investigation of the hackem very general interest has been manifested in the government tion now in progress into the mode of 0 von conducting ducting business by the large packers located in chicago and elseA elsewhere here much has been written upon the alleged illegal and improper modes mode 3 0 ot 01 f bu business procedure connected wit with h th the packing industry but it seems that t so BO sar no definite charge of any kind has been sustained and no proof of leral illegal or inequitable methods has been dis to the public while a wave ot of seere criticism of this athla great industrial Int la Is now passing over the country it might be well to rp remember member that tho the pact packers rs hac had as yet vet no opportunity por tunit to make specific denial ge the m many any indefinite charges of wrong doing having nt noer er been formulated ko that fl A answer could be inide the recent report ot of commis commissioner stoner garfield which embodied the results of an official investigation undertaken by the department of commerce and labor of the united states tates fc was a vindication di of the Wefa tern packers but this result hai having ing been unexpected attempts in many quarters to discredit it were made in view of the situation as it now stands however attention may properly be called to a few facts that owing to popular clamor are now being apparently ly overlooked looked fair treatment in this countr has beret heretofore orore been ac chided to all whose abose affairs assume prominence mence in the public eve and some come of the facts that bear upon the relation of the packers to the commerce of the countie mft ma at this time almo be briedt briefly alluded to it would be ba difficult to the benefits pained gained by the farmers of the country result ing from the energetic enterprise or oc the packets mackeis for whatever Ab ateer Is of benefit to the farmei Is a gain to the entire co commerce m merce of the country and con me eted with their continuous lelve work no feature perhaps has been more important than their efforts in seeking outlets all over the world tor for the ithe surplus products ot of the farmer our total exports of agricultural prod vota have gained but little in the corn pa past t twenty ears and leaving out corn the total of all other farm products was far less in 1903 than in 1891 dut but in n packing house products there was considerable gain during this period because an organized and po powei Aeiful tul force has been behind them seeking new and broader markets marheta besides the benefits reaped by farm ers era on account of the th enterprise and energy exercised by the packers in ati af commercial om mercial results by foreign trade the cicat development in the manufacture of packing house by prod acts hns has added eno to the value of all live tock stock raked in the united states mates the baste material mate matei ilal ial of twenty bears ago then an elpe expense n e to to the packer Is now converted in into articles of cicat value and as an economic fact this mut must increase tile the alue to the amur of every head of cattle marketed at the nu numerous T crous stock ards of 0 the country L let these facts bo be renumbered while now it Is so populate to ickard the preat paci chip industry as deserving of condemnation at least it roust must be ad that so for far there Is n no ade do quate leason for the almost una how 1 that ma be heard beard every the he faco of the garfield re above alluded to which ay exoney ates the I 1 ad act ers era from the ob b acure ure and indefinite charges that have licen been for some time past made the sub eject of popular comment american