Jasper County Democrat, Volume 7, Number 47, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 February 1905 — PLAN TO INDICT BEEF PACKERS [ARTICLE]

PLAN TO INDICT BEEF PACKERS

Provocation or the Alleged Meat Tract Hae Commenced in Chicago.

Chicago, Feb. 22.—Active prosecution of the beef trust for violation of the injunction issued by United States Judge Peter S. Grosscup was started when a special grand Jury was ordered und sub|»oenas were issued summoning witnesses to appear against the packing magnates. District Attorney Sol Bethea, who l as been quietly mapping out his campaign for months, will direct the fight for the government. The opening gun of a battle which is generally believed will be a death struggle between law and the mighty monopoly which controls n vast portion of the people’s food supply, came as a surprise. Witnesses numbering 185 will be summoned to testify concerning the operations of the packers in handling meats. It is believed the investigation of the special grand Jury will cover several weeks. The 185 witnesses are now scattered in fifteen cities. The injunction of Judge Grosscup restrained the packers from compelling their agents to stop bidding; from limiting supplies to agents or localities; from unscrupulously lowering, fliing or raising prices and from dividing territory or enforcing uniform rules as to credits, charges, etc.