Idaho Springs siftings., 1905-05-13
Investigation Of the Packers.

Very general interest has been man
Tested In the government inyestiga-
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 the al
legged Illegal and improper modes Of
business procedure connecteS, with the
packing industry. but 1t seems that SO
far no definite charge OF any kind has
been sustained and no proof OF Illegal
or inequfiabIe 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 IL might be well TO remember
that the packers have had as yet no
opportunity to make specific denial.
the many indefinite charges OF wrong
doing having never been formulated
so that a categorical answer could bs
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
dlcaiion OF the Western packers, but
this result having been unexpected at
tefnpts in many quarters to discredit Il
we're made.
In view Of the situation as Il now
stands. however. attention may prop
erly be called TO few facts
that owing to popular clamor are now
being apparently overlooked. Fair
treatment in this country has hereto
fore been accorded to all citizens
whose affairs assume prominence in
the public eye and some OF the facts
that bear upon the relation Of the pack
to A. ..f 10
may at this time be briefly alluded to.
II would be difficult to estimate the
benefits gained by the farmers of the
country resulting from the energetic
enterprise Of the packers. for whatever
is OF benefit TO the farmer is a gain to
the entire commerce of the country.
and 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-
furai products have gained but little
tn the past twenty years. and leaving
l out corn. the total OF all other farm
! products was far less In 1908 than in
lssi. But In packing house products
there was considerable gain during this
| period. because an organized and pow
erful force has been behind them seek
/ ing new and broader markets.
Besides the benefits reaped by farm
ers on account OF the enterprise and
I energy exercised by the packers in at
tanning commercial results by foreign
trade. the great development in the
manufacture OF packing horse by
I products has added enormously to tho
l value OF air live stock raised in the
/ United States. The waste material oc
twenty years ago. then an expense to
the racker. is now converted into ar
/ ticles OF great value, and. as an eco
nomic fact, this must correspondingly
| 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 IL lis SO popular to regard the
! great packing industry as deserving
Of condemnation. At least IL must be
admitted that. SO far there is no ade-
| quate reason for the almost unani-
nous howl that may be heard every
where In the face Of the Garfield re-
port above alluded to which practically
exonerates the packers from the OBJ
scure and indefinite charges that have
| been for some time past made the sub
ject of popular comment-American
! Homestead.