The times., 1899-01-09
Secretary Wilson's Rotten Meat In
Uuiry.


We sincerely hope that the investigation
into the Algerian rotten meat scandal, III
which Secretary Wilson of the Department
OF Agriculture is engaged, is being con-
Quoted with the appreciation if not at
the instigation of President Mckinley. 1t
is the one way TO meet the situation, unless
a long and exciting Congressional inves-
tigation were TO become necessary. Sec
retary Wilson enjoys the confidence of
the country which cannot be truthfully
said of either the Alger Relief Commits
sion or the Alger board Of survey. In
spector General Breckenridge also is
entitled 10 public confidence. but it is
to be feared that his action would be
greatly hampered by the influence Of
certain persons both inside and outside
of the War Department whose interests
and reputation are involved in suppress
ing the truth.
Remembering thai the crime of the in
diyiduals responsible for the disgusting
and murderous rotten meat scandal has
subjected all American meat products
TO suspicion abroad, and unless thor
oughly ventilated and punished will
inevitably and justly lead to their total
exclusion from European states, it is
matter for congratulation that the De
partment of Agriculture has taken the
bull by the horns and started to find
out the truth.
! Americans know well enough that the
mass of decomposition forced upon the
army at eleven cents a pound. when good
| fresh beef could be had on the ground at
| six cents and against the vigorous pro-
| test OF the general-in-ch chief. was not the
| kind Of stuff sold to hotels, the general
| public and for export. They know that
| the deal was one OF as great corruption
as its subject matter.
J This understanding is not so clear 10 for
/ eign peoples and governments. nor TO their
| representatives at this capital. 1t is dif
! fcult indeed for citizens OF countries which
would instantaneously visit with death
| felony like the issue Of rotten meat TO an
! army in the field. 10 realize that matter
of that kind. under the recent American
war organization. is considered in certain
! official circles only in the light of clever
business transaction devoid Of unpleasant
consequences to anyone save the helpless
men in the fever camps and in the
! trenches.
1t would be impossible to impress the
embassies and legations in Washington
with the officially conventional view Of
| the scandal. Their chiefs and attaches are
without exception too dense TO understand
that the United States Government could
tolerate the feeding of carrion to its
troops-to the gallant army in whose
hands its credit and honor rested-and MOI
equally tolerate the export OF the same
filth TO gullibe consumers in other lands.
This lack of proper sense Of proper
tion may be lameEtable, but it exists in Il
way to menace about a hundred and
twenty million dollars worth of American
export trade annually. That menace will
he translated into early and drastic acton
on the part Of European authorities unless
it can bt shown, through the efforts Of
Secretary Wilson, or somebody that the
crime of Algerism is unique, and that
when discovered and brought home TO the
guilty parties, they will be vigorously
dealt with.
AS indicated IL interviews with leading
statesmen. printed elsewhere in this edi-
tion of The Times. there is strong popu-
lar belief that Secretary Wilson Will pur-
sue his inquiry without reference to the
colleagues or party associates it may
chance to hurt or ruin, and he may rest
assured that in adopting that line of con-
duct he will have the entire American
people at his back. The safety of our COM
merce as well as the maintenance of ma
tional honor demands that every scoundrel
implicated in the rotten meat in 'Amy
shall be exposed and receive his just de-
| seTtS.