The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-12-24
Under Threat Of Government
Prosecution They Agree to
Dissolve Monopoly
STOCK YARDS WILL
BE SOLD
Attorney General Palmer Makes
Public Agreement Made With
the Big Five

great meat packers. begun at Presl-
dent Wilson's direction last summer
part OF. the fgh, on the high cost
OF living has been compromised un-
der an agreement by which the pack
lers Will confine themselves hereafter
to the meat and provision business.
An injunction decree to which the
packers have acceded will be entered
IN the federal courts to make the
agreement binding. Under its terms
the big fve-Swift, Armour. Morris,
Wilson and Cudahy have agreed:
TO sell under supervision Of the
United States district court, prefer
ably to the live stock producers and
the public all their holdings in public
stock yards.
TO sen, under the same supervision,
pnd III like manner all their inter
est in stock yard railroads and ter
rainaas
To sell under the same supervision
and IN like manner all their interest
in market newspapers.
To dispose of all their interest in
public cold storage warehouses ex-
cept as necessary for their own meat
products.
TO forever disasseciate themselves
with the retail meat business.
-. To forever dissassociate themselves
with all unrelated lines including
wkoIesaie. groceries, fresh, canned.
dried and salt fish, fresh. dried or
canned 5yegetabeIs, fresh,- crushed.
dried, evaporated or canned, fruits.
npnfectfonaries, syrups, soda water
fountain supplies, ETC., molasses, jams.
honey, jelIies and preserves, ices.
sauces, relishes. etc, coffee, chocolate
-4yeoa,ufe isstffss sugar, rice. and Ger
eals ewith an exception to be not
.edg bread, waters crackers, biscuits,
spaghettizver1nicelr, macaroni, cigars,
china, furniture, etc.
70 forever abandon the use of the
branch houses, route cars and auto
trucks, comprising their distribution
system, for any other than their own
meat and dairy products.
TO perpetuaily submit to the juris-
dIction of the United States district
court under an injunction forbidding
All the. defendants from directly or
indirectly maintaining any ccmb;na-
:uon or conspiracy with each other OF
any other person or persons, or mo-
nopoIize any food or attempting TO
monope!ize any food products in the
United States or indulging in any un-
far and unlawful practices.
The decree further provides the
5nrisdiction is perpetually retained by
the courts for the purpose Of taking
slch other action, Or adding at the
foot of the. decree such other relief if
any, that may become necessary Or
appropriate for the carrying out and
enforcement of the decree or for the
purpose OF entertaining at any time
parties may make with respect to this
hereafter an application which the
decree.
Two years are given to comply with
the decree which affects 81 corpora
tens and 49 individuals.
s1n general. said Attorney General
Paimerss Official announcement to-
night, this decree prevents the de-
PENDANTS from exercising any further
control over the marketing Of live
stock. II forever prevents them from
any control over the retailing of meat
products. It eliminates them from the
field of meat substitutes, with the en-
ception of eggs. butter, poultry and
cheese. which are left for future con-
sideration and appropriate action;
and, therefore the price Of meat is
within the control of the people them
selves. It places the conduct Of these
great aggregations Of capital imme-
eiiately under the eye OF a federal
court with reference 10 their business
practices.
But greater than all, it establishes
the principle that no group Of men.
no, matter how powerful can ever at
tempt to control the food table Of the
American people Of any one Of the
necessities or component parts Of il.
The department of justice. having
in mind the necessities and interests
OF the whole American people in this
critical reconstruction period. feels
that by insisting upon this surrender
on the part of the packing interests,
+. has accomplished more for the
american people that could have
hoped as the result of a long drawn
ont legal battle
Senator's Kenyon. Republican. OF
Iowa and Kendrick. Democrat, OF
Wyoming, in statements issued imme-
diately after the attorney generafs
announcement, said the agreement
would not preclude enactment by con-
gress Of bills introduced by them and
now before the senate agriculture
committee providing for government
regulation Of the meat packing indus
try.
'The terms of the settlement" said
Senator Kendrick ARE in agreement
with the fundamental principles OF
the bill which have been introduced
.I,la is