The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1921-12-22
EFFORT TO MODIFY
PACKERS CONSENT
DECREE Is FAILURE.
Frank Gates Returns From
Washington Where Pro-
test Was Made.

Efforts Of certain interests to bring
ABOUT the modification OF the packers
consent Decree appears to have met
with complete failure on the part of
those endeavorinr TO bring about this
modification. Frank Gates, vlce.pres.
ident and general manager of Tylc. &
Simpson company, who attended the
nearing at Washington recently says.
1t VIII be remembered that about
two years ago, what is known as the
Packers Consent Decree" was hand
ed down after an exhaustive eXami-
nation by the federal trade commission
into the ramifications of the packing
industry, the object of the decree being
10 prevent the formation of organiza-
ton Of giant combination of capi-
tai that might eventually control the
entire food supply of the nation.
Packers Were Busy
The meat packers, at the time the
decree was written. Mr.. Gates states,
had already entered largely into the
business Of packing, buying. storing,
ana selling practically all lines Of
food products which no doubt they
would have eventually controlled, and
they now control the meat and dairy
products Of the country.
Under the terms Of the Packers
Consent Decree the meat packers were
prohibited from handling what was
termed "unallied lines" Of merchan-
diso, such as groceries, etc.
Continuing Mr.. Gates said: Al the
present time there are more than 900
exclusive wholesale grocers operating
as distributors of food products
throughout the nation. In addition To
these 1000 or more exclusive whole.
sale grocers. there are even as many.
perhaps more wholesale produce
houses, distributing in an exclusive
and competitive way, fresh fruits veg.
ctables, produce, etc.
Handicapped Growers
1t has been stated by the special
interests favoring and working for
modification Of this decree that some
Of rhe growers and farmers in Cali.
iorna were finding it impossible 20
market their products, for the reason
that the meat packers under the
terms of the consent decree were pro-
hibted from buying their products
The falacy OF this assertion is very
apparent TO those familiar with the
general industrial and business de-
preston throughout the entire coun.
Try. Is it not reasonable to believe
that If the meat packers could nave
saved the farmers Of California that
they would have saved the cattle men
from wreck aud ruin? For surely, it
Ia. ha - D,
that the meat packers business is
more closely allied, and largely depen.
dent. Yet hundreds of stock iaisers
and cattle men during the past few
months have found themselves facing
disaster. and untold numbers find
themselves facing bankruptcy.
Many File Protests
During the rast two weeks in Wash.
ington a hearing has been held by the
department Of justice in which all
parties Interested were invited to cX.
press their views either protesting
against or faVoring modification OF
the packers decree. Representatives
from all parts Of the United states
appeared TO protest against any modi-
fication that would permit the packers
~ if-tNHANf w Allb0t hlls fAtA'fu ''iAiiAN'
flies to the meat packing industry.
Tho testimony introduced at this
hearing developed that there was prac.
tically Il unanimous protest Of the
nation against any modification what.
ever. and 1t is thought that the de.
par,meut Of justice with this evidence
and Information before them, will not
feel warranted in asking for any mod
iilcltlon OF the packers decree, what
ever.
Present Plan Economical
The present plan OF distribution OF
the nations food products through
eight or ten thousand established
wholesale dealers Is the most econom
ical and best method OF distribution
that has ever been devised. Whole
sale grocers and produce men operat
ing in every city and village through
nu, the United States In free and oper
competition. both IN buying and sell
ing tho commodities they distribute
ARE murcly safer and better plan Of
disirhuuon Than To permit some 81
gautc organization Of four or five
units 10 secure control Of the buying
and selling of the nations food sup
ply.