The Washington times., 1919-01-29
DENIES CRUSHING
RIVAL PACKERS

Twenty-eight years ago Thomas Z.
Wilson was a clerk in a minor ca
pacits in the employ OF Norris and
Company. Today he is the pFinc;-
pal figure in Thomas Z. Wilson ard
Company, and the fourth Of the '.i!g
Five" packers. The romantic story
OF this rise-a typical American
business Career-was today unfolded
before the members CT the Horre
Interstate Commerce Committee, whD
are holding packers hearings pre-
paFatUry TO reporting ON packer
legislation
Wilson rose to be president Of
Morris and . Company, he told :he
committee members and the bu5i-
ness was prosperous. my relations
pleasant. and altogether hal been
so inclined / could have rested n
my lsurels, 80 to speak: but when
the proposition was presented 20 inc
by the bankers ] saw an opportunity
OF taking hold OF a propertg where
I was offered an opportunity TO re-
construct and TO build up and put
on its fee a big business in a Inc
was familiar with.
Il had no assurance other than con-
hdencc in myself and optimism as TO
the future that the change ! was
about TO make would be a good one
for myself The point ] wish to
make is that the plan which after
ward worked out successfully 10 the
gratifcation Of myself was more from
the standpoint of success than the
money involved, and was 10 a GER
tain extent in the beginning q gam
Bile. and ! am glad to be here and
have the opportunity Of justifying my
conduct of Wilson & Co, "a we'll as
roy relation to the packing industry
as a whole.
"First. I wish to say that the con-
troIIipu- interest in Wilson e. Co, Is
held by myself and my friends. In
fact. contrary TO the statements made
\ verv Negligible amount Is held py
the criminal banking group VINO re
Rpanced the business when look
charge. .y.,.,aod
Not since ] have been loeniineu
with this company have there peeh
.1y agreements. understandings d.
ractIv or Indirectly with any other
cornnanv Wilson and company, has
becn from its inception and rs no"
in active competition with all other
companies handling a similar line OF
products. Is II not conclusive lhaI
his Is true when you consider the
rrozress made by Wilson and COMPANY
The conduct of its business, Whlch
has been a gradual increase IN saleS
and expansion along legitimate llnes
Wilson also gave details OF no"
Wilson & Co. grew out OF the nrm OF
SuIzberEer &. Sons CO. Wilson, on be-
con,jnr head of the company, was
evIven outright 81 100000 in common
stock. which then had a market value
az IS a share and given an option on
| 81. 500 600 more of common stock al
| $40 = share lie exercised the option
and nov owns 10000 shares of stock,
which he said was quoted about o..
His salary is S12J,0OO L year.
Denies Crushing Rival.
He denied that lac or any other
hackers. so far as he knew, had 50
operated SO as to crush the Albert
Lea Packing Company, of Albert Lea
yinn. and the HORNED plant at Aus
tin Mimi. and stated that Wilson &
Compaav's operations had always been
along the lines of legitimate business
con,petition. Referring to several
failures of cooperative packers
charged TO him by Francis j. Heney'
specIal counsel for the Federal Trade
Commission, Wilson said that upon
Investigation every failure would
have been found to be due to lack OF
adequate capital or inefficient man
agement.
His company. he said. had no in
teFsst in Chicago or any other West
ern staekyards and their purchases OF
livestock are made principally in
yards located in Chicago, Kansas
city and Oklahoma City. He was en-
Ehatie in his statement that the pack
Srs operations have always been IN
favor OF the interests OF the pro-
dueer and consumer with a due con-
sideFation for the small margin Of
pFpat for the packer.
Wilson & Co., he said. do not own
any public storage plants, and very
e--% ss-~I'-- ~~-Ns~-H~4 rrw move