The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1905-05-11
investigation OF the Packers.

Very general interest has been mani
Tested in the government investigation
ETow in progress into the mode of con-
eductfng business by the large packers
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
Ear no definite charge OF any kind has
been sustained and no proof of illegal
or ineQuitabIe methods has been dis
closed TO the public. While a wave of
severe criticism of this great industrial
interest is now passing over the coun,
try it might be well to remember that
the packers have had as yet no oppor-
Gunity TO make specific denial, the
many indefinite charges of ~wrong-do-
tng having never been formulated so
4hat 81 categorical answer could be
madc.
The recent report Of Commissioners
Garfield, which embodied the results
&f an official investigation undertaken
by the Department of Commerce and
Labor OF Che United States, was a win;
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 it now,
stands, however, attention may proper!
sy be GATED 10 u few facts that owing
20 popular clamor are now being APP
parentiy overlooked. Fair treatment
I'm this country has heretofore been ac-
corded TO all citizens whose affairs as
sumo prominence in the public eye ana
some Of the facts that bear upon thd
relation of the packers to the com:
n1erce 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,
Eng from the energetic enterprise OF
she packers, for whatever is of benefit
TO the farmer is a gain to the cntirG
commerce of the country. And con-
aected with their continuous aggresl
sfve work no feature perhaps has bee':
more important than their efforts iii
seeking outlets all over the world for
che surplus products OF the farmer;
our total exports Of agricultural prod,
acts have gained but little in the past
twenty years, and leaving II corn. the
totai OF all other farm products way
Ear less in 1908 than in 1891. But III
packing house products there was conf
siderable gain during this period. be-.
cause an organized and powerful force
nas 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
Gaining commercial results by foreign
trade, the great development in the
manufacture of packing house by-prod-
aucts 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
ticfes of great value and. as an eco
si0mic fact, this must correspondingly
increase the value to the farmer Of
every head OF cattle marketed ut 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 it must be adj
United that, so far, there is no ade-
quate reason for the almost unani-
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
Oeen for some time past made the sub
aect OF popular comment.