The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-09-22
Food Supply of United States is in the Hands of
 This Combine
COMMONEST NECESSITIES OF
 LIFE HAVE FIXED PRICES
Government Is Investigating Ramifica- tions of the Trust Which Controls Meat and Bread Supply and
 Price of Shoes, Etc.

Chicago, September 21.-Investiga- tion of the packing trust now under way by government officials is alleged to have developed that ten men in Chi cago compose the dynamic force of a formidable list of corporations that control prices from those of meat on the hoof to shoes, and from bread l. stuffs to transportation. These ten men are asserted to hold the balance upon the worlds supply of the com monest necessities of life: J. Ogden Armour, E. F. Swift, Ira N Morris, Thomas F. Wilson, s. A. McRoberts, l.. F. Swift, Edward Morris, T. J. Con- nors. Arthur Meel1er, Lawrence A. Carton
 The most casual newspaper reader will readily recognize the list as be- ing from the inside of the big packing plants of Chicago. That fact becomes significant when it is stated that they are all directors of the same corpor- ation-the National Packing company, organized under the laws of New Jer- sey with capital of $15.0G0 900.
 Controlled By Trust.
 The control of this directorate is al- legged to be absolutely over these things among a long list of others:
 The price of meat to all consumers.
 The price of cattle to all breeders.
 The price of leather to all factories and thus incidentally,
 The price of shoes.
 The price of grain. through allied interests, and thus as an incident,
 The price of bread.
 Thus without the endless details of the fertilizer market, where the trust controls the price that farmer pays for his fertilizers it appears that the latest fight Of the government in the trust field is directed to the two chief essentials of life-bread and meat.
 That the big ten at Chicago has raised the price of these things to the consumer and made no corresponding increase in the price paid for raw ma terial is the chief assertion of the government and it is upon this general line that the most interesting trust fight in the country is now being planned.
 When the directors of the National Packing company decide upon the price to be paid for cattle, that setles it for all of the houses, is the informa . ton that has come into the hands of the government.
 All of the other corporations in the country. with 8. few unimportant eX- captions. bow to the wishes of the ten leaders of the food market of the world.
 Split In the, Ranks.
 Evidences have come to the govern ment that there is split in the ranks of the trust. It is asserted that it grew so large that it has become top heavy and that certain of the old hands are not by any means satisfied with the present arrangement. It is from this split and this III feeling among insiders that the best informa . tion has come
 This is the easiest trust in the world to get at" said a government official today. "Compared to getting facts about the Standard oil, this job looks easy
 Active preparations for the prosecu- ton of the trust will be taken up Mon day. In the meantime the friends of the trust in Chicago have been eX- ceedingly busy. All possible efforts will be made to head off the investiga- ton. but it has progressed too far for any hope to be held out to the leaders.