The Springfield herald., 1905-05-19
Investigation of the Packers.

Very general interest has been man
ifested in the government investiga-
ton now in progress into the mode of
conducting business by the large pack
ers located in Chicago and elsewhere.
Much has been written upon the al
legged illegal and improper modes OF
business procedure connected with the
packing industry; but it seems that so
far no definite charge of any kind has
been sustained and no proof of Illegal
or ineQuitable methods has been dis
closed to the public. While a wave of
severe criticism of this great indus
trial interest is now passing over the
country 1t might be well to remember
that the packers have had as yet no
opportunity to make specific denial.
the many indefinite charges Of wrong
doing having never been formulated
SO 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 a vim
dication of the Western packers. but
this result having been unexpected at
tempts in many quarters to discredit it
were made.
In view of the situation as 1t now
stands. however. attention may prop
erly be called to few facts
that owing to popular clamor are now
being apparently overlooked. Fair
treatment in this country has hereto
fore been accorded to all citizens
whose affairs assume prominence in
the public eye and some of the facts
that bear upon the relation of the pack
ers to the commerce 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 resulting from the energetic
enterprise of the packers, for whatever
is of benefit to the farmer is gain to
the entire commerce of the country.
Ind connected with their continuous
aggressive 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 agricul-
tural products 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 considerable gain during this
period, because an organized and pow
erful force has been behind them seek
ing 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 in the
manufacture of packing house by
products has added enormously to the
value of all live stock raised in the
United States. The waste material of
twenty years ago. then an expense to
the packer, is now converted into ar
ticles of great value, and, as an eco
nomic fact. this must correspondingly
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
now 1t is SO popular to regard the
great packing industry as deserving
of condemnation. At least 1t must be
admitted that, so far there is no ade-
Quate reason for the almost unani-
nous howl that may be heard every
where in the face of the Garfield re-
port above alluded to which practically
exonerates the packers from the OBJ
scure and indefinite charges that have
been for some time past made the sub
ject of popular comment.-American
Homestead.