The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-03-01
LOUIS SWIFT DENIES
HEhEYS' IhFERENCES
States That Misplaced Emphasis Was
Laid on Disconnected Portions Of
Correspondence.
SAYS ACTIONS PATRIOTIC
Smearing of Essential Industry With
Back Stairs Gossip Is Rank Injustice,
Hurts Packer In Face of Recent In
vestIgations.

Especial to The Richmond virgfnian. J
Chicago, Feb. 2T.-Louis r. Swift.
president of Swift and company. to-
Day issued statement regarding let
ters read into the Federal Trade COM
mission hearing, at Chicago, Monday,
President Swifts statement follows:
Mr.. Henry has by false inference
and misplaced emphasis, given to dis
connected portions of the correspond
ence selected by him, and read into
the trade commission record on Mon
day, false and sinister meaning. with
the plain purpose OF creating anita
gonistic public opinion.
The wide publicity given to the con-
ndential communications of our off,
Gals demands that the motives and
policy of our company be made clear
to the public.
IF the letters from our files which
the candidate for governor of Cali
fornia is reading to the candidate for
senator from Wisconsin. are read care
fully without the 'camouflage' of con-
versation or misleading comment that
is INTERCEPTED, I believe that the reader
Will agree with me that there is not
one word or line that can be cor
strued as unpatriotic. or as evincing
an unwillingness to back the govern
ment in any and all things.
I inytte an open minded study OF
these letters. keeping in mind that
they were written in confidence be-
tween official of the company and with
no idea that they would be published
hence there was no occasion for any
thing but perfect frankness and il is
foolish to suppose that the letters
had any meaning but what the plain
language conveys.
Our relations with the government
departments have been honorable. our
motives have been honorab BILE, we have
been conscious of our country's needs
in the present crisis, and at the same
time as business men we have been
diltgent in maintaining 100 per cent
efficiency of our com pany. not only for
the benefit of our 10000 stockholders
but also for the benefit of our country.
Il DO not think that there is one
branch of the government that has
been rependjng upon us for support
which Will say that we have not been
whole heartedly patriotic and at least
as efficient as any other industry whose
aid is vital to the national good at this
time
Amy services rendered by represent
atives of Swift and company, and
Libby, Mcneil and Libby, have been
with the desire to make available the
most expert practical ability possible
In the solving of food problems OF
the nation and II was with the motives
of the highest patriotism that these
men went to Washington. rather from
any hope of self interest on the part
OF the individuals or the corporations
The smearing of an essential in
dustry with what in private life would
be back stairs gossip. Is rank injustice
and therefore must not so unchalleng-
ed at this time. even If the perpetrator
be a paid attorney of a government
bureau, created to build up the bust
ness organization of the country, not
to tear It down.
I'VE are asking no favors from the
trade commission. and we have hereto
fore withheld public critism of the un-
fair methods OF this investigation, but
the circumstances provoke us to point
out publicly the justice of making OF
an Important industry in wartimes,
vehicle for the personal aggrandize-
nent OF an ambitious politician"