Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-02-01
"DIAMOND.
t" LETTERS
MYSTERY.
TO SWIFT |
Packer and His Attorney
DiSCIaim knowledge Of
Source of Tips on
Food Plans.

Washington, Jan. 31.-While un.
successful efforts were being made
before the senate agricultural com
mittee today to develop the identity
of a person who sent Swift and COM
pany advance information regarding
government activities affecting the
meat packing industry, the house in
terstate commerce committee was
informed by the federal trade com
mission that 1t would furnish the
names of witnesses upon whose tes-
timony it had made charges OF col
lusion among the five big packing
firms.
Louis F. Swift, president ofiSwiit
and company, and Henry Veeder
counsel for the company, were ques-
toned before the senate committee
about what the writer referred 70
during the hearing as Diamond I.
One letter from Thomas F. Logan
of Washington, and another letter
and several memoranda unsigned
but purporting to be from Diamond
T." relating to plane of the federal
trade commission and the food ad
ministration, had been read by Fran
els ]. Heney, who was conducting
the cross-examination of the wit
nesses for the committee. Both Mr.
Swift and Mr.. Veeder said they
could not recall having previously
seen the Diamond I" corresponds
ence.
Marked "Private."
This designation Of the CORE
spondence was given by reason Of
the fact that one letter had a IT"
inside diamond at the top Of the
page. This letter was dated Wash
ington, June Is, 1917, and told Of
plans for investigation of food prices.
1t was marked private" and bore
the stamp Louis F. Swift" with q
date two days later. At the top was
the notation: Information received
by Mr.. Veeder this morning from
Diamond T." Initials of six officials
of Swift and company at the top in
dicated 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 administration, Mr.. Colver
in charge of wheat and wheat pro-
ducts and the members allotted
other phases of the inquiry.
This is under the resolution and
appropriation recently passed BY
congress.
Plans Disclosed.
"The work is to be done as plan
ned in conjunction with the Hoover
food administration. Mr.. Davies
will shortly wire for a conference in
Chicago. He will outline the pro-
cedure and ask for assistance. There
will be enough delay to give plenty
of time for readiness. Ii might be
suggested that you have in readiness
everything bearing on high prices
and their cause, even though il
should not be precisely what Is
desired. With your knowledge you
should be able to give some good
leads and suggestions for further in
quiry.
"Mr. McManus could be helpful
at this end if he could get back i'm
mediately. Exchange Of kilograms 4
inadvisable. Please destroy this
Immediately"
Hurley" in Rough Square.
At the bottom of the letter written
in ink and inclosed in rough square
was the name Hurley
Who wrote the name Hurley Oh
theref" asked Mr.. Heney.
1t looks little like my hand
writing" Mr.. Swift responded.
When you got something of that
sort were you in the habit of con
sulting Mr.. Hurley?" asked Sena-
tor Kenyon of Iowa.
NO, | might have written ar
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