The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-01-07
HENEY METHODS
Are RESENTED
BY J. 0. ARMOUR
Government Already Has
Assumed Control Of
Packing Business
NOT REPRESENTED
AT THE HEARINGS
Cannot Present Testimony
Or Explain Statements
of Heney Witnesses

Chicago, Jan. III. Ogden Armour
head of Armour & Co., meat packers
last night made statement in re-
gard to remarks made in Philadel'
phia on Saturday by an official con-
nected with the federal trade com
mission, asserting the federal gov
eminent might seize packing indus
tries through q receivership.
Mr.. Armour. after resenting Wha'
he called "insidious methods of Mr.
Heney," counseled calm legal con-
sideration.
After an act Of congress passed
a few months ago, authorizing the
United States food administrator
so to do, the government has In Ell
feet already assumed practical con-
troll of the packing business. AS late
as last month, Food Administrator
Hoover. through his representative
and agent, Joseph p. Cotton of New
York, adopted rules and regulations
which limited the profits Of packers
SO that they cannot exceed per
cent net profit on the investment as
to meat products, which in effect
limits the net profit of the packers
on their sales Of such products to
little over cents on every dollar.
Through the affairs of a corpora
ton in Philadelphia which has no
connection whatever with the pack
ing business and whose operations
have not the slightest influence on
the cost of meat, the press DIS
patches scatter all over the country
interviews with Mr.. Heney which. by
innuendo apparently circumvented
Mr.. Heney's innocent declinauons TO
be personally interviewed, charge
Fa Manning
to have receivers take over and run
the packing business.
Packers Not Heard.
81 shall not at this time comment
on the manner in which the hearings
are conducted, nor shall refer to
the fact that the packers are not
represented, and are not permitted
to cross-examine or introduce testi-
mony, or otherwise explain the mo-
tives or develop the truth of the wit
nesses selected by Mr.. Heney to lend
color to his preconceiyed and pre-
announced opinions. Each day there
issued from the inquiry room press
that refer to the meat
trust and food combine which has
the public in its grip and similar
catch phrases which can only be
as appeals to stir UP the
passions and prejudices of the peo-
pie.
1.-THE cost OF meat is high, but
their are controlling economic rea-
sons therefor, which can be readily
and should be by some
agency explained to
the people. An examination of the
prices paid for livestock today as
with those paid year ago
an increase Of about 40 per
cent.
THE packers today are uniformly
straining every effort efficiently to
aid the government in winning the
war. They are awaiting themselves
Of every facility; they are COM
PEELED to carry large stocks in
order to meet emergency de-
nands and they are all bor-
rowers of large sums of money to-
enable them to carry on the vastly
business; their notes arel
distributed among the banks as are
their bonds and stocks that are now
leld by many thousands of persons.
mo greater injury can be done tot
he packers than to affect their cred
t by creating public discomfort and
spreading statements cloalIed with
apparent official authority that fed
sral receivers are to be appointed
or the properties and business Of
he packers.
Il have always found that theI
American public When ii UNDER
stands the facts is fair and just, and
believe the people will be so in thisl