The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1929-09-18
(OSflclal City. state and County Ncwsparcr
The Packers Chain Store Plea

The old warfare Upon The packing industry which rose
TO It's peak III the days OF President Roosevelt. following
OH tho revelations Of Upton Sinciair's Jungle as to con-
ditions Ii, tho Chicago meat plants. Is rc-ccl,ocd in the
application OF four OF tic big packing houses for a nnedl-
1ication Of the consent" decree, SO rs TO enable them
to establish a system O., chain stores extending from
coas. 10 coast, which would handle fresh meats. dairy
products and general groceries.
In the days when the then iniquitics OF The packing in
Ii dustry were hailed into federal court, divorce from any
branch business was tho order OF the day. The packers
were stripped OF the right 10 own ~stockyards and con-
duct stores and otherwise moncpolizc the whole field OF
the inca. industry. Now they arc IRVINE 70 obtain 4 re-
Nvcrsal Of the court attitude 50 rs 10 engage again III
Sbranch lines OF business.
n The PAGERS arc asking that the consent" decree which
E was entered in the supreme court o. the district OF Co
4 lumbia Gil Feb. ~, 1920. and which prohibited the pack-
klCrS from engaging III TIC retail distribution Of meats or
B groceries or other food products be modified III these par
ticulara:
II !. TO permit the packers to operate retail meat stores.
Y :. To permit them to deal generally IN groceries and
#commoditics unrelatcd to meat.
!. To permit them to retain their holdings Of shares
I'm s~tockya.ds.
81 The appeal OF the packers is a matter OF consequence to
1.-The livestock areas OF the Northwest. The cattle and
shccpmen or this region are deeply involved ii the pros
zpcriiy OF the packing industry, for 1t buys their livestock
sand thus contributes to the prosperity OF diversified
farming. such as is practlced IN North Dakota. Any
sthins which will help tho packers coacciyably ought to
add to the we'll -beins OF the farmers who carry a side
line themselves III TIC production Of meat animals.
The appeal also gravcly affects the nov system CT bus
sincss of the chain grocery store which has sprung up s.
4numciously through this part OF tho country. In fact,
lit Is the competition Or these stores which tho packers
|#dcsign to meet BY their plan to establish the meat busl-
mess OH a similar scale.
II LII their petition for modification, TIC packers stress
|1lhc rapid development Of the chain store system. One
such organization Is mentioned as having also engaged
in a meat packing business OIL a considerable scale. and
at Is reported that others arc threatening to do Likewise.
It would be Uncconomic. tic petitioners say, to cncaGc
In retailing meat and not associate thcrcwith the sale Of
groceries to help carry the overhead. and thus reduce tho
anti cost Of operation.
A hearing OF Department Of Commerce officials to de-
lerminc the attitude Of tho farm organizations to tho APP
peal found that the organizations assumed that the pack
srs ana s~tockyards administration Of the Department Of
agriculture. which, is authorized By law to regulate Ger
taln phases Of the packing industry, would amply protect
the livestock growers and mcasurably protect the consum-
ing business II the packers were allowed to establish the
ehain stores. Inclination to relieve tho packers OF their
restrictions was revealed.
The matter comes mp IN tho supreme court of the Dis
riot OF Columbia, october 2. Washington opinion seems
o be tilnt II the government assents to modification. tho
packers will win their fight III court. On the other hand.
I Is believed that If the attorney general refuses to as
Ment. the packers will lose. In other words, the whole
responsibility for whatever is to happen may rest with
he Department Of Justice. and because Of the enormous
Interests involved It is presumed that tho attorney GEN.
nral will make no decision without direct authority from
he president.
AS great chain store systems and thousands Of neigh
,orhood retail establishments arc involved. there Is lively
Speculation as to the policy which the administration will
lollow.