Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1920-02-27

hktUIuCy uCuCA al oAhACA AA q
statement commenting upon the ef-
feet of the enforcement decree
said
"The decree which the depart
ment Of justice has brought about
by urgent insistence, is designed to
restore freedom of competition and
increase the opportunities for in
diyidual initiative in business
which must in time bear good fruit
for the public welfare.
These great aggregations Of
capital which have come to be
known as the Big Fiyes have been
able to dominate SO many lines of
trade that their continued and I'M
restricted growth constituted a
real menace not only to American
business, to the American consum-
ing public as we'll.
Must Sell Property.
Under the decree entered today
the chief packing companies, their
subsidiaries and principal stock
holders are compelled to sell, pre-
ferably to livestock producers and
the public:
"All their holdings in public
|. stockyards; stockyard railroads
and terminals: market newspa-
pers; and in public cold storage
warehouses, except that which is
necessary for their own meat prod
ucts.
They are barred forever from
the retail meat business and for
ever from dealing in unrelated
lines.
They are required to submit
perpetually to the courts injunc-
uon forbidding all the defendants
from directly or indirectly main
ainiAg any combination or con-
splracy with themselves or any
other persons, or monopolizing nr
attempting to monopolize any food
product in the United States, or in
dulge in any unfair or unlawful
practice.
Court Always on Guard.
:, Moreover, the decree provides
mat jurisdiction is perpetually re-
uined by the court for the purpose
ol taking such further action or
.ehef as may be necessary to en-
Iorce the decree.
In brief, the decree removes the
menace Of control of unrelated in
uustrles by the big five and confines
.aelr activities in future to the bus
mess OF distributing meat and It's
oy-products under an Injunction
which restraints them from unfair
sna unlawful practices
Inc decree is sweeping in its
scope and l am sure will be highly
feet" ~
Assets Over Billion.
me decree, which involves reor-
esuilatlon of great industry with
sssets more than $1,000, 900, 900, and
a'cn affects 81 corporations and
/" individuals. results from an
s.sement between the largest meat
ttsskers and the department of Jus
see, announced last Dec. IS. This
seement was reached after the
Spsttment at the direction Of Pres
,s ut wilson had instituted anti
~. s. proceedings against the pack
'" in Chicago.
Agreement for the filing of the
;s s;ssfee. Mr.. Palmer said in announc-
~ y last December, would have
~ 49,, euect Of establishing "the prin-
, ple that no group Of men, no mat
"a uow powerful. can ever attempt
eontrol the food table Of the
sslcan s.an people or anyone Of the
NJ hssaties Of component parts Of
Called q Sacrifice.
,,n ae attitude Of the packers was
Ro.sd Red up at that time by M. w.
SCaefs' general counsel for Morris
49,, as illustrating the spirit oi
Americanism" OF the packins
80 Henry veeder, counsel
,s o.irt 1 Co.. asserted his COM
mad met the request Of the
sanment because it was fell
0e same spirit which caused
asss men Of the country IA