Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-27
Lands Not to Have His Way.

!. Wade Ellis. assistant to Attorney
General Wickersham, has been sent to
Chicago, by direct orders of President
Taft, to take charge Of the investiga-
ton Of the beef trust and probable prose-
cutions Of the officers of the trust.
Furthermore, President Taft inti-
mates broadly that If any big packers
are guilty of violating the laws they
will be prosecuted. regardless of in
ffuences working in their behalf
Mr.. Ellis has been sent to Chicago to
offset the claims Of Judge Lands that
he started the beef trust inquiry and
that the Washington administration Is
trying to grab the credit.
Judge Lands, who is credited with
having his lightning rod up for the dem
ocratic presidential nomination two years
from now, is making something of<a
fuss about the administration stepping
in and muddling things. United States
Attorney Sims, at Chicago, advised the
Department OF Justice that it would be
better to let him and Judge Landis run
the investigation and keep off Wade Ell
lis.
The President decided to the contrary
because the administration has for two
months been accommodating information as
to the operations of the beef trust. and
is supposed to be fully posted as to the
best steps to take in successfully ascer-
tanning the facts and bringing officials to
punishment.
In this particular case the administra-
ton is known to insist upon criminal
prosecution and the full penalty of the
law If there are convictions.
McCumber Defends Farmer.
Following the Introduction of a resolu-
tion In the Senate yesterday, by which it
is sought to have the committee on agri-
culture make an investigation of the
prices paid for food products on the farm
in various parts Of the United States
the wholesale prices Of such products at
the wholesale centerS and the retail
prices of the same articles In the larger
cities of the country, Senator McCumber
of North Dakota today gave an inter-
view, in which he entered vigorously into
a defense of the farming interests
throughout the country.
At the beginning of every agitation
against high prices for food products, he
declared, the farmer has been made the
has always insisted were exorbitantIy
high prices procured by the farmer for
the products of the soil.
Farmer Not a Grabber.
The senator declared the farmer should
not be attacked, because it could be
shown that the values attached to food.
stuffs at the retail markets were far out
Of proportion to the returns which the
sales of the raw materials netted the
original producer-the farmer.
Senator McCumber particularized in one
instance to illustrate the tremendous dis
proportion, considering the respective
labor performed, In the price secured by
| the farmer for his wheat and the price
| paid by the ultimate consumer after the
wheat reaches the table in the form OF
bread.
The senator strongly urges the forma
| ton of a great agricultural union, so the
| farmers may stand together in event the
agitation should seriously menace the wal
of protection which now conserves the in
terests of the tillers Of the soil.
Views of Senator McCumber.
computations" said Senator McCumber
land find that. with far less labor ex-
pended upon the farmers product
after they leave his hands than wa:
expended by him in producing them
the value Is nevertheless increased from
one hundred to four hundred per cen
after leaving the farmer. And If yo,
/ follow the food product to the table ir
an ordinary restaurant in q large city
an. increase of from two to four thou
sand per cent above the farmers price
| will be noted.
| The farmer today receives less fol
| the actual number of hours expended
by him In producing any article thar
any other laborer in the United States
In other words. If you will estimate thu
| farmers labor at the same rates yol
do the labor of the artisan in our larg;
cities you will find the value of his
product nearly double what 1t is at tho
present time
Il will give but one illustration. AT
ordinary restaurant in this city, by making
a charge of 10 cents per service for bread
| Continued on Thirteenth Page.)