The Nonpartisan Leader Newspaper, July 28, 1919, Page 11

e Washington Bureau, Nonpartisan Leader. N AMAZING story of the influ- ence ‘exerted by the packers and affiliated food kings . over the war department, which has resulted in blocking the sale of millions of dollars’ worth of foodstuffs no longer needed by the army and holding this food in storage so long that much of it has rotted, is 'gradually being unfolded here by the special congressional committee investigating war department expenditures during the war. With the cost of living at an unheard of level, with prices threatening to rise still higher, and ‘with food riots anticipated in high circles from a continuation of this condition, the war department, it is now revealed, has kept in storage during the eight months since the signing of the armistice an admitted surplus of 75,000,000 pounds of bacon, - many thousands of pounds of ham, $50,000,000 worth of canned’ meats and $100,000,000 worth of canned vegetables. C. Willing Hare, director of sales in the war department, stated to the house committee that “for five months I tried my level best to pry these supplies loose without success.” Mr. Hare places the direct blame for this condition on General Peyton C. March, chief of staff. The . =~ evidence shows that pressure brought by the pack- ers to “maintain market” is the factor behind the : official policy. When the war department this spring started to make belated arrangements for the disposal of its huge surplus of food products agents of the “pack- ers were called into conference and their advice carefully listened to. The agents of the beef trust who-were consulted are Messrs. J. A. Hawkinson - and M. C. Plainer of Wilson & Co.; D. B. Russell of Morris & Co.; J. J. Deady, A. F. Peiffer and W. - F. Wardell of Armour & Co.; G. C. Shepherd and F. E. Wilbur of Cudahy & Co.; Mr. Burroughs of Swift & Co., and E. D. Baldwin of Libby, McNeil & Libby. ; ? ; Summarized, the advice of these agents was that the.canned meats should be sold abroad, where fear of famine and revolution would be certain to force the highest price out of foreign Packers Benefit by - Tons of Food Bought by Government for Army Spoils as Big Five e Urges Sale in Europe to Keep Up Prices Here JUST THE governments. The excuse offered as an argu- ment against sale in this country was that the large cans in which the meat is packed would make retail sale difficult. The real rcason_ was also stated in secret session—that to un- load these stocks in this country would force down food prices and seriously hurt the pack- .ers’ business. / Besides meat the war department had a surplus of $100,000,000 worth of canned vegetables. In the disposition of this the National Canners’ asso- ciation was extremely interested. The following letters show how the war department reacted to their request: From Brigadier General R. E. Wood, director of purchase and storage, to Frank E. Gorrell, secre- tary of the National Canners’ association; date, December 6, 1918, in part: “You are advised that it is not_intended to offer the “surplus (of canned tomatoes) that the army owns to the domestic trade during the present season.” : CANNERS ARE ASSURED OF ARMY KEEPING GOODS From A. M. Davis, colonel quartermaster corps, director of storage, to Frank Gerber, president of the National Canners’ association; date, March 17, 1919, in full: - “I am glad to be able to relieve your mind on the subject of any surplus of canned vegetables to be dumped on the market. : “Acting along lines suggested by you, canned peas, corn, squash and string beans will be added to the ration list, which has always contained canned vegetables. This will entirely dispose of our stock and eliminate surplus. “I trust this will relieve your mind and those of your associates in the canners’ association.” This charmingly frank letter would be sufficient evidence, even if it stood alone, that the war de- partment has been in close collusion with the food trust. In the words of Representative Reavis of Nebraska it shows that the peas, corn, squash and beans were added. to the ration list not because they were needed but “to protect the canners from competition.” “I- expect the canners are in close co-operation Official Sabotage, - testimony before them. KIND HE NEEDED 2 5 ¥ B o » with the packers,” said Director of Sales Hare in answer to a question from Reavis. While officials of the war department and many ' members of congress are now thoroughly awake to | the situation and anxious to get as much as pos- | sible of the food on the domestic market without delay it appears that the policy of the trust is working out as anticipated, inasmuch as much of | the canned goods is now deteriorating too rap- I idly to be available as human food. An instance ! is the recent advertisement for bids on 1,487,905 | . pounds of “partially spoiled hams” by Captain | John A. Graham, supply property officer at Atlanta. | In a statement made some weeks ago, Director | of Sales Hare said: “It must be remembered that | all of this canned meat is considered perishable; i. | e., that under the storage conditions maintained by E the army it is doubtful that it will remain market- | able for a longer period than nine months.” Eight ’ of these nine months have already elapsed since ! the signing of the armistice, and hardly a beginning | has yet been made in making the food available to the public. In addition, it must be remembered | that much of the food was canned some time before | fighting ceased. : ' { So thoroughly are members of the investigating | committee aroused by ‘this evidence of wholesale f sabotage that a change of policy on the part of the { war department in selling its surplus food stocks | is certain. In direct contrast to the packers’ de--| sire that the food should be disposed of overseas, | Mr. Hare has been given virtual instructions by the | committee to bring back for sale in this country all | surplus supplies of the American expeditionary force which will help to reduce the cost of living without regard=as to whether this action breaks do- ! mestic food markets. The director of sales will leave for Europe soon with sweeping authority from Sec- retary Baker to arrange the disposition of surplus | American army property in France and England:d| The attitude of the committee is shown by marks made to Hare by congressmen during -his “You people in charge of the disposition of ‘this surplus- material bought with public money must ! see to it that the market is broken if necessary to | bring prices down,” said Representative Bland of | (Continued on page 14) ORGANI2AY(ON . - SPECTACLES L Reports from League o’rkanizers .evei'ywhere indicate that the unorganized farmer is _beginniné to get th " 'PAGE ‘BLEVEN —Drawn expressly for the Leader by W. C. Morris. dl e proper. perspective on economic and political mfl‘,tkf-"‘i .. & .ters, and is seeing the League in its true light. The numher of new members is increasing by leaps and bounds ang North e S Sl e i - Dakota continues to show what the New Day really means to the farmers. : RN