The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-12-22
BETWEEN TWO FIRES.
Attorney for Packers Describes situa-
ton of His Clients.

Chicago, Dec. 22.-When the trial o.
the ten indicted meat packers was re
sumed here today, the defendants
! counsel continued the presentation o.
their opening statement to the jury
The packers were indicted for alleged
violation of the criminal clause of the
sherman antitrust law. Attorney NJ
w. Borders. representing the interests
of Morris and Company briefly dis
cussed the case of his clients.
AT the outset I want to declare that
our defense Will be not guilty, he
said, the defendants are charged with
making illegal agreement in regard to
the necessities of life, and l want you
to understand the conditions under
which they are obliged to operate the
business.
ssThey are between two forces. The
| live stock producers want high prices,
the consumers want low prices
matter what is done, there is hue
and cry from one side or the other.
The question to be decided by you IN
this case is whether these defendants
have entered into an Illegal agreement
to control the purchase of live stock
and the sale of fresh meat
says Charges Are False.
1.-The government must prove be-
yond a reasonable doubt by evidence
that these defendants operated com
bine in restraint of trade in the three
y
term covered by the Indictment.
y say the charges of the government
are false. I say the government viii
fail in its attempt to prove the guilt
of these defendants. District Attorney
Wilkerson's academic discussion of the
alleged pool of the dead past is ancient
history. AS I listened to him I Won
dered whether we were trying the liv-
ing or the dead In the days to which
the government attorney refers nearly
I T,.,I lii,
of trade agreement. The railroads
gave rebates and passes. Other lines of
business had their own way of meeting
conditions.
I am not going to deny or admit
that there We're pools in the lacking
business in the old days, because it has
nothing to do with the case.
High Cost of Living
I'VE hear a great deal about the high
cost of living, and especially the high
price of meat" said Attorney Borders.
This is the result of changed economic
population has exceeded the produc-
ton of live stock. The demand for
fresh meat has increased at the rate
Of 500 million pounds a year, while
there has been a decrease of 16 per cent
in production of steers.
Can the packers be held responsible
for this condition? Is this any evidence
Of an illegal combination? These pack
tIS pay Sl,VJJ.vVV a Gay 20 the farmers OF
the country for their live stock
Swift. Armour. Norris and the Ma
tional Packing company do not furnish
more than So per cent of the fresh meat
used in this country. The packers earn
a smaller percentage on their money than
is earned in any other large business.
During the three years covered by
this Indictment Morris & Co. earned less
than 10 per cent on money invested and
there is no water in the stock of these
concerns. The profits on fresh meat was
than One-QuaFtoT a pound.
The only way to control the fresh
meat industry of the country is to control
the supply and the volume of shipments
of the finished product and this is beyond