Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1905-09-24
WHITE FEATHER
SHOWN BY THE PACKERS, AND
THEY MAKE ANOTHER BID
FOR LENIENCY.
NolIe Contendere at Chicago Regard
ed as Tactical Move to Mo'Iify
Government.

Washington Sept. 23.-Are the
beef trust barons showing the white
feather before the government gets
good start in it's fight against them?
This is question which nearly every
lawyer in the employ of the govern
ment asked when news was received
here that four traffic men of the
Schwarzschild and Sulzbberger COM
lany had entered a plea of nolle con-
tendere at Chicago. Nolle conten-
dere is a polite way Of saying guilty
as charged
But that is not the only fact that
caused the question to be framed.
Word was sent to the department of
agriculture that at least the Swift in
terests are about to make a determin-
ed effort to eliminate tuberculosis
hogs from the food products of the
country. The government has been
trying to do that. but it has never
lad the cooperation of the packers.
On the contrary the packers would
use diseased animals every time the
hack of the inspector was turned.
The plan of the Swift people, as
reported to the officials of the depart
ment of agriculture. unoficially. OF
course, is to buy all hogs subject to
post-mortem examination. If, after
slaughter. an animal shows disease,
the shipper is to receive no pay for
it.
Swift claims that the packers, for
more than five years, have been los
ing more than $1OO0,OOO year on
account of diseased hogs condemned
by the government inspectors. The
loss by reason of condemned animals
has amounted to more than five times
that sum, but hogs have been the
hardest to handle.
1t is claimed that 80 per cent of dis
eased hogs come from Iowa, and that
they get tuberculosis by being fed on
skim milk. The disease is very bad
among the cattle Of Iowa, but it is
easier detected in a COW than in hog,
so that the number of tuberculosis
cows that get to the packing-houses
from Iowa is comparatively small.
The prospective move of the pack
ers is not attributed to any philan-
thropic motives. On the contrary, it
is looked upon as a bid for. leniency.
1t is also regarded as a tacit admis-
sion that the government inspectors
have systematized their work so we'll
that the packers are no longer able
to make the use of diseased hogs
profitaoble.
Abandonment of efforts at this time
may properly be construed as an ad-
mission that the packers are begin
ming to feel the weight of the federal
Governments hand almost before that
hand has been laid on where it would
do much good
The nolle contendere of the four
traffic officials of the Schwarzschild
and Sulzberger company is not regard
ed as an humble confession of fault
with an implied promise of reforma-
ton. On the contrary it is looked up
on as tactical move to prevent the
government from forcing the hands of
the packers, as would be the case if
the men were brought to trial and
thereby compelled to disclose the line
Of the defense.
The plea, however, is regarded as
evidence that the packers are fully
aware that the government has caught
them at their work and is prepared
to make even the dullest wit in the
jury box believe that he ought to re-
turn verdict of guilty on the great
er cases which involve violations of
the antitrust law. The cases in
which the plea was entered charge
merely violations of the Elkins "jok.
err rebate law.