The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1919-09-05

! The question before producers,
consumers, and competing distribu-
tors is whether the great packers
having full control and abused con-
! troll of the meat supplies of the ma
ton and the world, shall be forced
into rendering service and pre-
vented from widening the field of
their conquest to include all foods.
| The question vitality touches every
American household. If monopoly
seized upon the sustenance of life,
all of us would eat or starve at the
pleasure of that monopoly. That
the danger is with us and is con-
stantly growing is abundantly
proven by the findings Of the Fed
eral Trade Commission and the
confessions of the packers them
selves.
with diffusion of knowledge
we expect an irresistible tide OF
public opinion that will lead to
controlling legislation by the Fed
eral Government. Coincident with
such control there must be deVel-
oped State and local agencies, old
agencies that have been crippled
by packer monopoly and new CO.
operative agencies, to bring pro
ducer and consumer nearer togeth-
er with better markets for the one
and lower costs to the other.
Eve must remember" said Mr..
Kent. that the packers under
cross examination at the Congress
sional hearings last fall admitted
that they want monopoly. Mr.
Iouis F. Swift, when asked why ne
bought up parts of the National
Packing Company for his own con-
Germ. stated, The object was to put
them together in large company
like the U. S. Steel Corporation has
done
"Mr. J. Ogden Armour admitted
that it was his theory, That 1t was
a good thing for the country-for
the consumer as well as the pack
ers-that the packing business
should be monopolized into one COR
poration.'
THE Investigations of the FED
h n
eral Trade Commission ana the
Congressional hearings on the meat
hacking industry show that the Big
Five have gone far toward accom-
plishing their purpose. They nave
a Capitalization of we'll over $780,
600 600 and their combined sales in
1918 amounted to about S4,OOo,-
600. 900. They are reported to nave
a wealth of about $1,OOO,OO0,OoO'
"The abuses of the great packers
have long been a source of bitter
ness to the producers of livestock.
The consumers of livestock have sui
fered no less from the packers
methods. Mr.. Armour admitted at
the Congressional hearings last
winter that the little packer today
will make more money in proportion
than the big packers will MAKE
While Mr.. Swift, in answer TO the
question Notwithstanding these
economic and efficient principles Oh
the big packing establishments
still the small packing plants are
realizing better profits on their
investments?' replied, Yes, sir
"The inefficiency and wastefui-
ness of the methods of the Big rive
packing plants, coupled with thelr
control of food prices concerns con-
sumers of the country vitality
hone consumers will carefully study
section IA of the Kenyon-Andersoh
hill II is an extremely important
adjunct TO the bill, furnishing sug-
oaetion and encouragement toward
the establishing of distriputiVe
ooencies that must be developed II
there is to be any lowering III the
cost of food. Under this section the
Government, while refraining from
making appropriation for the es-
adjustment of perishable foodstuiis
warehouses, abattoirs, or packing
nlants or stockyards, sets up an
agency in the Department OF Agrl-
culture to aid local communities IN
creating the facilities. This sec
ton provides that the Secretary OF
agriculture may issue licenses FOR
such local establishments to lower
the cost of food, il the facilities OF
the applicant for license are found
to be suitable and adequate and his
financial standing sufficient TO as
sure the safe conduct of the ousl-
ness. and if the applicant agrees, as
q condition of the granting of the