The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1919-07-12
PACKERS GETT|N|
CON 7 R0L OF ALI
IMPORTANT FOOD;
FEDERAL TRADE C0MMISSN
FORECASTS APPROACHING DON
NATION by big FIVE"
CON TROL 762 COMPA AN|t'
swift. Armour, Wilson. Morris and &
ahy Concerns Deal Now in Tomato
Banjo Strings, Leather, Breald
Foods, Coffee and 40 Other Comm
tiles, Largely Food Products.

Foods, Coffee and 40 Other Comm
tiles, Largely Food Products.
Washington, July 1l.-An approa
ing packer domination of all import,
foods in the United States and an
ternational control of meat produ
with foreign companies seems n certa
ty unless fundamental action is tai
TO prevent it, the federal trade &C
mission declared today in part in {
of its reports to President Wilson
the extent and growth and power
the five packers in meat and other
dustrics"
"A fair consideration of the cou
the five packers have followed and
position they have already reache
said the report, must lead TO the e |
clusion that they threaten the freed
of the market of the countrys food
dustries and of the by.products of
industries linked herewith. The m
packer control of other foods will
require long in developing"
Declaring "the history of the pa
ers' growth is interviewer with lille
commissions, rebates and with unc
closed control Of corporations" the
port urged the Importance of full d
licity of corporate ownership for all
dustries.
AS to devices for securing cont
there does not exist adequate law"
report said. "In its absenca unf
competition may run its course to
goal of monopoly and accomplish
ruin of competitors without the sec
ownership being suspected and con
quently without complaint to the CO
mission or investigation of facts. D.
competitor Is in jeopardy so long
he has not the knowledge of true own
ship, and the public is entitled to ST
knowledge"
Alleging that the big five" packer
Swift n Company, Armour & Compa !
Wilson x Company, Morris 4 Compdj
and the Cudahy Jointly |
separately WELD controlling interest
574 companies, minority interest In
others and undetermined interest in 8
a total of 762 companies-andt that Il
produce or deal in some 775 commdv
ties, largely food products, the rep
gives this picture of growing paclI
invasion into related and unrela
commodities:
"ln addition to meat foods, they ri
duce or deal in such divers commtI
ties as fresh tomatoes and banjo strn
leather and cottonseed oil, breakf
foods, vim fiz, curled hair pepsin Il
washing powders. Their branch hou
are not only stations for the distribut
Of meat ana poultry, but take on
character of wholesale grocery sto1
dealing in various kinds of produce j.
jobbers to special lines of trade.
Reaching Out for Control.
"They have interests large enou.
to be a dominating Influence in md
Of the services connected with the III
duction and distribution of animal foe
and their by products. and are real
tutes Of animal food, but of substituI
for other lines into which the integ
tion of their business has led thdI
They are factors in cattle loan comI
MES making the necessary loans
growers and feeders of livestock; |
Interested in railways and private
lines transporting livestock and ma
factured animal products; in most Of |
important stockyards companies-t
public market for the bulk of food
mails and in live stock papers on VIII
growers and feeders rely for mar
news.
They are interested in banks fr
which their competitor packing hou
borrow money: in companies supply
machinery, ice, salt, materials, box
etc, to themselves and their competito
they are principal dealers on the
vision exchanges where future pri
in standard cured animal products |
determined; they or their subsidi;
companies deal in hides. oleo, fertili
material and other crude animal
products; purchase from other pack
these crude by-products. and themsel
carry the manufacture thereof to a
ther stage than most of their comp
tors.
"They are important factors in
leather industry, in oleomargerine
lard substitutes, i'm cottonseed oil,
fertilizer, in soap, in glue, etc.
Vast Activities i'm Other Lines.
Their vast distributing syste
with the advantages arising from
control of private cars. cold stor
and a network of branch houses.
enabled them to extend their activi@ /
on large scale into poultry, ed
cheese. butter, rice. breakfast foo
canned vegetables. soda fountain s
plies and other lines.
individuals Of the Armour fan
are owners of grain and elevator cd
panies. and J. ogden Armour is pro
nent factor i'm the American Inter
tional Corporation, with its shipp
and shipbuilding interests. its imp
and export companies in various liz |
it's interest i'm a company organized
develop cattle raising, meat packi
Quebracho extract and allied business
in Paraguay, its control of a large
importing company and a sugar
chinery corporation. and its minor
stock in the United Fruit Company.
Some of Swift & Company's subj
iaries are growing tropical fruits in
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