Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-02-26
PACKERS KNEW
FEDERAL PLANS
Had Tip on Cotton's Ap-
pointment, Heney
Declares.

Chicago, Feb. 25.-Heads of the
packing industry had inside" informa
ton that Joseph B. Cotton, New
York attorney, would be appointed to
assume charge, OF the packing and live
stock department of the federal gov.
ernment food administration and sev.
eral of them saw him before his ap.
pointment was announced. This fact
was revealed today in private letters
which Francis ]. Heney, special coun-
sci for the federal trade commission,
read today in the governments inves-
ttgation Of the packing industry.
Mr.. Heney read a telegram from
Thomas e. Wilson. president Of Wilson
and company. in which Mr.. Wilson,
then in New York, advised v. d. Skip
worth, his confidential agent in Chi
cago, that Cotton had been chosen and
that Wilson had luncheon with him
that day. It was dated several days
before Cotton's appointment was an
nounced.
"GALLERY PLAY" LETTER SAYS.
Confidential letters from the files of
Swift and company also revealed that
as early as October z, four days before
Mr.. Cotton's appointment was an
nounced, he had been in Chicago and
held conference with Louis F. Swift
and his brothers In the directors room
at the Swift plant.
A letter in which Louis F..
Swift referred to Swift and
company's public announcement in
favor OF the government setting max
imum food prices as gallery play"
was read today by Attorney Francis
j. Heney before Chairman Davies Of
the federal trade commission.
APPROVES PRICE FIXING
The alleged gallery play" was
made April 10, 1917. The letter,
dated a month later, was signed by
Louis F. Swift and was addressed to
Charles H. Swift at Washington. It
was one Of the letters taken from
Swift and company's files some time
ago Henay-read-it4as-s0 s0llose-v5
Some of this is gallery play when
we say we are in favor Of maximum
prices. But l repeat that this is the
only proper thing to do and believe
the government wants to. I am well
satisfied that the government doesn't
want to and is not going to: At the
same time it doesn't make any differ
ence. mean our public announce
ment"
SALOON QUESTION RAISED
Chicago, Feb. 25.-Vhen the stock
yards wage arbitration proceedings
were resumed today before Judge
Alschuler, Albert Beeman, welfare di.
rector for Wilson and company, was
cross examined by Attorney Walsh,
the employees.
On the subject of the large number
OF saloons in the stockyards Mr..
Walsh asked the witness If he thought
that shorter hours and better pay
would result In more drinking. Mr..
Walsh read from a report by Henry
Ford, quoting the manufacturer as
stating that profit sharing, higher
wages and the eight-hour day had re-
suited in better conditions. He quoted
Mr.. Ford as stating that 5000 men
into better homes, drinking
stopped and more work was turned
out.
DisAGREEs WITH FORD
Don't you know that Ford dis
charges every man who drinks?" in.
terjected Attorney James G.. Condor,
representing the packers.
IF the packers will pay their men
IS day, like Ford does. we will agree
to have the men discharged if they
get drunk" countered Mr.. Walsh. Mr.
Beeman said he could not endorse
Mr. Ford's economic views any more
than he could his views on war. He
living conditions at the
stock yards better than those at the
South Chicago steel mills.