The Maui news. [volume] (Wailuku, Maui, H.I.) 1900-current, 1919-08-08
WHAT WETE LET EN- DO

The Federal Trade Commission has recently filed a report to Pres
ident Wilson on the approaching domination OF the nations food sup
made public at Washington on July II. A copy of this section receiv-
cd recently covers eight closely typewriter pages. 1t wastes no words
The discoveries made by the gentlemen of the Commission need no pad
ding to make a long story. Per contra, the report carries sufficient
skeetonzed material to afford an active writer a good years work.
Siaru4mg WIN Two oranCh houses III m loot loot u nS rive Hu q
by 1894; 745 by 1904; and operated l,12O in 1907 says the report.
After letting those cold figures sink in, read what the non-romantic
Commission has to say about how it was done, taking Il period from
"To reconstruct the economic and financial history that lies behind
this bare record Of outward change would be an undertaking replcte
with human interest. There can be little doubt that such a history, if
it could be written, would reveal imagination, energy, shrcwdness, and
indomtabe determination on the part OF the founders OF these great
Strengthening companies, but would also reveal, even if obscurely, a
background OF wreckage brought about by unfair and oppressive
methods followed by these packers in their progress toward their goals
An approaching packer domination of all important foods in this
country and an international control of meat porducts with foreign
companies seems a certainty unless fundamental action is taken to
prevent it."
In its opening paragraphs the report says:
"A fair consideration of the course the five packers have followed
and the position they have already reached must lead to the conclusion
that they threaten the freedom Of the market of the countrys food in
dustries and of the by product industries linked herewith.
The meat packer control OF other foods will not require long in
developing"
Declaring "the history Of the packers growth is interviewer with
illegal combinations, rebates and with undisclosed control Of corpora
lWs' ue report also urged the importance OF tul PUBLICITY OF cOpOr-
ate ownership tor all industries. AS to devices for control, there does
not exist adequate law. In its absence unfair competition may run
its course to the goal of monopoly and accomplish the ruin OF com
lethorS without the secret ownership beng 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"
These are not the words of a radical SociaIhs or Bo1hevik soap
boxers, but of a staid and sober group of Government Investigators.
Limited space forbids more than a mention of a few of the industries
being daily pocketed by this powerful combine, but the list itself is en-
Tightening. 1t includes at present, leather, fertilizer, cotton seed oil
meat substitutes. poultry and dairy products, canned fruits, vegetables
etc. staple groceries and vegetables, besides other commodities too
numerous to mention. from banjo strings, vn-iz (whatever that is,
curied hair and pepsn to controlling interests in banks and public
stationary and on wheels or on the sea.
Taken as a whole, the section of the report as made public is more
shall have to pay for our food just about what the Big Five thinks the
trafhc will bear until we rise up in our wrath and decree otherwise.