Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-12-26
'B|[|[F Trust LEGAL
BAI|[E OPENS TO-DAY
GOVERNMENTS FIRST WITNESS
TAKES STAND AGAINST IN
picrEp CHICAGO PACKERS.
HEARIMo OF TESTIMONY
WILL TAKE SEVERAL MONTHS
Prosecution and Defense out'ins
Course Thsy Expect Case to Take
April 1 Dats Set for Giving Case to
Jury-vvitnsssss ReIats "Aneisnt
H;stery,-christmas With Jurors.

( .
Chicago, Dec. 26.-Christmas was
celebrated by the prosecution and de-
tense In the beef trust" case in pre-
pairing for the battle which marked the
real opening of the trial today.
Altho the case againest the ten in
dicted packers on trial has been in
District Judge George A. Carpenters
court for three weeks, the time has
been spent in selecting jury.
The first witneas for the government
took the stand today. The govern
ment,e testimony is expected to take
two months for presentment. The de-
tense probably will occupy month in
offering counter evidence. 1t is not be-
lieved the case will go to the jury be-
fore April !.
Both the government and the pack
ers In their opening statements have
marked out to the jury the course
they expect the case to take. Summed
UP briefly, the government hopes to
prove:
That since the early sos working
agreement or conspiracy to control the
fresh meat industry has been In con-
tinual existence.
That the ten defendants became d.
rectors Of the National Packing Com
pany on its organization in 1903 for the
purpose Of continuing an agreement
which was enjolned by the Grosscup
Injunction.
That by means Of the directors
meetings OF this alleged sham" cor
poration they have restrained both the
purchase Of live stock and the sale Of
fresh meats and now control IS per
cent Of the. output OF the country.
The packers acknowledge:
That q working agreement was in
force up to 1902. but that such con-
tracts were not uncommon at that
time. es.s
That 4 80, 100000 loan for the pur-
nose of organizing a gigantic beef
trust was sought In 1903, but that
they failed to obtain it.
That the National Packing Co. was
not organized because of the failure of
that financial DREAM" but only be-
cause the defendants had $15,000.000
worth Of odds and ends packing COM
panies on their hands as result of the
failure of their scheme to materialize.
Dsniais BY Packers.
In controversions of the charge the
packers say:
That no Illegal agreement to restrain
trade has existed since Sept. 10. 1907
the date fixed by the statute of limita-
tions as the boundary inside Of which
the government must prove its case.
That the Natinoal Packing Company
Is not sham" corporation, but has
$4,000, 900 worth Of valuable property
ard that Il is in no wise connected
with the iefendants' other packing in
terests.
That the directors meetings of the
corporation are not held for the pur-
pose Of fixing prices and controlling the
market for the other larger corpora
tions, but merely as those of an indi-
vidual corporation.
That the ten indicted packers control
but 80 per cent Of the output Of fresh
meat, and that it would be impossible
for them to control the cattle purchases
of the country or to fix prices.
That the fresh meat industry. instead
of having been restrained in any way
has been benefited by the Chicago
packers. and that Independent" pack
ers have displayed a remarkable
growth both in number and wealth il
the last ten years.
That the Chicago packers are not re.
sponsible for the high cost Of fresh
meat to the consumer. The limited sup
ply ~ livestock. they say, has boosted
( the price.
That they are conducting their great
business ventures On smaller precent-
Age Of prOdt than any other industry In
the world, and that were it not for the
profits derived from by-products they
would lose millions Of dollares annually
by fu~nishjng meat at the price which
Is now paid
y wit csvsr Wide Territory.
The government will cover a wide
scope In sits. evidence.
This morning witnesses were called
to testify 10 ancient history in the
packing Industry. when p. D. Armour
Philip Morris and Gustavus Swift, now
dead, founded. their great packing con.
Germs ana entered the fresh meat mar.
kets -thruout the world.
Sons Of these men are defendants II
this case, but the acts of their father.
viii be Introduced IN an attempt t.
prove the governments contention that
the second generation continued the
Acknowledged illegal contracts in re.
straint oe trade entered into by theil
Z fathers.
while the government had adopted q
4 uo1icy Of refusing to make known the
witnesses 70 he introduced until they
take the Witness chair, It 10 known that
7 Albert II. veeder. one Of the packers
counsel, VIII be one Of the first called
on to testify for the prosecution.