The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1905-05-13
Investigation of the Packers.


Very general interest has been
/ manifested in the government investi-
cation now in progress into the mode
Of conducting business by the large
I packers located in Chicago and else
where. Much has been written upon
/ the alleged Illegal and improper modes
! OF business procedure connected with
the packing industry; but IT seems
| that 50 far no definite charge OF any
1 kind has been sustained and no proof
/ of Illegal or inequitable methods has
/ been disclosed to the public. While
wave of severe criticism OF this great
/ industrial interest is now passing over
the country. it might be we'll to re-
member that the packers have had as
/ yet no opportunity to make specific de-
NAL, the many indefinite charges of
wrong doing having never been formu-
lated 50 that a categorical answer
could be made.
The recent report OF Commissioner
| Garfield, which embodied the results
/ Of an official investigation undertaken
! by the department of commerce and
labor of the United States was vim
dication Of the western packers, but
this result having been unexpected at
tempts in many quarters to discredit II
were made
In view Of the situation as 1t now
stands, however, attention may proper
ly be called to a few facts that owing
. ola ltal N
parently overlooked Fair treatment
in this country has heretofore been &C
corded TO all citizens whose affairs as
sumo prominence in the public eye and
some of the facts that bear upon the
relation of the packers 10 the COM
merCe of the country may at this time
be briefly alluded to. 1t would be
difficult to estimate the benefits gained
by the farmers of the country result
ing from the energetic enterprise OF
the packers, for whatever is OF benefit
to the farmer is a gain to the entire
commerce OF the country And con-
nected with their continuous aggres-
siye work no feature perhaps has been
more important than their efforts in
seeking outlets all over the world for
the surplus products OF the farmer.
Our total exports OF agricultural prod
ucts have gained but little In the past
twenty years, and leaving out corn, the
total of all other farm products was
far less in 1903 than In 1891. But in
packing house products there was con-
siderable gain during this period, be
cause an organized and powerful force
has been behind them seeking new
and broader markets.
Besides the benefits reaped by farm
ers on account of the enterprise and
energy exercised by the packers in at
tanning commercial results by foreign
trade. the great development ia the
manufacture Of packing house by-prod-
urts has added enormously 10 the
value of all live stock raised in the
United States. The waste material OF
twenty years ago, then an expense 10
the packer. IS now converted into ar
ticles of great value, and, as an eco
nomlC fact, this must corresponding
increase the value to the farmer Of
every head OF cattle marketed at the
numerous stock yards of the country
Let these facts be remembered while
nov IL Ia SO popular to regard the
great packing industry "a deserving OF
condemnation At least 1t must be ad
mitted that, 50 far, there Is no ade-
Guate reason for the almost unani-
nous howl that may be heard every
whore in the face OF the Garfield re-
port above alluded to. which practical
ly eNoucrates the packers from the oh
scure and indefinite charges that have
been for some time past made he sub
ject OF popular comment