Republican farmer., 1919-07-18

thS position tttey have already reach ed mus. lead 10 the conclusion that they threaten the freedom of the market of the country's food indus tries :nd of the by-product industries linked herewith.
 The meat packer control of other foods will not require long in devel- optng."
 Declaring the history of the pack CTS growth Is interwovcr with Illegal combinations. rebates and with un- disclosed control of corporations" the report also urged the importance of full publicity of corporate owner ship for all industries. "As to de- vices for secret control. there does not exist adequate law. In it's absence unfair competition may run its course to the goal of monopoly and accom- plish the ruin of competitors without the secret ownership being suspected and consequently without complaint to the commission or investigation of facts. The competitor Is in jeopardy so long as he has not the knowledge of true ownership and the public is entitled to such knowledge"
 EXTENSIyENESS 0T ACTIVITIES.
 Pointing out that the Big Five packer Jointly or separately wield controlling interest in 574 companies. minority interest in 95 others and undetermined interest in 9S-a total of 762 mpanies-and that they pro- duce or deal in some 775 commodi- ties largely food products, the re- port gives this picture of growing packer invasion Into related and un- related industries:
 "In addition to meat foods. they produce or deal in such divers com modities as fresh tomatoes and banjo strings feather and cotton-seed oil. breakfast foods, win fiz, curled hair. pepsin. and washing powders. Their branch houses are not only stations for the distribution of meat and poultry. but take on the character of wholesale grocery stores, dealers in various kinds of produce and tobbers to special lines of trade.
 They have interests large enough to be n dominating influence in most of the services connected with the production and distribution of ani- nal foods and their by-products, and are reaching out for control, not only of substitutes of animal food, but of substitutes for other lines into which the inteRration of their business has led them. They are factors in cattle loan companies making the necessary loans to growers and feeders of live stock: are interested in railways and private car limos transporting live stock and manufactured animal pro- ducts; in most of the important stockyards companies the public market for the bulk of food animals; and in livestock trade papers on which growers and feeders rely for market news.
 'They are interested in banks from which their competitor packing houses borrow money; In companies supplying machinery. ice, salt, ma terials, boxes. etc, to themselves and their competitcrs; they are principal dealers on the provision exchanges where future prices in standard cured animal products are determin- ed; they or their subsidiary conn panies deal In hides. oleo. fertilizer material. and other crude animal by products: purchase from other pack CTS these crude by-products. and themselves carry the manufacture thereof to a further stage than most of their competitors
 "They are important factors In the leather industry. In oleomargarine and lard substitutes, in cotton-seed oil, In fertilizer. in soap, in glue, etc
 Their vast distributing system with the advantages arising from the control of private cars. cold storage md q network of branch houses, has enabled them to extend their Gctivi- ties on a large scale into poultry eggs. cheese, butter. rice breakfast foods, canned vegetables, soda foun- tain supplies, and other lines.
 Prom rendering edible fats from what would otherwise be wasted ir their own. factories. they have reached ont to secure for rendering the waste fat and bones of local butchers ir largo sections of the country. and ir some instances are interested in com pauiss contracting for the disposal oi garbage of largo cities.
 "'IndividuaIs of tho Armour family arc owners of grain and elevator companies, and J. Ogden Armour and the president Of one of the Ar mour subsidiaries are importan stockholders in q company producing from mineral desposits in Utah q substitute for potash as an elemen of commercial fertilizers.
 "J. ogden Armour is also a promi nent factor in the American Interna fional Corporation, with its shippins and sh!pbufid1ng interests. its impor and export companies in variou! lines It's interest in a company or Ranized 10 develop cattle raising meat packing. quebrache extract an' allied businesses in Paraguay, its con trol of a large tea importing compan! and a sugar machinery corporation and its minority stock in the United rruft Company. Some of Swift Co.'S subsidiaries are growing trop teal fruits in Hawaii: a subsidiary O Wilson & Co.,, Inc. has reached int the salmon fisheries of Alaska, and Morris concern cans shrimp taken Il the waters of the Gulf of Mexico Cattle brought from Central Americ' arc aaughtercd by or for sosno of tn big packers at Mobile and Jackson vile. In England. France. Italy
 Holiand and other European coun e~4s. larno meat dhUtrlbutsug com