The Bemidji Daily Pioneer

PAYS COMPLIMENTS TO MUCK RAKERS
Address of President of Meat Packers' Association.

Chicago, Oct. 14.—The third annual convention of the American Meat Packers' association opened here with delegates present from all parts of the United States. The meeting was called to order by President James S. Agar of this city.

In his address President Agar paid his compliments to the so called "muck rakers," saying that "prodding the industry in which we are engaged in the ribs with a sharp stick has in the past been a highly exhilarating pastime for certain people, but instead of correcting evils, which in a great majority of cases existed only in the willing imagination of the author, a serious and lasting injury was inflicted on the commerce of our country."

The executive committee, in its report, which was heartily endorsed by the convention, stated that during the past year the association had taken an active interest in all of the industrial movements which tended to bring the industries in a closer relationship with the federal government and that members of the association had furnished valuable information to the commission appointed by President Roosevelt which conferred with a similar commission from France, for the purpose of expediting trade between the two nations. The committee also reiterated its endorsement of the meat inspection law, to which it gave approval at the last convention.