The Greeneville daily sun. (Greeneville, Tenn.) 1918-1920, 1919-07-18
WHAT ABOUT THE PACKERS

The packers have built up a ire
mendously big industry, very eff
cient industry, and decidedly profit
able industry. An efficient industry
is entitled to be profitable industry.
No one should object to the packers
making money, for they unquestion-
ably render a great service to the
country. At the same time, neither
this industry, nor any other, should
be allowed to secure exorbitant prof
it's at The expense of other members
of the community. This is what the
packers are charged with doing, and
what they deny doing.
There is little question that the big
packing plants receive only a small
profit on each turnover they make;
and Just as little question that they
make large profit on the capital
they have invested. Prof. Yields
statement that their average annual
profit has been about II per cent on
the total capital invested means much
more than the figures showing that
their profits amount to only frac-
ton of cent on each pound of meat
handled. Seventeen per cent on cap
tai invested is a profit that would
appeal wonderfully to the cattle and
hog feeders. Not that they do not
sometimes make more profit than this,
They dc. But more often they make
much less, and in many cases they
lose money on a years work. The
i've stock producers business is a
risky one. The business of the big
packing plants is a business just
bout as nearly without risk of loss
is it is possible for "a big business
J o be. The packers are in strategic
position, and whether prices OF live
stock and meat go up or down, a
profit for their work is practically
assured them. 1t is not strange that
the stockmen of the country, enjoy
ing no such certainty, but taking in
Vulnerable risks, and at the mercy of
constant price fluctuations, have
ome to feel that the packers are
getting more than their share.
Frankly, the packers talk about
their narrow margin of profit, their
complaints about official persecution
heir innocent wonder at public sen.
;. .iment against them have always beer
: 4 bit amusing to us. We do not re-
/. gard the big packers as specially bac
J. men, any more than we regard then
G as self-sacrifcing philanthropists
|. They are shrewd and capable bust
y ness men-occupying place of van
(. tage in the country's business, per
II forming a great business service eff
q GENTLY, and getting lavish pay TO
& he service performed. To impair il
; any way the efficiency of this grea
business simply because it is prOfita
Die business, would be folly. To Civ
is ne producers of meat animals an
t. the consumers of meat all possibI
,ecurity against possible abuses b
il the packers is sound public polio!
n How to do this without doing injustic
to o anyone or disturbing the bushes
It If the country, is the problem.
id 1t is problem not easy to solv'
The increase of smaller local pacl
v ing plants, which now seems newt;
y. BILE, will help solve it. Organize
n marketing of live stock will help
when it comes. 1t is bound to con
IL because it is the only way for stool
k. men to protect themselves again'
n lncalled-for price fluctuations, or
I'd secure the full value for their an
mails. The control of the packe
re over stock yards, transportation lint
IL md other marketing facilities shouI
u certainly be broken. They may NJ
u misuse the power this control Civ
n them, but they could misuse it.
All these things can be worked gu
=, They can be worked out without il
~ jury to the packing industry, or wit
out the stirring up of popular feelir
against the packers. The call is fl
- a program of constructive reform ar
Of not for any measures of revenge
n. truction.-Southern Agriculturis