The Columbus commercial. (Columbus, Miss.) 1893-1922, 1918-02-28
CONSULTED As TO PER.
SONNEL or FOOD AD.
MINISTRATION.
JUGGLED PRICES
Favored Establishment of
Maximum Prices Publicly
And Opposed it Privately.

Chicago, Feb. 27.-That Chicago
packers had advance information on
the appointment Of Herbert c. Hoov-
eras food administrator and that they
used their influence in Washington TO
obtain places for employees and
friends on the food administration
was charged Monday before Joseph
L. Davies, chairman Of the Federal
Trade Commission, in the govern
ment's investigation of the packing
industry
To prove these charges, Francis
]. Heney, special counsel for the
commission, read a collection of pri-
vate letters written to and by Louis
r. Swift, head of Swift & Co.. Ar
thur Meeker Of Armour & Co.,
Thomas f. Wilson Of Wilson a. Co.
and other big packers. The letters
were seized in Heney's raid upon
the correspondence files of the pack
ers.
Mr. Heney said that the letters
proved that the packers knew of the
appointment of Hoover before the
public was apprised of the event;
that they had "inside" information
that Joseph p Cotton, New York at
torney, would be appointed head Of
the meat and live stock section Of
the food administration bureau even
before official Washington was ad-
vised Of it, and had confidential in
formation on the attitude Of the food
administration before 1t was am
nounced to the public, and acted ac-
cordingly.
The packers were informed ac-
cording to the letters, that Hoover
was to be appointed food adminisra-
tor several days before the announce
ment was made public. The an.
nouncement was made on May 10
the packers had the information in
letter from Thomas f. Logan Of
Washington on May Is. They also
were advised of private night con
ference between President Wilson
and Hoover, during which Hoover
was offered the post, d few hours
after the conference was held.
The letter written to Louis p.
Swift conveying the information that
Hoover would be appointed read in
part
complete control of the distribu-
ton Of food supplies will be turned
over to Herbert C. Hoover in a few
days. This will be done directly by
President Wilson, although Secretary
Houston, who has been opposing the
move, is not yet aware that the Pres
ident has asked Mr.. Hoover to go
ahead. Hoover was with the Presi-
dent several hours last night and
the President approved all his plans
Hoover was preparing TO quit
Washington when the President told
him to 20 ahead on his own lines.
When Mr.. Cotton was appointed TO
take charge Of the meat and live
stock section Of the food admins
tration the packers had inside in
formation of his selection Thomas
F.. Wilson of Wilson 4 Co., sent a
confidential telegram over Wilson q
Co.'S private wire to V. d. Shipworth
vice president of the company on
Oct. 9 that Cotton would be appoint
ed. The message was sent from New
York.
81 had luncheon with him today
was a line in Wilson'S telegram.
Mr.. Heney read a memorandum
from Louis F. Swift to N. A. ChapIn
dated Oct. T, 1917, directing his
"yard automobile" to go to the
! Chicago Club and get Mr.. Cotton ana
take him to the directors room al
( Swift e. Co., for private con-
| ference. This was -four days before
Cotton's appointment was given 70
the public.
Attorney Heney attempted 70
show duplicity on the part OF the
packers to the government food reg
ulations. Public statements by Louis
r. Swift were read containing his
approval of the governments plar
to establish maximum prices on food
commodities-and then his private
{, correspondence was read to snow
him apparently opposed to the plan
4 Mr. Heney further charged ina
while the packers were publicly op.
posed to the practice Of reselline