New-York tribune., 1918-02-26
Trade Commission Counsel
Accuses Chicago Men Of
prohting by Leak
Friends Appointed to
Food Board, He Says
Letters Seized in Raid Are
Read in the Davies
Investigation

CHICAGO, Feb 25.-That Chicago
hackers had advance information on
the appointment of Herbert c. Hoover
as Food Administrator, and that they
used their information in Washington
to obtain places for employees and
"friends' on the food administration,
was charged to-day before Joseph +.
Davies, chairman Of the Federal Trade
Commission. in the governments IN
yestigaton Of the packing industry.
To subs:antiate the charges, Fran
eis J. Heney, special counsel for the
commission, read into The records
collection Of private letters to and
from Louis y. Swift, head of Swift &,
Co; Arthur Meeker. of Armour & Co;
Thomas T. Wilson, of Wilson 4 Co.,
and other big packers. The letters
were seized in the raid on the corre
spondence files of the packers directed
by Mr.. Heney.
Mr.. Heney said that the letters
proved that the packers knew of the
public did; that they had "inside' in
formatioA that Joseph ?. Cotton, New
York attorney, would be appointed head
of the meat and livestock section Of the
food administration bureau even before
official Washington vas advised of it,
and that they had confidential informa-
ton on the attitude Of the food ad-
ministration before it was announced
to the public. and acted accordingly.
Swift Received Tip
The packers were informed, accord
ing to the Ftters, Of Hoover's appoint
ment four days before the announce
ment was made public. The packers
information was contained in a letter
from Thomas L. Logan, of Washing-
ton. on May Is They also were ad-
yised of e private night conference be-
tween President Wilson and Mr..
Hoover during which Fir. Hoover was
offered the post 4 few hours after the
conference was held
The letter written to Louis T. Swift,
conveying the information that Hoover
would be appointed, read in part:
"Complete control of the distribution
Of food supplies viii be turned over to
Herbert c. Hoover in g few days This
VIII be done directly by President Will
son, although Secret tary Houston, who
has been opposing The move, is not vet
aware that the President has asked Nh
Hoover TO go ahead. Hoover was with
ne president several hours last night
and the President approved all his
plans Hoover was preparing TO quit
Washington when the President told
him 10 20 ahead on his own lines
Confidential Wire Sent
When Mr.. Cotton was appointed to
take charge of the meat and livestock
section of the Food Administration
he packers had 'inside" information
Of his selection. Thomas Z. Wilson.
cf Wilson & Co., sent confidential
telegram over the private wire of Will
son q CO. to Y. d. Shipworth, vice
president of the company, on October
9, that Cotton would be appointed. The
message was sent from New York.
II had lunch with him to-day" was
line in Wilson's telegram.
Mr. Henev read memorandum from
Louis F. Swift TO N. A. Chaplin, dated
October T, 1917, directing that his
lard automobile" 60 to the Chicago
Club and get Mn. Cotton and take him
10 the directors room at Swift e. Co.
Tor private conference. This was
four days before announcement of
Cotton's appointment was made public.
"rhe next batch Of letters" said Nh.
Heney, "relates 10 the food administra-
tion. particularly TO Edward Chamber
and T. s. Brooks. BIr. Brooks is an en-
p.oyo OF Swift d Co., who is now acting
on the food administration for 81 y
Year from the government but whose
salary contiuos all the time with Swift
& Co."
A telegram from Mr.. Hoover to
Swift & Co. Yves then INTRODUCED, read
ing as follows.
Il win appreciate very much your
contributing the services of your Mr..
T. s. Brooks to the United States Food
Administration to assist Mr.. Chambers
in handling transportation matters"
Gallery Play Charged
Attorney Heney attempted to show
duplcity on the part OF the packers to
the government food regulations. Pub
lie statements by Louis f. Swift we're
read containing his approval of the
governments plan to establish maxi
mum prices on food commodities, and
then his private correspondence was
read to show him apparently opposed
10 the plan
Some Of this is gallery play when
VIC say we are in favor Of maximum
prices wrote Louis f. Swift to his
brother, Charles II. Swift, in Washing
ton. But ! repeat it is the only
proper thing to do. | believe it is
possible TO follow 1T out if the gov
ernncnt wants TO. [ am we'll satisfied
tne5 :he government does not want to
and is not going to- AT the same time
il does not make any difference-I
mean our public announcement"
Mr.. leney further charged that
while the packers were publicly op-
posed 10 the practice OF reselling food
stuff they themselves violated the rule
81 shall show that this rule has been
grossly violated by some of the pack
ers,' ueney said "They sold and re-
sold even to their own departments
these departments being handled under
a different name than the name under
which the big packer does business
generally CONTRARY to the rdles issued
by the food administration"
"(,as C.u,s, Taxa, IN Sea~ch