Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-12-19
PIN PACKERS
ITO TERMS OF
DISSOLUTION
Courts Will Enter Orders
and Congress Pass
Laws on Subject.

Washington, Dec. 1s.-Reorgan-
ization Of a gigantic industry. in
volving capital of more than ST.
000. 100000 and affecting 81 corpor-
ations. will result from the COM
promise reached by the govern
1T and five packing companies.
bndei isAe agreement announced
last night, and wfticn wiz ~'ade
binding by an Injunction declec,
the business of Swift & Co., Ar
mour & Co., Morris & Co.. Wilson
& Co. and the Cudahy company will
be restricted to meats and provis-
ions. Two years are given to COM
ply with the decree.
Is Permanent.
The packers agreed to forever
dissociate themselves with all lines
unrelated with the meat packing
industry. which means they will
exercise no further control over
the marketing Of livestock, or the
retailing Of meat products. and will
quit the field of meat substitutes,
except eggs, butter, cheese and
poultry.
Furthermore, the packers agreed
to submit to the Jurisdiction of the
federal courts and under the de-
cree they will be prohibited from
maintaining any combination with
each other or attempting to mo-
nopolize any food products in the
United States.
Despite the decree, the bills, pro-
posing government regulation Of
the packing industry, now before
the senate agricultural committee
will not be abandoned, accordine
to their authors, Senators Kenyon
and Kendrick.
Discuss Effects.
Chicago, Dec. 19.-Probable trend
Of prices for food products former.
ly handled by the great meat pack.
ers during the two year period In
which the Swift, Armour. Morris
Wilson and Cudahy companie.
must dissociate themselves from
all other than the meat and pro
vision businesses, today was the
subject for general speculation.
THE price of meat is within the
control Of the people themselves
said A. Mitchell Palmer, United
States attorney general, in an
nouncing the agreement between
the packers and the department o.
justice.
Mrs. Turlay Conservative.
Mrs. Maude r. Turlay, organizer
of the woman's division. fighting
high prices in Illinois. was eau
tious in making her statements.
IF the packers with their or
ganization have given food at price'
below those of small concerns
prices will not now go down." sh,
said. IF they have used theil
strength to advance prices, we Cal
look for immediate relief"
In step with public opinion, al
effort to aid in allaying unrest an,
Au lhIVAIiOu W AOlAOvc NduSC ~
friction with the government. rath
er than an admission Of guilt, wa
the way statements of representa-
tives Of the packers referred t,
/ the compromise.
Claim Clean Slate,
This settlement was made will
the express and distinct under
standing that 1t does not involv
the violation Of any law of tn
United States by the packers an,
the decree of court will so pro
vide," said Mr.. Morris statement
1--WE would never have made an,
settlement whatever that involved
implied or adjudicated any guilt o.
our part. because we have not vio
lated any law" :.
Similar statements by J. Ogdel
Armour, for Armour G Co., an
Louis F. Swift for Swift & Co., in
sisted that the packers positio
was economically sound and un
assailable from a legal stand
| point"