The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1918-05-24

Editor The star; The series OF
articles appearing In The Seattle
star, written by Mr.. n. -. Cochran.
attacking the packing industry. seem
TO be put forth In such an antag
onistic spirit that We feel obliged TO
present our side OF the case.
The articles are based on the sen
sational charges made by Francis J.
Hcncy--ohargc that were made. but
not substantiated. As far as Swift 4
Co. IL concerned. these charges have
previously been denied and dis.
proven. However. for the benefit
of yourself and your readers. We
should like To cover some OF the
morc important points again.
/. The charge that Interior mo
tlveH prompted the packers IN hav'
ing their representatives on the staff
OF tho food administration.
This charge rests purely on sup
position. The men from the differ
ent packing companies who have
been affiliated with the food admin
istratlon. were not placed there by
the packers they were loaned with
patriotic motives 60 the food admin,
istration. which needed the best
available help In order TO handle the
gigantic task imposed upon it, These
men were all under oath to serve the
interests OF the United states, That
they fulfilled their duties Ia evidenced
by MIR lloovcrs own statement.
which follows
ON behalf OF. and out OF consider
alton for the men referred TO in the
I packers investigation az Chicago
I yesterday. who are. or have been.
employed In the food administration.
| wish to say that none OF the men
referred TO has had anything what
ever to do with the regulators or
control OF the packing trade. They
are employed IN other directions and
are not now paid by the packers.
AN OF the men referred TO have
7 rendered valuable service 90 the gov
eminent at considerable sacrifice TO
themselves. and there in no question
whatever as TO their loyalty to the
public interests"
\ .. The charge that to all intent
and purposes. in the matter OF buy
ing and selling. the Big Five" are
on. concern.
/ Swin a Co. IL separate and dis
tinct from Armour & Co. Morris s
I Co. Wilson & Co. and cudahy a
Co. and In no way affiliated with
them. These four concerns. the
Same as many others. arc compel
itorH Of ours. They have their own
establishments Of production and dis.
| tribution. and all Of them arc kc~nly
after all the business they can get
Many idle claims have been made Of
tho existence Of ro-cailcd Beet
trust. but a visit to any 81 the live
stock buying centers and the whole
sale meat distributing markets thru
/ out tho country. will show fIrsthaud
I proof Of very active competition.
4 }. Tho charge that the large
packers control the livestock and
meat situation OF the country.
II 10 strange fact that success.
fui business has 20 meet with many
peculiar contentious. ~ does not
secrn to b. generally Understood that
a business. in order 20 be or distinct
aerviee. needs 20 be successful
The idea somehow prevails among
those not familiar with large scale
business operations that large con.
Germ. cannot DO successful except IN
an unlawful manner. and tina; they
/ prosper only because % having n
monopoly. There Ia no monopoly in
the packing Industry. Swift Co.
aitho the largest packer. handles not
to exceed one eighth OF the total
meat production % the United
states. and the five large packers
together do not handle over one
third. This IL not merely our state
men,. but IL based on dsatA collected
by the government and can b. vefi
fled from their published statistics
Z. The charge that the pa9ksFa
control newspaper opinion thfa
threat Of withdrawing sivertlHlrH
Presentation Of packing houa~ esaa
nornlcs 60 the public In the foffn 81
paid advertising has been oonsidrfse
by Swift a Co. for several Yrsrs
The complex problems % the lsrEs
packer were not understood and vs
believed that II they could be pre-
scented properly. better and more
| harmonious relation would he esiah
ished between producer. consumer
and packer.
Tho campaign has been started be-
cause We believe in the fair minded
ness of the American preas and the
American people. We seek no spc
ciai fayors from the papers with
which we place our advertising: we