Evening star., 1899-02-03
Ict No Guilt, Man Escape

So far rs Gen Miles has violated the
rules Of discipline of the army ana mas
b,.n guilty OF insubordination toward the
command .r-in-chief of that army, the Pres
idcnt Of the United States. he deserves pun
isbnept The method Of campaigning and
reporting results directly to the people IN
the shane Of newspaper interviews instead
of officially and through the regular chah-
urIs. which he has persistently followed IN
the beef controversy. is extraordinary anu
reprehansible. and Inconsistent with mill
fary discipline Though not characterized
by the grossness and vulgarity OF Gen
Eagan's outburst. the offence of Gen. Miles
is of the same order in 50 far as he disre-
CARDS the warnings of, reflects upon ana
thus indirectly attacks his superior officer
the President OF the United States.
II will be unfortunate, however, if Cen
Miles Is disciplined in such fashion that
he: shall seem to be punished. not for a
breach of military etiquette, but at the de-
mand of the Chicago meat men. because he
has insisted that they defrauded the gov
crnment and impaired the efficiency of the
army The meat packing interest of the
country is powerful and INSCRIPTIONS. An
army of agents and subordinates in the
cities of the republic is used to evade and
break down the laws which prohibit the
sale of its product. oleomarsarine, for but
ter and at butter prices. 1t defends the
minor dealers who are caught in the act
of breaking the law at it's instance. 1t
boasts of its pull with courts and legisla
lures with officials and political leaders.
national state and municipal of high and
low degree We have seen here in Wash
iugtou clear evidence of the widespread
qualifications Of its influence, and of the
desperate efforts of which it is capable in
defense Of those accused of violating the
anti-oleomargarine laws.
Their are indications that similar in
fuences have been invoked to prevent a
full and searching inquiry into the char
acrer of the meat supplied To our army.
against which serious charges have been
made by many officers and soldiers. who
ate it or refused to eat it, and were in
position to know whereof they speak. Gen.
Miles says that as commanding general he
has been investigating this matter. and
that he has collected a mass of evidence
that is convincing.
The public assents 10 the contention that
Gen. Miles should be disciplined if he has
been guilty of characterization, just as it
promptly and heartily conceded that Cen
Easan should be punished for his gross
uffense. but il is much more profoundly
concerned that the truth or the falsty of
the accusations against the army beef shall
he determined. and that adequate punish
nlent shall be inflicted upon any and all
found guilty Of the alleged crime against
the army and against the nation. 1t is too
lat to suSgc st that our export trade will
suffer from further investigation of the
charges. That harm has already been
done When the question at issue is Il
charge Of fraudulent and reasonable prac-
tices affecting the health and efficiency of
the army in time of war, the people will
Tot listen patiently 10 suggestions of finan-
cial expediency from the persons accused,
nor will they be satisfied if in enforcing
military discipline against Gen. Miles any
obstacle is placed in the way of the fullest
investigation Of the charges aft citing the
beef.