The Sentinel=record., 1918-01-26
GOVERNMENT SECURES
 CONFIDENTIAL FILES
The Real Inside Workings That Have Prevented investigations in the Past Are Disclosed in the Documents That Have Been UneoVered-sena- tors Are Involved.

w dshlngton, Jan, 2J.--ActiVitieS be- hind the scenes in Washington dur ing agitation in 1916 for an investiga- tion' into the livestock and packing industry were revealed today in cor respondence taken rom the confi- dential files of Swift & company. of Chicago, showing the efforts of the big packing firms to defeat any in- quiry into their business.
 The correspondence was introduced at the resumption of the federal trade commissions investigation which was transferred abruptly from the middle west when Walter Twombly, an agent of the commission, unearthed from the Swift files documents regarded as of such sensational importance that Francis J. .Heney, special counsel and his assistants hurried from Chicago to put the discoveries into the official record
 During the. period covered by the correspondence there were pending in congress resolutions introduced by Representatives Borland of Missouri, and Doolittle, of Kansas, proposing inquiry into conditions of livestock marketing which cattlemen had charged permitted the packers t0 manipulate the market as they chose. A report on the situation made by counsel to G F. Swift. Jr, and other officers of the firm said
 'I believe the situation to be seri ous and recommend that everything be done in every direction to head off the present movement We be- lieve that as it stands today nothing could stop criminal prosecutions"
 In addition to working in Washing ton the packers went to the source of the agitation for an inquiry Their records showed they were kept in formed Of the plans of the Ameri can National Livestock association by T. w. Tomlinson. secretary, and made their preparations to nullify~the associations work.
 In addition. educational work was undertaken at the associations conventions and counsel recommended that the packers assist conservative elements in the various associations to gain control and hush the opposi- tion.
 Immediately after the Borland reso- lution was introduced in congress, ac- cOrding to tue records, Armour, Swift and Morris. arranged to oppose it Later Cudahy was asked to join them because it was suggested counsel for that firm had powerful acquaint- ances" in Washington
 B. C. McManus, counsel for Swift, proceeded to Washington to keep in touch with developments.
 If the resolution could not be made to die in committee, the packers pro posed to draw herring across the investigation trail as Commissioner Murdock phrased it, by having the bureau of markets commence publica ton of livestock and beef price data. which they hoped would make an in vestigation unnecessary. Failing in that 1t was proposed to have any in- vestigation touch merely the economic phases of the industry and be con ducted by the bureau of markets rather than the federal trade com mission through the commission was preferred to a congressional commis sion as likely to be less influenced by politics.
 In connection with efforts to ob- , tain governmental publication of price figures furnished by themselves. through an amendment tothe agricul- tural appropriation bill. Mir. Heney announced that this matter would be the subject of very interesting docu- ments to be introduced tomorrow According to the evidence as time for hearings on the Borlend resolu- ton drew near. the Doolittle resolu ton having been dropped, many ennis.