The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-03-26
BEEF TRUST Case.
GOVERNMENT BEGINS SIT
AGAINST NATIONAL PACK
ING COMPANY.
Hands Out True Bill Against Trust
and Ten Subsidiary Concerns-The
Defendants Side.

~'NOi ~ hdu bSsuH llS lnNeStiSdtiOn
for alleged violations Of the Sherman
antitrust law, the federal grand jury
today returned indictments against
the National Packing company and 10
subsidiary concerns.
Immediately upon the announce
ment of the indictments the govern
ment began before Judge Kennesaw
NJ. Lands. the suit seeking the disso-
luton of the National Packing COM
pany. The latter action Is known as
a suit In equity and besides those in
dicted. 16 firms and individuals are
made defendants
In the statement issued, on behalf
of the National Packing Company.
Ralph Crews. It's general counsel, to-
night gives some inkling of the de-
termination to fight the government
to the limit. His statement follows:
THE company was organized in
March, 1908. for the purpose of econo-
mical operation of certain subsidiary
corporations named Jointly with 1t in
the indictment returned today by the
federal grand jury for the northern
was directed by the best counsel OBJ
tainable, who then believed and now
believe that its operating to restrain
the trade Of it's subsidiary compan-
les in no way transgressed the pro-
visions OF the Sherman act; and in
this respect 1t Is practically similar
Of the country.
THE total percentage of the busi-
ness done by the corporations control
led by the National Packing Company
forms but a small part Of the whole
volume of the packing industry. This
proportion could not constitute a mo-
stead OF operating to restrain the
trade OF Its subsidiary companies, as
alleged In the indictment. 1t is a fact
that the companies have all shown
healthy increase since the formation
of the National. The company Is ope-
rated by its officers purely as a COM
petltive and independent factor in the
trade.
THE indictment today returned and
the tili In equity today filed by the
district attorney are directed at the
organization and operation Of this
company. These operations have at
all times. been frank and open. as
sustain our contentious with respect
TO their legality"
The defendants to the bill are the
National Packing Company. F. II
Hammond Company, Hammond
Packing Company, Omaha Packing
Company. st. Ipuis Dressed Beef and
Provision Company. Anglo-American
Provision Company. Fowler Packing
Company. United Dressed Beef Com
pany. New York. Butchers Dressed
Meat Company. Continental Packing
Company. Armour & Co.. Swift & ca.
Morris & Co., Edward Tilden, Louis
Swift. Edward F.. Swift Charles III
Swift. l.. "A. Carter. Frank A. Fowler,
j. Ogden Armour. Arthur Mteker.
Thomas j. Conners, Edward Morris
Thomas T.. Wilson and L. III. Heyman.
The bill charges that the National
Packing Company was organized un
March IS. 1905. and the necessary ef-
feet of it's organization was to lie.
stroy competition not only among its
constituent companies but also he
tween those companies and ,ne Ar
mour. Swift and Morris companies.
The bill prays that the manage
ment and control of the National
Packing Company and of it's subsl-
diary companies be declared in viola.
ton OF the Sherman act and unlaw-
full and void and that each of the TO-
dividual defendants and the National
Packing Company and the A-mour
Swift and Morris companies be en-
Joined from exercising any control
whatsoever over the subsidiary com.
panies. may be enjolned from paying
any dividends of the National Pack
Ing Company and that the defendants
be prohibited from carrying on any
Interstate commerce until they s'.tis-
~ the court that they are no longer
party TO any unlawful combination.
The effect OF tho bill will be to dis
solve the National Packing Company
and turn back the management Of It's
subsidiary companies to the original
owners.