Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1905-05-12
Investigation Of the Packsrs.


Very general interest has been
manifested in the government investi-
cation now in progress into the mode
OF conducting business by the large
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 so far no definite charge of any
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, 1t might be well 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 so that 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
to popular clamor are now being APP,
parently Overlooked. Fair treatment
in this country has heretofore been ac-
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 to 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 gain to the entire
commerce of the country. And con-
nected with their continuous aggres
sive work no feature perhaps has beer
more important than their efforts in
seeking outlets all over the world fol
the surplus products of the farmer
Our total exports of agricultural prod
ucts have gained but little in the pas
twenty years. and leaving out corn, thu
total Of all other farm products wa!
far less in 1903 than in 1891. But il
packing house products there was con
siderable gain during this period, be
cause an organized and powerful fore,
has been behind them seeking nev
and broader markets.
Besides the benefits reaped by farm
ers on account of the enterprise ant
energy exercised by the packers in al
tanning commercial results by foreigl
trade, the great development in tn
manufacture of packing house by-prod
ucts has added enormously to tn
value of all live stock raised in tn
United States. The waste material O
twenty years ago, then an expense {
the packer, is now converted into ar
.ticles of great value, and, as an eco
nomic fact, this must corresponding
increase the value to the farmer {
every head Of cattle marketed at tn
numerous stock yards of the countr!
Let these facts be remembered Will
now it is so popular to regard th
great packing industry as deserving {
condemnation. At least it must be az
mitted that, so far, there is no adj
quate reason for the almost unan
NOUS howl that may be heard ever!
: where in the face of the Garfield n
port above alluded to, which practjca
iy exonerates the packers from the oil
scure and indefinite charges that hay
been for some time past made the su
ject Of popular comment.