The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1919-01-30
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL
(By j. E. Jones)

Interstate Commerce Committee his
reasons for believing that it would be
unwise to license packers and to per
nit the government to acquire stock
yards, refrigerator cars and other adj
juncts Of the business. In Mr.. Ar
mour's testimony he entered a gener-
al denial that the ownership Of stock
yards was used to manipulate prices
of cattle. He voiced a solemn warn
ing that government ownership "im-
Plies red tape and restrictions which
cannot but add to the costs of the
service"
On the general proposition sober
judgment supports the latter state
ment of Mr.. Armour; but opponents OF
the socialistic notions that are cpl
demic in the political situation in
Washington, regards the packers as
poor support for a righteous cause.
The paternalistic suggestions that are
sufficient to reach the troubles Of the
average corporation, or industry, have
apparently hardly phased Mr.. Ar
mour's business groups; and they evil
IDENTIFY remain in the class that is fail
ing to register pride to the nation, or
score up whit the class Of glories
that President Wilson told the French
senate answered to the definition of
deeds secured by the Sons of Liber.
The packers are evidently a dead
load" when they align themselves with
the great industrial anu financial in
terests of the country that oppose gov
eminent ownership, even though it is
doubtless true, as Mr.. Armour says,
that such a policy implies red tape
and restrictions which cannot but add
to the costs of the service"
There is, however, much valuable
information contained in the testi-
mony of Mr.. Armour. Discussing the
increased prices of meats, he said the
reason why bacon now costs seventy
cents a pound, against twenty-five and
thirty cents four years ago, could be
readily understood. Prices of live
hogs had increased 245 per cent in
that time, he declared, while the costs
of labor and fuel had doubled. The
market prices of by%-products had not
increased in the same ratio as live
hogs, he asserted, and this necessari-
ly put a greater price burden on the
edible parts Of the animal.
During the railroad hearings that
have been held in Washington recent
ly the opinion has been frequently ex-
pressed that federal administration
cannot be divorced from politics. One
of the attorneys before the senate
committee voiced the situation when
he said: whoever may be appoint
ed, and whatever Office he would hold,
he would still be surrounded by a
political atmosphere"
In this connection it is very appar-
ent in Washington that the organized
labor groups have taken frequent adj
vantage of the conditions that have
enabled them to crack political whips
at pleasure. The situation with ref
erence to the telegraphers and the
postofice department is quite acute,
and the telegraphers threaten the post
master general-even though he is
their big official chief-with all sorts
of consequences. Nobody appears to
be afraid of Mr.. Burleson any more.
Meantime the power of the railroad
interests and the wire concerns is not
to be minimized. While the United
States has been putting on its New
Freedom there have been stronger
ties formed between government and
politics than have eve existed before.
If there is any solace in the situation
it is to be found in the condition
which permits organized capital and
organized labor to participate at
! Washington as open competitors for
the spells of politics. Thoughtful cit
liens are agreed that government own
ership would only serve to make this
condition radically worse. There IS,
therefore, a strong leaning towards
the natural condition in affairs which
suggests government control and pri-
vate ownership, particularly as ap-
! Piled to public service enterprises.
The American Federation of Labor
has filed a program with the govern
ment, which provides for a law max
ing it a criminal offense for any EN-
ployer TO hamper the organization OF
his employees in trade unions. 1t also
provides that there shall be no reduc'
ton in wages III any case.
Mr.. Gompers is welcome to occupy
the softest arm chairs in every place
where politics has power, and has it;
weather-eye out for votes. There Is
no minimizing his great influence II
Washington. The fact that he stands
back of the plan to %unionize govern
ment employees is proof that the move
ment will be pressed.
This issue was brought up undel
the administration of Mr.. Roosevelt
and the latter. in his most vigorous
manner, denounced any such attempts
An effort was made to i%naugupat'