New-York tribune., 1919-09-18
Grand Jury Begins 1nves-
tigation in Chicago as
U. S. Attorney General
Confers in Albany
Asserts Disclosures
Will Amaze Public
Gov. Smith Promises to
Call Extra Session if
Necessary to Cut Prices
Special Correspondence

ALBANY, Sept. l7.-United States
Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer
told Governor Smiths food conference
lcre to-day that evidence that will war
rant the Indictment of the Chicago
hackers, known as the "hig five" will be
presented to the grand jury this week
Dispatches from Chicago told of the
beginning of grand jury inquiry
there to-day to determine whether the
Sherman act was violated by Swift &
sis E. Co., and the Cudahv Packing
Company, comprising the "big five" to
which Mr. Palmer referred.
There has been so much talk about
ire activities Of the packers" he said.
.nd they have been held up so long as
,.c bogey that al, men must fear that
SRI afraid that some people think this.
!. Just another line @ procedure to
continue that talk. Let me assure Nnu,
+ Is very different. There never was
lstore In any government agency so
semr!etc & collection of data which
taars upon the activities CT this giant
combination as there is to-day, and
When it has been laid before a jury the
Srath OF the American people will COM
pei g verdict of conviction.
For the story will amaze America
rs it has amazed me when I have seen
the analyzed reports Of all their activ-
ity. And its effect upon this very
problem which we are now considering
WILL to my mind, be far-reaching and
complete.
Control Three-fourths of Meat
IF these gentlemen who have head
quarters IN Chicago were mere meat
packers, or were mere combina-
ton in control Of the meat products
alone, they would deserve attention,
nut they would not require the same
sioroughgoing action as they do when
we know that not alone do they con-
sro 10 per cent of the meat produced
and distributed to the American con-
sHmer, but they control in sufficiently
erge proportions to be a menacing
-sctor to the people nearly all the sub
s.itutes for meat which go upon the
4iaerican table
IF they were a combination simply
tominating or controlling the meat
'AarSets the people might find some
icnef In refusing to cat meat and
'lIn!ng to fish or eggs or canned vege-
sbles or cheese, or many other things
mat would sustain life quite as salts
these same gentlemen control 40 per
cent of the eggs which are marketed
m America and a like proportion OF
'he butter and a large proportion Of
ne cheese and sufficient proportion
OF the rice 10 dominate the market.
when You know that they are largely
~ 'ne Wholesale grocery business and
are SO engaged in canning the vege-
,aoie products Of the country that they
nave that industry by the throat, you
,salze that this proceeding against
'ne meat packers of Chicago is nothing
snort OF proceeding against con
sp'racy to control the table of the
American citizen.
AND that conspiracy will be broken
ap' II there is power enought left in
.'e government of the United States
W 10 1t. We have at the same time
sMsIeu other proceedings against
e'heF volatcrs of the antitrust laws
.eaiing IN various necessary commodi-
Warns Against Buying Now
MF' Palmer said that. as a result Of
t ttae activities OF the government, there
as mao been reduction in meat prices
VI vi: ~ per cent in the last six weeks,
,ha. n",.n Is bringing people TO understand
raa. rellef is IN sight He warned the
s ssope to set their races like flint
s@anst ssSa the 'buy-now' campaign which
boa,d.,. bs,.nants are now putting on the
smau;. srasas. He declared that if Tho
aInerican people will be satisfied prices
We erH rSHoming down they Will come down.
% mere is despicable thing in the
mssehI emeTgency,' he said. "Thc
'hsng 'hun by dealers upon the people to
WY. now implying higher prices,
@,dsr @nsn tney know are not coming. in
wb;sL Tsl 10 save themselves the profits
M. .n ehey ought not to make aud will
W MAKE II natural conditions ansue.' y
ssan, sne attorney General said that an
anna s ,s being made to have wearing
sar;asa ra.es included in the term "neces
who particularly that worn by men
has S"ork' IN which, he declared, there
rasoa oeea the "grossest and most out
tic tiee'us ~ prohteering.' He was optmis-
nvVer the effect of the cor,alIing of
SM1mllions Sam cf dollars of necessitjes@ IL
boarding act. '''>'
.,, Would Put Price ON Goods
said "e can sit in Washington he
Ter alt, ano almost see the flow OF but
SAX ssgs' meats and canned goods and
~ going out of these warehouses into
NJ Dr'' VI puDIlc consumption.
u.,a l' Palmer suggested that every ar.
earrv ,Hat goes into storage ought to
vh;cL panty stamped on it, the date on
whsna goes In and the price, so that
knon' ~ goes out the consumer viii
was s" now old 1t is and how much il
H. Hs worth when it started on it's career
Of rs Stso favored having every necessity
rh.a marked with the selling price
ducer. we manufacturer or pro
men" he said. "if you go into q
Continued on payc eight