina-
ton. This disposition was very evidently
born of their newly acquired knowledge that
one gigantic corporation controlling all the
properties after the manner of the steel
trust might do with impunity what several
concerns acting as one larger agreement
might not do.
Combination became, therefore, a natural
consequence of the sordid greed of the pack
ers. 1t was the only way open to them to
escape answering to the law; it afforded an
opportunity for the almost limitless exercise
of their desire to victimize the public and
1t afforded the added advantage of depriving
the government of the defendants in pend
ing injunction cases. How many of these
incentives to consolidation still hold good?
So far as they are discoverable, all Of them.
The advantages to be gained from the or
ganization of a gigantic holding corporation
and the opportunities afforded the packers
through such a control to war against the
pocketbooks of the people are as great to-
day as ever they were. Nor has any init
nation been given that the government
might resent such an attempt to deprive 1t
of these individuals and corporations
against whom the pending injunction pro-
ceedings were instituted.
Why, then, should talk of abandonment
OF the project be rife? The reasons given
dread Of President Roosevelt's antagonism
to trusts; fear that a beef trust might give
form and substance to the antitrust senti-
ment now prevalent--fail to impress us with
their validity. There is nothing in Presi-
dent Roosevelt's threats unless congress
acts, and the attitude congress will
assume toward the trusts cannot be
predicted with any accuracy. ]. Pierpont
Morgan plainly declines to heed either the
president or congress, and goes on with the
organization OF his steamship trust. And as
the business world takes its cue from Nor
gan, It is hardly possible the beef packers
would turn in fearful fight when he stands
severe and confident. The other alleged rea-
son is too s~hallow-the idea that the beef
trust magnates should pay any heed to pub
lie sentiment is preposterous.
While, therefore, 1t is possible that the
beef trust project has been abandoned, or
It's contamination postponed. no reason for
such action is discoverable. And in the alb
sence of a reason the reports OF abandon
ment may we'll be discredited. The people
should not permit themselves TO be lured by
such reports into a false sense Of security.
only to wake up some morning and find that
the beef trust is a reality. Secrecy nova
deceiving Of the public-will stand the pro-
moters in good stead. They need such pro-
lection until the formslities OF organization
can be complied with and the consolidation
actually effected. when they can snap their
fingers at opposition.