Bisbee daily review. [volume] (Bisbee, Ariz.) 1901-1971, 1919-02-01
PACKERS.
TO find NAME.
OF MYSTERIOUS
INSIDE WORKER
Senate Agricultural Commit
tee Discovers Diamond T"
Letters and Seeks to Attach
Blame for Advance Advices

WASHINGTON, Jan. 31.-While
unsuccessful efforts were being made
before the senate agricultural COM
mittee today to develop the identity
of person who sent Swift & Co. ad-
vance information regarding govern
ment activities affecting the meat
packing industry, the house interstate
commerce committee was informed by
the federal trade commission that it
would furnish the names of witnesses
upon whose testimorE 1t had made
charges of collusion Aniong the five
big packing firms.
Louis F. Swift, president of Swift &
Co, and Henry Veederi counsel for the
company, were questioned before the
senate committee about the writer re-
ferred to during the hearing as "Dia-
mond T."
One letter was FROM Thomas F.
Logan of Washington, and another
and several memoranda unsigned. but
purpOrting TO be from diamond T."
relating to plans of the federal trade
commission and the food administra-
ton had been read by Francis ]. Hen
ey, who was conducting the cross
examination of the witnesses for the
committee Both Mr. Swift and Mr..
Veeder said they could not recall hav-
ing previously seen the Diamond To-
correspondence.
Designation of Writer
This designation of the correspond
ence was given by reason of the fact
that the one letter had a ''T'' inside a
diamond at the top of the page This
letter was dated Washington, June Is.
1917, and told of plans for investigat-
ing of food prices. 1t was marked
private" and bore the stamp Louis
F. Swift with a date two days later.
AT the top was the notation: ''Infor-
nation received by Mr.. Veeder this
morning from Diamond t." Initials
of six officials of Swift & Co.'S indi-
Gated that copies had been sent to
them, Mr.. Swift said.
The letter said:
AT a meeting of the commission
today Mr.. Davies was placed in charge
OF the meat packing end of the food
investigation; Mr. Colver in charge
members allotted other phases of the
inquiry.
This is under the resolution and
application recently passed by con-
greSs.
Suggests Action
The work is to be done as planned
in conjunction with the Hoover food
administration. Mr.. Davies viii shortly
wire for a conference in Chicago. He
win outline the procedure and ask for
assistance. There viii be enough de-
lay to give plenty of time for readi-
ness. IL might be suggested that you
have in readiness everything bearing
on high prices and their causes, even
though it should not be precisely what
is desired. With your knowledge you
should be able to give some good leads
and suggestions for further inquiry
Mr.. McManus could be helpful at
( this end if he could get back immedi-
ately. Exchange of kilograms inad-
visable. Please destroy this immedi-
ately"
At the bottom of the letter written
in ink and enclosed in rough square
was the name Hurley"
! who wrote the name Hurley on
there?'' asked Mr.. Heney.
1T looks a little like my handwrit-
ing" Mr.. Swift responded.
When you got something of that
! sort were you in the habit OF consult
/ ing Mr. Hurley?" asked Senator Ken
yon of Iowa
mo, 1 might have written Armour
or Smith on that letter just as we'll"
said the witness
Denies Paying for Information
Isn't that the kind of information
you paid Mr.. Logan to get for you?'
continued the Iowa senator.
Mr. Swift denied this.
do you know OF any letter in
which Mr.. Logan advised you about
what went on at the White House?"
asked Mr.. Heney.
Mr. Swift said he did not
A letter from Logan to Veeder was
then read. In it the future activities
of the food administration were de-
tailed several days in advance of the
announcement that a food administra-
tor was to be appointed. Reference
was made to the alleged antagonism
of Secretary Houston to the appoint
ment of Herbert c. Hoover and TO the
mad scramble for power" among cab
met members.
When Mr. Swift concluded, Mr..
Veeder was called to testify He said
he was unable to say who had writ
ten the Diamond T. letter.