The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-08-21
DEFENDS BIC FIVE
Senator FerDadl Opposes Laws
Regulating Packing Industry.
Says Big Business Should Be
Encouraged, Not ThrottIed.
RAPS FEDERAL CONTROL POLICY
Declares Railroads and Wires
Should Be Sufficient Example.
Charges Trade Commission
Used Questionable Methods.


Washington. Aug. 21.-Defense of
the big packers was made today by
Senator -Fernald. Maine. in a speech
on the senate floor. He urged that
attempts to regulate big Industries of
the country be abandoned and free
play given to individual enterprise.
Fernald, himself a large packer of
vegetables. declared the big packers
are efficient and economical, and de-
clared there is no reason why they
should be singled out for attack. II
they are licensed, ali business should
be treated similarly. Fernald declared.
Ilaps Federal Control.
An attack on governmental ten
business enterprises, with especial ref
erence to proposed legislation for
supervision of the packing industry
was made today by Fernald. Stamp
ing the Kenyon and Kendrick bills,
vehicles OF the packer regulation now
under discussion. as examples of
"stffllng. throttling legislation" he de-
clared his opposition to them, said
they were extensions of the policy
which had failed in the transportation
and communication industries, and
predicted that tie public would suffer
from higher costs and poorer service
should they be enacted.
II cannot believe the senate of the
United States feels, after the expert
ence we have had with government
control OF railroad. telegraph and tele-
phone. lines. that the policy should be
continued" Senator Fernald said.
'It would certainly lead to chaos
and bankruptcy. In behalf Of business
men OF the country who have had as
much to do with making our country
great as any class OF citizens, I want
to protest here and now against this
% IL g
danger to our institutions and our
system Of government. It Is socialts-
tic. IT is un-American and it should
b be defeated"
Attacks Trade Commission. re
He attacked the federal trade com
% mission for questionable methods" in
its investigation and report on the
packers and said 1t had very largely
lost sight of its function to aid and
guide business.
THE federal trade commission in
place OF cooperating and being of
some assistance. has. and is now,
badgering, marrying and heckling
American business interests" the SEN
ator asserted.
II there is any unfair competition or
monopoly or any practices in trading
that are not ION the square. the Clay
ton antitrust law and the federal
trade commission laws give ample
power to suppress such Illegal opera
tons"
Complaints of wholesale grocers
that the packers were entering their
field in the sale of perishable foods, he
classed as unjustified, with the re-
mark that the same complaint might
be made against the grocers for ham
ding drugs. hardware and other goods
out Of their line. g-.--
In n Plea for Business.
sbIt Is unthinkable that congress
should give the government power to
say" he asserted on this point, what
products a concern may or may not
handle as II would be able to do un-
der proposed legislation. Instead of
attempting to make big business little,
let us all pull together to make little
business big. Remove the shackles
some men are attempting to place on
business interests of the country. Give
them a fair field. Let each work out
in his own way the great Industrial
problems before us"
He added that the profit on the in
vestment of the five packers was Sc
per cent according to the food admin
istration report. No business of such
size is run on so small a margin, he
asserted.