The Sentinel=record., 1910-01-28
FORMER PROMOTERS BEHIND BEEF FIGHT ARE THE SAME PEOPLE THAT CAUSED THE INVESTIGATION
 OF TRUSTS IN 1908.
Attorney Ellis Will Watch Develop. ments and Whenever He Is Need
 ed Will Go To Chicago.

Chicago Jan. 27.-Four members ol the federal jury which investigated the so-called beef trust in 1908 forced the government through Judge Landis to start the present probe, ac cording to a report current here to- day.
 Assistant Attorney General Wade H. Ellis, who spent the day here, de. nied that there was any friction among the government officials con cerning the present investigation and also stated that District Attorney Ed win w. Sims would remain in charge. Concerning the inception of rae present action, it is said there would have been none had the four dissatis. fled jurymen not sought the aid of Judge Landis.
 This quartette, it is said, was will ing to indict the packers in December, 1908, and finally became so indignant over the increasing price of meat that they informed Judge Landis they thought it was time for the govern ment to begin another action.
 The report of the four jurors alleg- ed that there was sufficient evidence submitted to the 1908 grand jury to warrant true bills and that in tue face of this there was sudden apathy on the part of those behind the prosecu- ton.
 They also said that if the investi- gation was not immediately renewed they would make a joint statement to the public setting forth their theory of why the prosecution had been drop ped
 Following the jurors complaint Judge Landis is said to have made the investigation that resulted i'll the pres ent action being started. Judge Ian dis, it is said, got in touch with the evidence submitted to 1908 grand jury and determined that the present ac ton shall not be nullified by influence arising outside the grand jury room.
 In his statement concerning the pur pose of his visit here and the scope Of tine present investigation, MT. Ellii said
 T have spent the day in conference with the United States district attor ney and his assistants and in cal upon Judge Landis. whom I have known personally for many years There is no friction whatever in tn -beef inquiry"
 "The department of justice has beer at work for five or six months inves tigating the developments of the fresl meat industry since the last action b1 the jury in regard to prices of fooC and products, with view to ascer taining whether cause of actios now exists The investigation will bt conducted under the antitrust stat ute and may be either civil or crim inal
 "The proceedings now before the federal grand jury of this district arc in line with this investigation. ordi narily cases resented to the grand ! jury for trial in the courts are wholly within the routine duties of the Unit ed States attorney. Where, however the subject of inquiry anects the coun Itry at large and especially where I involves the complaint of violation Of the antitrust statute having more than local effect, the attorney general exercises a special supervision. He is particularly charged by the law with the enforcement of this act and my duties in this behalf are also fixed by statute under his direction There will be no change in the present instance. MT Sims, in whom the attorney general has entire conf dence, will present his testimony tc the grand jury After this testimony is in have no doubt the grand jury will do it's full duty both to the gov i ernment and those against whom such ,testimony may be adduced ] During the progress of the inquiry I expect to keep in touch with it ant to come to Chicago whenever it ma, seem necessary to participate, either now or later, in any way that shal seem advisable"