Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-07-11
SWIFT DENIES
CHARGES MADE
BY COMMISSION
Speaking for Other Pack
ers, He Brands Fed
eral Report Unfair

Chicago. Ill, July 11.-Charges
against the big meat packers con-
tanned in the report issued by the
federal trade commission today
were denied by Louis F. Swift,
president of Swift and company.
IT was explained that Mr. Swift
spoke for the big Chicago packers,
Swift and company, Armour and
company, Morris and company and
Wilson and company, il his reply
to the federal trade commission 3
.harSes.
Says People Resent ii.
'"EHhis latest report OF the federal
trade commission is merely a. at
tack upon large and successful
business organizations and should
be resented by all Americans who
are proud of the industrial progress
of the nation" said Mr.. Swift 1t
contains nothing new aid is an out
growth of the former discre iltad
Honey ex-parte investigation This
report, so far as l am informed,
COZ tains absolutely no evidence of
collusion among The five largest
packers and say for Swift and
company, as l have said many
times, that we have no agreement OF
any kind with any other packer to
AFFECT prices of livestock or meats.
Charges Commission Insincere.
in the manner in which the
trade commission juggles figures
aad resorts to sensationalism be-
trays the insincerity of tie commits
sion We are living up to both the
spirit and letter of the law and
want to cooperate with the govern
ment in every helpful and con-
structive way but we must protest
against the methods used by this
important branch Of the govern
ment.
"I say that the large packers and
their individual businesses are a
public benefit and a decided factor
in keeping dow nthe spread between
liYestoc and meat prices.
Is Propaganda. Claim.
This report is put cut now as
part of the propaganda in which
the trade commission, with others.
is engaged, seeking to subject the
packing industry and other lines of
business to the arbitrary control of
subordinate government officials
through license system.
mo one disputes that out of the
total receipts of the packers, deriv~
ed from the products of animals,
about S5 per cent is paid out for
live animals themselves. About Ii
per cent is paid out for wages,
transportation and other such ex-
penses. About 2 percent of this
turnover is earned by the packer as
Let profit. This amount is but a
small fraction of a cent per pound
and it is so negligible as not to Ell
feet the price which the consumer
pays for meat
Action is Regretted.
at is to be regretted that in
these days, when the public feels
keenly the pressure of high prices.
a government body does not giva
out facts respecting prices and
profits" said Mr.. Swift This has
never been done fairly by the fed
eraI trade commission as regards
the packing industry, although the
has constantly had the
most complete information in its
possession.
Call Report Erroneous.
"The report Just issued by the
trade commission and its discus
sion of the number of subsidiary
companies, and its calculation of
of the class of busi-
ness handled by the packers, are
not only erroneous, but are entirely
immateriaI to the real question in
which the public is interested,
Z amely, why are prices high?
SCI do not believe that the findings
Of such a prejudiced and unfair re-
port should be used tn influence
public opinion or as a basis for the !
radical legislation that has been
Introduced at Washington"