Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-02-26
MORE NOTES
|. OF PACKERS
ARE EXPOSED
Heney Reads Letters Show
ing Fight On Unions and
Short Hours.

Chicago, Feb. 26.-More letters, some
Of them opposing legislation in various
states, were introduced by Francis j.
Heney, today at the federal trades
commissions packing inquiry.
They ranged from advice to increase
employment of Negro labor and eau
ton to drop union men at Denver,
without allowing the unionism to ap-
pear as the cause, to opposition
against the eight-hour law in Illinois
and against Kansas act intended to
regulate and shorten hours Of work for
women.
Recommendation to increase the
percentage Of Negro help at the Den
yer plant of Swift and Company was
contained in letter to Louis F. Swift
and signed Swift and Company, per
J. H. B." 1t said the intention was to
get this percentage to Is per cent, or
higher, as soon as we possibly can.
The letter was not dated.
The next letter, addressed to the
Swift compahy at Denver July II, 1917
and signed u. Burns" read:
Answering: Want you to work
closely with Hanson to prevent your
house becoming organized, handling
SO as not to force strike. Advise find
cause other than being members labor
unions for dropping two men men.
toned or other active members and
dispense with services as soon as pos.
sible."
The third, from the files of Wilson
& Co., April 6, 1915, signed &C. E. Ha.
mill, attorney" reads in part:
In regard Illinois eight-hour bill:
"As per arrangement with the com.
mittee, l went to Springfield last Mon.
day and remained there until Thurs
day night, working for the defeat o.
this bill" The writer believed the bill
would be defeated, but said that Me
dill Mccormick, sponsor for the bill
| "4njects bitterness into PRACTICAL,
| every question he asks" Mr. Hamil
| said that he was convinced that sub
committee, appointed to investigat,
throughout the state whether womer
| employees favored such a law" will
have the desired effect.
Suggests Using Threat.
Next came letter on Aug. Z, 1917
from Louis F. to Edgar F. Swift, read
| ing:
| IF 1t looks as though our Siou,
City men are going out, what would
you think Of telling them just befor,
they go out that if they go out, tn,
plant will be closed down perma
nently?
| This to certain extent, is threat
something we have never done; bu
sometimes l like to try a thing once
to see whether or not it will work"
A letter from Wilson and company!
files dated Kansas City, 1915, address
| ed to "W. r. Brown, Kansas legisla
ture," and signed 20. S. b." mention
ed that Governor Capper had mention
ed strengthening the compensation
act. The letter continued:
ave are perfectly safe in assuming
that the compensation bill is going tt
be more favorable to the workman un
less decided opposition is put up o.
some other means used for getting
through legislation that will suit us"
Another on Kansas from 20. S. Bow
man." on Feb. 20, 1917, addressed t,
Roy N. Hope, Topeka. read:
! Female labor bill very desirabl
not to have any limit in hours pc
day or per week. Defeat whole meas
ure if possible. If you have to com
promise offer 8 hours day total 5
hours per week, but do not permi
fixed time for beginning or endin,
day. All our labor must be sufficient
| ly elastic to meet heavy runs liv
stock we have, particularly on hoi
| killing season. Drastic legislation at
| fecting women labor would certainl,
result in forcing out large number o
women now employed in packing
houses at good wages and substituting
men,"
Witness Fears Packers.
When he finished reading the let
| tiers Mr. Henry called J. f. Hoban o
/ Carrollton, Mo, butter and egg deal
er, as a witness.
After giving damaging testimony ii
regard to the trifiing business meth
DDS of the packers in Missouri, Hobal
expressed his fear to Attorney Hene.
that the packers might attempt t
| force him out of business as a result
of his testimony before the commits
sion
| What redress have II" Hoban ap
! pealed. For the last five or six week
representatives of Swift and compan.
have made every effort to solicit m
| business, knowing that l had beel
asked to testify before this commits
| sion. Before. that, however, they ha
! practically nothing to do with me ex
cept to spy on my prices"
Heney assured him that the govern
ment had been investigating the pack
ers at various places since 1912 an
| hadn't succeeded in stopping theI
| yet" but that the federal trade CON
mission would take up any complaints
1.-The commission" Heney said. ''ha
! the power without red tape to sto
Illegal and unfair practices and
statement of facts will get results"
Food Aid Paid by Swift.
Examination OF Hoban revealed tina
W. F. Priebe. now head of the poultry
egg and cold storage division of tn
federal food administration, still is i
the employ Of Swift and company at
monthly salary of $275, and that h
owns the firm of Stamper and com
pany at Moberly. No, competitor {
Hoban's-