New-York tribune., 1919-07-24
Kenyon Asserts They Have
Sent Out Agents to Get
Retailers to Bombard the
Lawmakers on Measure
Many Use Same Language
Quotes Manager as Saying
Cuisines Is as Big as
the Government Itself''
Nep York Tribune
Wdshtn0tou Bureau

NetD York Tribune
Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON, July 23-Evidence
that the "Big Five" packers are re-
sponsible for the flood of kilograms
protesting against Federal control of
the packing industry that has been
sweeping in upon Congress was laid
before the Senate by Senator Kenyon,
of Iowa, to-day.
Hundreds of kilograms, many of them
Identical in language, and scores of
letters, many of them written on the
same size and kind of paper, were read
into the record by the Iowa Senator
He asserted that packers sent agents
into the field to procure and pay for
kilograms of protest by retail grocers,
and that all five concerns sent letters
to their stockholders asking that they
petition their representatives. in Con-
gress to vote against the Kenyon and
Kendrick bills.
There has never been such an at
tempt as is now being made by the
packers to debauch the American
press" he said. advertisements are
being inserted in every last newspaper
that will accept them, many of them
serving no purpose but to sway
editorial opinion. In the great mass
no discussion Of the Kendrick or
Kenyon bills"
Packers "Big as Government"
Senator Kenyon called attention to
statement by a Mr.. Buckingham.
manager of the Union Stock Yards
Company of Omaha, and quoted him as
al.
big as the government itself. 1t is
foolish for lot of grandstanders in
Congress to try and tell US how it
shall be conducted"
Maybe he is right" commented
Senator Kenyon. maybe the power of
the packers is so great they can
brazenly defy Congress to control them
Maybe with Senators rushing to their
defence every time they are attacked
than we dream"
Gentlemen had better have a little
vision in this country" Senator Ken
yon warned "They had better hear
some Of the voices that are in the air
in this country as we'll as in the world.
These gentlemen who say Congress
dare not say word as to how their
business shall be run had better be-
ware"
AS IOWcTIui as Railroads
Senator Kenyon said the proposition
to-day was very similar to that con-
fronting Congress when proposals for
the regulation Of the railroads were
under consideration
"The packers are as powerful now as
the railroads were then. Men who stood
for regulation Of the railroads we're
called railroad baiters. Men who want
the packers controlled are called
packer baiters. They tell the country
we are warning on big business. Not
at all. No one wants to hurt legitimate
business.
"They tell the country these are bills
1or government ownership. They are
not. They are bills for regulation and
control. And no business yet has been
able to stand up and tell the govern.
ment: 1t is none of your concern how
We conduct our business"
Senator Kenyon put into the record
letters written on June ID by Wilson
d Co., Swift & Co., Morris G. Co. and
ne ludahy Packing Company, asking
that petitions be sent to Congress or
the Kenyon and Kendrick bills.
Systematic Wire Campaign
"The food of teleGrams Senators anc
congressman have been receiving
started Immediately thereafter" hi
continued. "They called in their EN-
ployes. and sent them out to get pro
;; tests from retail merchants which the,
wired at their expense. They reached
7 oout. through the banks and the variou,
Industries and got more telegrams
They sent out speakers and we hay,
been swamped with kilograms in con
sequence"
: Senator Kenyon read half a doze,
telegrams OF protest received by Sena
tor Gronna on the same day from
Savannah. One said: ut Is un
American" another, cit is unconstitu
tional," and still another, '1t will hur
; the retailer"
! .hs "A score rs2 Of kilograms from seattl'
most dastardly thing ever perne
, trated upon the American people"
!, measure that "jeopardizes America,
liberty" IAN infringement Of Ameri
can liberty" "an encouragement t,
unrest and Bolshevism."
why, these people, bless thei
hearts, do not know what's in tn
BILL" Senator Kenyon said. "The,
| have never read it,"
Sounded Like an Anthem
: He presented nineteen telegram
y from Clifton Falls, ". Va, all O
Q which read as follows:
t "Kenyon-Kendrick bill should not b
: passed"
Q at sounds like an anthem" Senate
r Thomas commented, wnen a dozen ha
|. been read
!. "They were pretty near unanimou
! down at Clifton Falls" Senator Ken
q yon responded
From Bridgeport, Conn, Senate
o Kenyon said, practically ali Senator
- had received kilograms protestin
y against the bill, all Of which ende
+ with "Kill It,"
y One man who said the packer