The new South-news., 1909-06-12
FIGHTlNe THE BEEF TRUST
Campaign to Prevent Il Estah-
fishing = lestheF Monopoly.
Evidence That Chicago Packers In.
der Present Conditions WIN Ulti-
mately Control Shoe Rusiaess.

Washington, D. C.-The lobby and
the lawyers IN charge of the manifold
interests OF the Beef Trust are In
high glee because OF recent successes
in steering their unpopular client
past all legislative and legal obsta-
cles without a single bump.
A complete score OF the Trusts vic
tories, blessings and mercies would
be very long. but here are few Of
them: The proposed new prosecution
by the Government has been aban-
donei. Recent offerings of the bonds
OF the Trust have been eagerly accept
ed in Wall Street athigh prices Prices
OF meats have been advanced again
and again and there is no serious
complaint. William Lorlmer, the he
roic defepdeg OF the Trust in Con-
sress, has been elected TO the Senate
" the United States by his fellow
citizens Of Illinois. and last. but
least, the movement for free hides
Congress has been defeated.
That Is. the Beef Trust thinks thd>
question is settled. but game and
effective fight for free hides and
leather is still being waged. and there
are hopes that Congress may yet be
Influenced to take another point OF
view ~,- ----f'v-s
The most effective campaign is that
conducted by Ex-Governor Douglas.
of Massachusetts. who is bombarding
Congress with literature and argu-
nents which are causing a great stir
In the corporation camp.
The last brick he has thrown at
the meat monopoly is sensational in
the extreme. Copies of his statement
have been sent to every United States
Senator and every Representative in
Congress and to all shoe manufacture
ers. wholesale jobbers. retail shoe
dealers and leather users in the Uni
ted States. Mr.. Douglas declares that
the shoe manufacturers of this coun-
try are facing crisis even greater
than many of them realize.
Under present conditions it does
not take prophet to foretell in a
general way what will happen. Mr..
Douglas says. The logic of events
has already proceeded far enough to
indicate clearly the goal toward
which We are rapidly travelling. This
is no less than a gigantic trust con-
trolling the beef packing. leather tan
ming and shoe manufacturing indus
tries OF this country This trust will.
of course. be bull. around the present
Beef Trust .-.-----i---
The advantage given to the Beef
Trust. as the original owner of hides.
Is so great that competition with Il
will be hopeless. as soon as 1t can es-
tabilsh itself in the leather tanning
and shoe manufacturing Industries.
BY ownership and control. through
community Of interest. and by tan
ming contracts. the Beef Packers
Trust has already become so domin-
ant in the sole leather tanning bust
ness that 1t Is dificult to locate inde-
pendent }annerles More than thirty
tanneries are now said to be under
Armour, Swift. Morris control.
H>ceQtly reports have been heard
that the Set Packers were becoming
interested in TIA shoe manufacturing
business. 1t seems cieaf that tns a.
most inevitable result OF continuing
the present policy is to throw the en-
tire leather tanning and shoe manu-
featuring business into the hands OF
the Beef Trust. which has, through
its slaughtering interests, control OF
the country's hide supply, and can
dictate prices
Newspaper publishers are taking 4
deep interest in this matter because
the shoe men are among their largest
advertisers, and they realize that II
the Beef Trust got control of the busi-
ness 1t would no more advertise shoes
then than II dOac eirtofu ct oaEc nOw