Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1905-06-16
Investigation Of the Packers.

Very general interest has been man.
Tested in the government inyesiiga-
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 tho al,
legged Illegal and improper modes OF
business procedure connected with the
packing industry; but il seems that SO
FAR no definite charge OF any kind has
been sustained and no proof Of Illegal
or negotiable methods has been dis
closed to the public. While a wave Of
severe criticism OF this great indus
trial interest Is now passing over the
country it might be well 10 remembeI
that the packers have had as yet no
opportunity 20 make specific dnnia,
the many indefinite charges Of wrong
doing 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 anu
Labor OF the United States. was n win.
dicallon OF the Western packers. but
this result having beer unexpected at.
tempts In many quarters 10 disCredit il
were made
In view Of the situation as II now
stands, however. attention may prop
erly be called to a few iacts
that owing TO popular clamor are Low
being apparently overlooked. Fair
treatment In this country has hereto
fore been accorded to all citizeps
whose AFFAIRS assume prominence In
the public eye and some Of the facts.
That bear upon the relation OF the pack
ers to the commerce OF the country
may at this time be briefly alluded 10.
V would be dificult to estimate the
benefits gained by the farmers of tho
country resulting from the energetic
enterprise OF the packers, for whatever
is OF benefit to the farmer is q gain TO-
the entire commerce Of the country.
Ind connected with their continuous
aggressive 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 agricul-
tural products 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
here was considerable gain during this
period, because an organized and DOW
erful force has been behind them seek
log new and broader markets.
ka
ors on account Of the enterprise and
energy exercised by the packers IN at
tanning commercial results by foreign,
trade, the great development In ,hG
Of packing house by
products 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
ticles OF great value, and, as an eco
nomic fact, this must correspondingIy
increase the value to the farmer Of
every head OF cattle marketed at the
numerous stock yards Of the country.
Let these facts be remembered while
now II is so popular to regard the
great packing industry as deserving
of condemnation. At least II must 10
admitted that, SO far there is no ade-
luate reason for the almost unani.
nous howl that may be heard every
where In the face Of the Garfield re-
port above alludedtp which practically
generates the packers from the %,
Ieure and indefinite charges that have
been for some time past made the sub.
ect OF popular cOmnent--AmerIcaD
Homestead.