New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-07-18
MEAT P4CKERs AND Politics.

The suggestion that the present difficulty he
tween the meat packers and their employees is
something in the nature Of a sham battle, or
at least. a struggle deliberately provoked by the
Meat Trust" is interestingly discussed 10y The
New-Aork Times" No charge Of collision is
made. but il is shown how it is in the power
md might be 10 the interest Of the employ
ers 10 force n strike. Some persons have sur
missed that the trade wishing an excuse TO put
up prices. has conSpired 10 cut off supplies for
few days until prices are greatly raised, and
that when business is again normal prices,
though reduced somewhat. will never reach the
Old level Whether, on this any other ac-
count. the strike runs with and not against the
purposes Of the trust, at any rate, according to
The Times" III il suited the purposes of the
packers 10 suspend operations for time to
facilitate certain speculative combinations.
''they are in a position 10 do it,
In view of this situation-ths declared posi-
bility that the packers might induce strike f)3
Interior uotiFes-a special dispatch 10 The
New-SOrk Times from Washington. published
on July 10, is not without significance This dis
patch, after giving an account of President
loOsevelt's legal proceedings 10 restrain the
Meat Trust" and prevent this consolidation of
the business of supplying food, which puts the
community at the mercy of any disturbance
like The present strike, repeats this rumor Of
the proceedings and purposes of the trust:
The packing interests sent representatives, to
Washington recently 70 urge Mr. Roosevelt not
10 force an early decision from the Supreme
Court on the appeal and when they found that
he was determined to do this they are said to
nave threatened 10 force a strike of their en-
rloyes. which. IL apparent, might have a
serious effect upon the campaign this fall. Mr.
Roosevelt ignored their threat and continued his
plans TO bring about early action on the appeal
According 10 reports here, if the President ha q
egreed 10 abandon his course and had given the
packing interests assurances that the DEPART
,nent OF Justice would not press the appeal the
packers would have granted the concessions
their employees demanded and there would have
been no strike.
As TO whether or not there is any truth In this
story we have no knowledge Whatever there
may be in It, the suggestion is published not In
Republican, but Democratic paper. 1t will be
worth while watching the situation with This
TACT IN mind. Judge Parker, I'm spite Of his close
alliance with Mr.. Belmont, Mr.. Ryan and other
trust magnates. and his confidential association
with Mr.. NAIcCaTen, long known as Sugar
Trust lobbyist Is posing as an enemy of trusts.
and the Democrats are declaring that President
Rooseveli's efforts ct trust regulation have not
been made in good faith and proclaiminy them.
selves the only true foes Of monopoly. Yet IL is
notorious that many of the trusts are exceed
fnsiy bitter against the Republicans II is per-
fectly well known that the only hone the
democrats have in the States OF the Middle
West which they need is such a labor disturb
snce as gave them victory in 1892 By promot-
ing that the trusts would serve Judge Parker
more effectively than by openly championinr
his cause as their own BY taking high hand.
ed attitude toward labor, perhaps compelling
the government to protect them from the VIC
lence OF strikers whom they had nrrnosa,v
provoked, they might expect TO arouse the
worklngnen against the party in power. while
the Parker campaigners We're promising them
good times and the destruction OF trusts r. tbs
Democrats won That would be a poJi,jcs
scheme quite after the Hill Belmont McCarrer