The Monte Vista journal. (Monte Vista, Rio Grande County, Colo.) 1888-1921, 1905-05-20
investigation Of the Packers.

Very general interest has been man.
Tested in the government investira.
ton now in progress into the mode of
conducting business by the large pack.
crs 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 1t seems that so
far no definite charge OF any kind has
been sustained and no proof of Illegal
or nequitable methods has been dis.
closed 10 the public, while wave Of
severe criticism Of this great indus
trial Interest Is now passing over the
country II might be well TO remember
that the packers hav. had rs yet no
opportunity 10 make specific denial.
the many indefinite charges OF wrong
doing having never been formulated
so that n categorical answer could be
made.
The recent report Of Commissioner
Garfield. which embodied the results
OF an official Investigation undertaken
by the Department uf Cum;acuCo and
Labor OF the United States. was a win.
dicatlon OF tn. Western packers. but
this result having beer unexpected at.
tempts In many qcaTtcis TO lisCrcdit 1,
were mad"
In view of the situation as IL now
stands, however. attention may prop,
crly be called to n few facts
that owing to popular ciamor 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.
ers to the commerce OF tho country
may at this time be briefly alluded to.
II would be difficult 10 estimate the
benefits gained by the farmers OF the
country resulting from the energetic
enterprise OF the packers. for whatever
u OF benefit to the farmer is u gain TO
the entire commerce OF the country.
md 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.
tufal products have gained but littlo
IN the past twenty years. and leaving
out corn, the total Of al! other farm
products was far less In 1903 than In
1881. But In packing house products
there was considerable gain during this
period. because nm organized and pow.
erful force has been behind them seek.
Ing new and broader markets.
Besides the benefits rcapcd by fsrm.
crs on account Of the enterprise and
energy exercised by the packers In Mt.
tanning commercial results by foreign
trade. the great development In tn,
manufacture OF packing house by.
products has added enormously to tho
value Of nil live stock raised In the
United States, Tho waste material OF
twenty years ago. then an expense TO
the packer. IN now converted into mr..
ticlcs OF great value. and NJ an eco
homlc fact. this must corrcHpondlngly
Increase the value TO the farmer OF
every head OF cat,l. marketed at the
numerous stock yards Of the country.
LIT there facts b" remembered while
now II In 20 popular 10 regard III.
great packing Industry ~ deserving
OF condemnation, a, least II NUT be
admitted that. 20 FAR there IN no nde
quatc rcagOn Tor the almost unnni
nous howl that may be heard every.
where IN the face Of the Garfield re.
port above alluded Ia which practically
"soncrateE the packers from the oh.
Hcurc and indefinite. charges that have
been for some time past mad. the sub.
Joct OF popular commont..-Amcricap
Homcsp adj.