The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1918-03-12
PACKERS SENT GIFT
TO PUSSY GENERAL"
ARMOUR CREASED" WAY TO
CAMP DODGE BY SOAP DO
MATED TO COMMANDER.

CHICAGO.-Letters introduced
today at the federal trade commits
sion's investigation of the packing
house industry, read before Examin-
er B. NJ. Manly, touched on such
widely separated subjects as the Ar
gentine labor troubles, leaky cans of
corned beef, specifications for army
and navy bacon, gift packages of
soap and toilet articles and the quail
ity of a large consignment of hams
rejected by the navy.
No hint of the probable duration
of the inquiry was given. The let
tiers and documents introduced this
week are all exclusive of the papers
taken from the private vault of
Henry Veeder, of Swift & Co., by
Mr.. Heney on a search warrant.
particular Old Codger.''
The soap incident entered the hear
ing when Francis J. Heney, counsel
for the commission, read copies of
letters taken from the files of Ar
mour & Co. The first, under date of
October, 10, 1917, bore the signature
of R. A Rightmire, of the Armour
Des Moines office. He said:
eve have been granted the eXclu-
sive right to build a subbranch close
to Camp Dodge. | imagine a light
package of toilet articles and a few
bars of soap will be highly pleasing
to General Plummer. He is a partic-
ular old codger and l imagine to be
very fussy about such things"
Gifts Failed to Arrive.
Other letters told of the sending
of the toilet and soap articles to the
general.
There was delay in the arrival of
the package, and in reply to letter
tracing it another letter was read,
signed E. H. Plummer 1t was short
and read:
Package not arrived, You know
my loyalty to Armour & Co. Nothing
else will do E. H. Plummer."
Another letter from the branch
manager told Of the arrival and de-
livery of the package. This letter
also included a sentence, saying:
I'VE are doing a world of business
every day at Camp Dodge and are re-
celvlng every courtesy"
Mr.. Heney produced correspond
ence purporting to show Cudahy &
Co. arbitrarily raised the price on
CHECK" meat-decreed unfit for the
army and navy-because of belief
the food administration would amend
specifications and it could then be
sold to the government.
He read letters between officials
Of the same company telling of plans
for a 100000 fund with which to
fight striking employees and union la
Dor in Kansas City.
The communication related how
$4,000 was raised at the initial
meeting of the employers Commit
tee Of fifty" and placed at the dis
posal of the chief of Missouri police
This was done, Mr.. Heney charg-
ed, ''to safeguard the interests of the
packers"
Food Official Drew Salary.
Another letter written by E. o.
Heyl, formerly of Libby, Mcneil &
Libby, but now of the food admins
tration, was produced by Mr.. Heney.
Mr. Heyl expressed regret at sever
ing his relation with the firm. The
letter was offered to show Mr.. Heyl
drew his salary of $4,000 a year
from the firm until February 16 of
this year.
He read into the record a letter
showing means by which packers at
tempted to influence the press. The
Kansas City Star and Times were in
formed that lack of courtesy in the
matter of packers" publicity would
be felt through the medium of their
advertising
Other letters indicated the packers
felt positive, Mr.. Heney said, that the
government was in the hollow of
their hands as far as meat buying