The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1905-05-11

v.ry general interest has been mani
Tested I'm the Government investigation
how in progress into the mode OF con
ducsIux business by the large packers
io~ated In Chicago aud eisew here
Mech has been written upon The n.
Legged Illegal and improper modes OF
business procedure connected with The
packing Industry: but IL seems that 30
Far no definite charge Of yny kiad has
been sustained and 10 proof OF IlegaI
or inequita bic methods has been dis
closed TO the public. While ware OF
severe criticism OF this great industrial
interest Is DOW passin: over tue eoun-
try IL might be well 10 remember that
the packers have had as yet 30 oppoT-
tunlfy 10 make specific denial. tie
pany indefinite charges Of WRONG Do
ing having never been formulated 50
that q categorical answer could lie
made.
The recent report OF Commissioners
Garfield. which embodied the results
OF an Official investigation undertaken
by the Department Of Commerce ana
Labor OF the United States. was vim
dication Of the Western packers, but
this result having been unexpected at
tempts in many quarters TO discreoit IL
were made.
In view OF the situation rs II nov
stands. however. attention may proper
ly be called TO a few facts that owing
to popular c!amor are now being APP
parentiy overlooked. Fair treatment
In this country has heretofore been &C
corded to all citizens whose affairs as
sumo prominence In the public eye aud
some of the facts that bear upon the
relation of the packers 10 the COM
merce of the country may at this time
be briefly alluded TO. 1t would he
difficult to estimate the benefits gained
by the farmers of the country result
ing from the energetic enterprise OF
the packers, for whatever is of benefit
to the farmer is gain to the entire
commerce Of the country. And con-
nected with their continuous agrees
sive 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 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 1903 than in 1891. But i'm
packing house products there was con.
BfuSldDIc gain uulihS thio pSkloi. w
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 and
energy exercised by the packers in at
tanning commercial results by foreign
trade, the great development in the
manufacture Of packing house by-prod'
ucts 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 correspondence
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 it is so popular to regard the
great packing industry as deserving OF
| condemnation. At least it must be ad'
mitted 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 practical
~ exonerates the packers from the OBJ
scure and indefinite charges that have
! been for some time past made the sub.
ject of popular comment.