Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-01-12
TaURsDAY.....JANUARY 10, lSG
THE BEEF PATRIOTS.

The controversy anent the supplies OF
dressed beef furnished our army in the
West Indies Is growing I'm proportions
and ramifcations. The principals 10 II
are General Miles and some members Of
his STAFF. Of the one part. and Alger,
Corbln. ana Eagan. ana the beef con-
tractors Of the other part. 1t is pend
ing before the Dodge Commission. while
in the House various resolutions ON the
subject have been introduced and quietly
entombed by the Speaker
Now the Secretary Of Agriculture seems
about TO take a hand I'm the investiga-
ton. seeing that the meat expectations
from this country aggregate about $l2o,-
C00OO per annum. and seeing. further
that Germany ana other customers OF
ours are being persuaded by interested
persons that General Miles has stamped
with his official condemnation all Ameri-
can dresso meats.
II the administration people had been
content TO examine the specific charges
made by General Miles no such impression
would or could have gone abroad; but no,
with intent 90 down" Miles they per
Vertcd his statements and broadcned his
accusation They have succeeded in
bringing down upon Miles's head the
anathemas of the graziers, drovers. and
meat-packcrs of the West. but in 80 do
ing they have done a hundred times more
mischief to our meat trade than was per-
petrated by Miles. While it is true that
the General spoke Of certain consign-
ments Of meat as "embalmed." that nau-
seating term had been applied by butch
crs TO refrigerated beef years before. and
had done no great harm. True. too, that
the packers use no chemicals and no
thing but ice in preserving their dressed
meats yet the blame for the injury done
our export trade should fall upon the
enemies Of Miles. rather than upon Miles
himself, for the former are responsible
for exaggerating Miles's charge with the
view of injuring him.
As the case now stands, we believe
when a fair investigation is made it
will appear that what We call "refrige-
rated meats" or what the English call
chilled meats" are free from chemicals.
But 1t may also be shown that one GER
tain lot OF meat preserved by some chemi-
cal agency was sent 10 the army as an
experiment, and that the process expert
mented with failed TO keep il sweet and
fresh. Also, that some consignments of
refrigerated beef were received i'm bad or
der. Also, that "a greenish mould" APP
peared upon the surface Of numerous con-
signments and on account of 1t some meat
was rejected, which would have been
found sound and good if that mould had
been scraped OF.
Those seem TO be the facts in brief
but many foreigners are already preiu-
diced against American chilled meats"
and it may be apprehended that the pres
ent controversy viii furnish abundant
ammunition TO those interests abroad
which have reason TO wish TO prejudice
consumers further against American sup
plies. In the end, truth will doubtless pre-
vail. Meanwhile. this embalmed beef
question cannot be contracted to its origi-
nal limits. Not particular consignments.
but the whole system of American meat
packing are now involved. A great storm
is raging and ponderous governmental
and meat-packing interests are combining
10 crush Miles and all who support AIiles's
y.sw
AS the memory Of Johnny Hook. of the
revolutionary period. was emb.lmed I'm
ridcule by Patrick Henry because Of /
Johany's clamor for payment for his beef /
80 General Miles is likely to have his /,
pumes wiltcd by his plain talk about /
some Of our army beef No doubt General |
Miles meant well; true. he may have |
thought the interests Of the army were
superior 20 those of the beef contractors
but all the same he has raised a great
storm. and we predict that the result will
be that the much coveted lieutenant
generally VIII recede farther and farther
from bis grasp. From what we know Of
the case. We are inclined 10 sympathizo
with Miles. bat ne needs something more
than sympathy 10 save him from the re-
Vengeful pack now bowling at his heels
------
How absurd is the Presidents proc'a-
nation 10 the Tilipinos. How can ne ex-
peci them TO believe what he SAYS in the
light u ,he fact that In the beoirui,o