Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1905-05-12
Inxe.tination q the PACKER.

Very general interest mas DeeA HleH-
ifested in the government tnyestiga-
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 1t seems that SO
far no definite charge Of any kind mas
been sustained and no proof OF illegal
OF negotiable methods has been as
closed to the public While wave OF
severe criticism Of this great indus
trial interest is now passing over me
country It might be well 70 remember
that the packers have had as yet no
opportunity 10 make specife denial'
the many indefinite charges OF wrong
doing having never been formulaIeo
so that categorical answer cculo De
made.
The recent report OF Commissioner
Garfield. which embodied the results
OF an oficial 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 dlscredit II
were made.
In view OF the situation as il now
stands. however, attention may proper
II be called 10 a few facts that owing
to popular clamor are now being ap-
parently overlooked Fair treatment
in this country has heretofore been &C
corded to all citizens whose affairs as
sumo prominence in the public eye anu
some Of the facts that bear upon the
relation of the packers TO the cons
merce Of the country may at this time
be briefly alluded TO. Il would De
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 benehr
to the farmer Is q gain 70 the entire
commerce OF the country And con-
nected with their continuous azgres-
sive 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
considerable gain during this period,
because 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 in the
manufacture OF packing house by-prod-
ucts 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 az
ticles of great value. and as an eco
nOmic fact. this must correspondence
increase the value 10 the farmer or
every head OF cattle marketed al the
numerous stockyar6s OF the country,
Let these facts be remembered while
now il is so popular TO regard the
great packing industry as deserving OF
condemnation. At least IL must be ad-
mitted that, so far, there is no ade-
Guate 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 practical
" 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