Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1906-06-26
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L.EWISTOWN, MONT. June 26, 1906
MEAT eARoNs TO BLAME.

MI .. f1oDSOll, WIZ was lHlCi
viewed last week in Helena on the ex-
posures in the Chicago packing houses,
thinks the stockmen of Montana and
the west will have to pay the tid-
der in the end and deplOres the pub
licity that has been given the matter
He thinks that in the interest Of the
public and for the general protection
of all affected, the lid should never
have been raised upon the alleged
methods obtaining in PackinstoWn, al
though he does not question but there
is room for reform there.
1t will be remembered that Presi-
dent Roosevelt was reluctant to give
publicity to the report Of the special
commissioners appointed to investi
gate conditions existing in Packing
town, for the very reasons given by
Mr.. Hobson. He dreaded to pursue d
course that would injure those who
were in no way responsible for the
frightful conditions found to exist, the
stockgrowers. But a clamor immedi
ately was raised for publicity. while
the packers. with an insolence and ar
rogance born of long-standing mo-
nopoly. evinced disposition to defy
the president and to oppose any legis-
lation that would be effective in
bringing about better conditions by
thorough inspection into every branch
of the business. Had the packers
been controlled by anything but greed
they would have at once commenced
a thorough overhauling and cleaning
OF their plants after the Upton Sin.
clair exposures, and introduced whole
some methods in the conduct of their
business. They took no steps in that
direction until the report of the spec
ial commissioners was made. After
severe shaking up the packers be-
gan to take notice Of things and ex
nibit some regard for the great con
suming public. which must not be los,
sight of in considering this question
After spending days and nights in
removing filth, the packers invited the
public to come and see how neat and
clean they We're. But it was too late
TO stay the harm that had been done
by their own niggarliness as well as
their Indifference as regards the peo-
pie and the authority of the govern
ment.
If the meat barons had spent tenth
part of the money they will lose by
the exposures in Packingtown in in
stitutlng reforms and erecting new
buildings at the stock yards, there
would have been no investigation and
hence nothing to make public The
packers are to blame for the situation
and the only thing to be regretted is
that they alone do not have to sus.
tain the loss.
Unquestionably the live stock mar
ket will feel the effects of the the
publicity given in the government re.
port, but there is a difference of opin-
ion as to its extent. With better
methods and confidence restored I'M
der rigid inspection il would not be
surprising if the livestock market inn
proved much more rapidly than some
now expect. The Drovers' Journal
takes a hopeful view of the outlook,
while other authorities hold that the
injury will only be temporary 1t viii
be some months before cattle ship.
ments are heavy from Montana and
ment in that time