Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-08-07
President Directing Suits
Against Packers in Liv-
ing Cost Crusade.
ACTION MAY BE LAID f,
IN CRIMINAL COURT
President and Legal Advisers unde-
termined as to cival or Penal
Charees-Suits Will Charge Packers
+, With Control of Buying Of Cattle at
Twelve Markets and Agreement az
to Prices Paid.

Washington. Aug. 7.-The govern
nent's new antitrust suits against the
five great meat packing concerns is
being brought by direction of President
Wilson as one of the first results O.
his study Of the cost of living.
Ii became known today that the
president came to his decision after a
study Of the Investigations of the in
terstate commerce commission and his
consideration of bills to control the
packing industry. Conference with
members of the federal trade commits
sion and Attorney General Palmer fol-
lowed.
No decision has been reached as to
whether the suits will be brought in
the civil or criminal courts. 1t seems
assured that the government will
charge the packers with being an il
legal trust in buying cattle. Whether
there will be double charge of buy
ing cattle and selling Of meat products
has not been clearly defined.
Control Twelve Markets.
Twelve principal live stock markets.
the governments evidence is said to
indicate, are controlled by the packers
division Of purchase arrangements,
While fluctuations are shown in the
Individual markets to indicate indivi-
dual buying, the governments reports
show that the big five" packers have
received the majority Of supplies which
the government charges the packers
have agreed upon. Week by week.
month by month. and year by year,
the percentages have remained steady.
Gne demonstration Of the charges as
assfact sen which Attorney General
Elmer Is expected to rely in the main:
expected to prove that the "big
five dominated the purchase Of cattles
Special agents of the department Of
justice will continue their hunt TO:
hoarders. Meanwhile the department
will avail itself of all evidence gath
cred in the packing industry and will
have representatives at the hearings
on Senator Kenyon's bill to regulate
the packing industry.
Criminal Prosecution Liable.
The governments case against the
five big packers will be placed before
/, the federal grand jury. which meets at
Chicago three weeks hence. This
means that criminal prosecution will
be Instituted.
Charles F. Kline. federal district at
torney at Chicago, said today that be-
sides asking indictments under the
criminal sections Of the Sherman anti
trust law, civil suits would be brought
under that statute and that in addi-
tion the packers would be prosecuted
under the food control act on charges
of boarding.
Wilson Promises Cooperation.
Mr.. Clyne has been In Washingto ton
for several days, comforting with At
torney General Palmer and George r..
Williams. who prosecuted the oil
trust cases. The three officials have
been sitting the evidence against the
packers gathered by the federal trade
commission.
Four hundred branches Of the in
dustry Mr.. Clyne said. are being dealt
with by the department Of Justice.
Thomas p. Wilson, president Of
Wilson & Co.. today repudiated in part
statement issued yesterday and at
tributed to him.
made no statement that the de-
partment of Justice would get no sat
isfaction from the packers" said Mr..
Wilson. "Such a position is not in
keeping with my disposition nor that
Of Wilson & Co. On the contrary can
not emphasize too strongly that the
department Of Justice will have the
fullest cooperation from us.
Il am perfectly willing to submit the
entire proposition to them and am not
fearful Of results when the story is
known
krsssi 20 Have Charge.
The formal announcement Of the
attorney general on the subject after
an all day conference with o. B. Ames
trust buster" Of the department:
District Attorney Charles F. Clyne, Of
Chicago; 1sidor j, Kresel, OF New York.
who will have charge Of the action
against the packers. and others. was as
follows:
"The department Of Justice has made
careful review Of the evidence de-
veloped by the Investigations into the
combination Of packers. both by the
federal trace t:.s:ss: -@sco;s;r oii anc :ac
hearings before the committees Of con-
gress. This review has been made by
lawyers specially retained for the pur-
pose and their report is now in hand
4 am satisfied that the evidence indi-
Gates clear violation OF the anti
trust laws and prompt action will be
taken accordingly.
Further proceedings. while under
the Immediate direction OF the depart
ment Of Justice, will be in charge Of
sIsidor J. Kresel of the law firm Of Je-
rome. Rand a Kresel OF New York.
who will be given such assistance rs
the case seems to warrant"
6sSss of Prosecution. ~: ~ ~ y 4
The department Of justice will
charge that the power Of the big Ave
! pat ;sssTs has been and Is being unfair
iy ana Illegally used TO:
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