Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-02-10
GERMANy'S DISCRIMINATE

The State Department does well to
watch closely the situation as regards
the attempts of Germany to discrim-
mate against the products Of the
given by the German authorities for
excluding American fruits, fresh or
dried, and American pitch pine have
been proven utterly without founda-
ton in fact and Germany has been
compelled TO acknowledge as much.
There is a very well founded suspic-
ion that Germany's chief object IS
simply to shut out American competl-
ton. The outrageous prohlbItlve
Dingley tariff might furnish Germany
with an excuse. but Germany should
not try to hide her motive behind
other excuses which are not valid and
which are simply a libel on the purity
of American products. It should
either be tariff war in the open or
fair dealing. No hiding behind false
pretenses.
In regard to German discrimination
against American hams, United States
Consul Barnes, at Cologne, in his re-
port incloses the following translation
of a decree printed in the local news
papers of Cologne:
.erhe chief mayor publishes the follow
;r,rr mott
brought into the market which We're
painted with boracic acid in order TO pre-
serve them. Although they were care
fully washed before being offered for sale,
the meat was strongly impregnated with
boracic acid. and crystals OF bofaN nae
formed on the bone as was shown by the
results of the chemical examination. NOW,
the court of correction has declared, On
the basis of the opinion of experts that
boracic acid is poison liable to lnJure
the health of human beings. lt rs there
fore not permitted to keep on sale or sell
meat that is preserved with boracic acid,
and all those who act against TINS order
will be proceeded against according 70
the imperial law Of May IA, 1879, touching
the trade in food.
Commenting on this statement the
consul says:
I'm Germany pork is cured BY what IS
| known as the wet process Cthe dry pro-
cess in use in America being unknown,
and requires the following ingredients in
the preparation to wit: Thirty per cent
of boracic acid, so per cent Of nitrate Of
potash. and 80 per cent of common salt.
1t view Of the composition of this prepar-
alton it appears that the court Of cor
rection permits the use of a limited guam
tity of boracic acid by the people Of this
country in the curing of their meats.
while it condemns and forbids the use Of
the same article in meats coming from
America. In other words. boracic acid
in American meats is poison, while in
German products it is, we must infer,
palatable and healthful. It seems we'll
nigh impossible to overcome the deep
seated prejudice of the German people
against American meat products and
only the greatest care in preparation and
the most careful selection will insure sue
cess and. it is to be hoped. finally secure
in this country the proper recognition Of
the superior quality and healthful proper
ties of the pork products of America
If the United States were inclined
to act toward German products in the
unfair spirit Germany exhibits in dis
eliminating against American pro-
very hot for the commerce Of that
empire, because the United States is
Germany's best customer and, as we
have before pointed out, buys more Of
that country than any other three
countries on the globe. Already there
is talk in Washington of retaliation
on Germany, beginning with
German wines, and if there
are any further evidences Of
hostility on the part of Germany to-
wards American products, or if Ger
many does not retreat from her posi-
ton and treat American products
fairly, retaliation will be in order.
Germany cannot afford to make a
commercial enemy Of the United
States.
I