Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1905-05-13
Investigation OF the Packers.

Very general interest has been mani
tested in the government investigation
now in progress into the mode of con-
Quoting 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
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 industrial
interest is now passing over the coun-
try it might be well to remember that
the packers have had as yet no oppor-
tunity to make specific denial, the
many indefinite charges of wrong-do-
ing 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 it now
stands, however, attention may proper
~ be called to 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
he 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 CT benefit
to the farmer is a gain to the entire
commerce of the country. And con
nected with their continuous aggreS-
sive work no feature perhaps has been
more important than their efforts III
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 1908 than in 1891. But I'D
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 anu
energy exercised by the packers in at
tanning commercial results by forei-L
trade, the great development in Ill"
manufacture of packing house by-pr"i
ucts has added enormously to ta'
value of all live stock raised in tine
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
homie fact. this must correspondIngl
increase the value to the farmer '-
every head of cattle marketed at t.@
numerous stock yards of the country.
Let these facts be remembered VIM
now it is so popular to regard I'D.
great packing industry as deserving o.
condemnation. At least it must he az
mitted that, so far there is no aut
quate reason for the almost uha"t
nous howl that may be heard every
where in the face of the Garfield r.
port above alluded to which pracHtI4
ly exonerateS the packers from the DIV
scure and indefinite charges that III
been for some time past made the SUI
ject of popular comment.
Looping the Loop Forbidden
Owing to the death of a woman W.
~