Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-01-26
PACKERS TRIED TO
INFLUENCE WILSON.
CHARGE BY N
CONTINUED from Page ~


was selling at very satisfactory prices
and n investigation would only dis
turb such satisfactory conditions.
"It is quite important to reach
Gard Of Hamilton. Ohio" the memoir
andum Of counsel reads.
Perhaps Proctor of Cincinnati
knows him"
Questioned by Commissioner Muir
dock. Mi. Iiency said the Proctor re-
ferred to was h soap manufacturer.
Mr.. Murdoch found considerable in
terest in IA sentence of the
andum which recommended that all
the messages should he varied. He
said it was the psychology of congress-
men that whcn they received a large
number of kilograms identical in form,
they suspected somebody was trying
to put something over" which un-
doubtedly was recognized by the pack
ers also. Indication that the packers
had advance information of what was
being done in connection with the
Borland resolution was contained in
a memorandum taken from the files
of Wilson and company, but which
carried a notation showing that it was
sent to all of the big five packing
companies. The memorandum said;
Keep 1t Quiet.
"Mr. Faulkner counsel for Ar
mour) has received word from
Washington that the Borland hearings
have been definitely set for June IS.
Do not mention the fact that we have
this advance information as the of
fetal word probably will be out with
in a day or two. 1t is o believed
that Mr.. Fisher knows it as yet"
Mr.. Fisher referred to was Walter
Fisher, counsel for the live stock men
who were urging the investigation.
Statements by Francis j. Heney tina,
Armour and company had been found
to control the street railways of Kan
sas City was the first indication tha1
the financial qualifications of the
packers touched many street railway
systems.
The influence of the packers ir
Kansas City is more widespread thar
in any other city of the United States
excepting Chicago Mr.. Heney said.
Influenced Tin Industry.
Evidence of the packers influence
in the tin industry also has been dis.
covered. Mr.. Heney told Commission
err Murdoch. who asked about tina
phase of the inquiry, after remarkine
that the packers were broadening
SANSAi oSSltlllCo vi lIC n
canned food
Control by the packers over 1inan
cal institutions has reached such a,
extent, Mr.. Heney said, that recent,
when an Independent packer asked TO
a oan from one Of the big New Yorl
banks, the bank wrote to Thomas f
Wilson of Wilson & Co., asking if tn,
credit should be extended.
Division of live stock buyin,
! n rnVYohNSvf tho TYr;$1l cs<>A.. t--x,
five big packers which would have tn
effect of limiting competition betwee,
them. was charged by Mr.: Heney o
the basis of a memorandum take,
from the confidential files of Edwar
F. Swift.
Letter Caused Remark.
The evidence which caused M,
Heney's remark was a letter date
August 10. 1915. from r. C. McManu
IN Washington to Henry Veeder i
Chicago, both attorneys for the pack
ers. McManus referred to a com
plant asking for an investigation c
the ! V stock industry and said:
The Doolittle complaint under fed
eral trade commission practice
privileged and Mt available to the pub
lie. However, 1t is as follows"
He then proceeded to outline tn
substance Of the complaint.
Evidence that the packers had oh
tanned confidential information
1915 cause Francis j. Heney, coun
sci IN the meat packing investigation
TO protest publicly to- the feders
trade commission today against tn
practice Of leaving the offices in tn
commissions building unlocked. =
III have several times returned an
found an attorney for the packer
alone In my once" Mr.. Honey sait