The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-01-04
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 4. 1899.


II is upon the beef companies of Chicago
that the duty devoiYes OF explaining, if ex-
PLANTATION is possible, how they came to send
10 our soldiers the meat that was found to
be disgusting in appearance, horrible to the
sense of smell, repulsive to the taste and
Injurious to the health.
To say that it was good meat and such
us is used by hotels and families will not
do Our soldiers are not more fastidious
than other people and they could not eat
it. To assert that the charges as TO the
character of the stuff are false is to confess
everything. For it is simply impossible
that soldiers and officers scattered from
Chickamauga TO Santiago and Porto Rico
should all be mistaken as to the nature of
the meat, especially after the thorough ex-
animation made by the commanding officer
of every regiment in the Porto Rican army.
That the meat was very bad and not
such as is used by people in private life,
is absolutely established. Not another bit
Of proof is needed. The case is clear.
If the Chicago companies have nothing
more TO say than the lie they have been
quoted as uttering then the duty of the
Government is plain. The various firms
should be prosecuted 10 the utmost ex-
tent Of the law. They should be branded
as worse than traitors to their country
and humanity The ohense is beyond all
ordinary treason, for it involves not mere
ly the deprivation OF cur soldiers of their
food. but the poisoning OF the men who
rushed to arms at the call Of the Presi-
dent The motive was unlawful gain.
II the members OF these firms
cannot show that they were in some way
deceived; that they were only careless and
ignorant-ihougb thai is crime that calls
for severe punishment-the American peo-
pie should follow any punishment the
courts can inlict ana the Administration
can impose by making the name Of each
malefactor a synonym of the worst of
crimes against the nation. as they have
made the name of Benedict Arnold.
The duty Of the President does moi stop
with proceedings against the culprits,
Secretary AIger should be suspended from
The exercise Of his oaice until an inYesti-
cation determines whether he did, in fact,
insist on more Of this vile ration-which
he is said TO have added 10 the list at
cost Of eleven cents a pound-being sent
10 the army in Porto Rico. after General
Miles had requested that the cargo then
ready to go should be held here, as he
could get fresh beef where he was at six
cents pound, or about half what Alger
paid for the rotten meat Why did Alger
want to force this meat on the army?
That is a question 10 which the Presi-
dent should find an answer.
Il is monstHoGs and shccking-it is in
credIble-that AlgeF should provide Cor an
inquiry. not into he character OF the rot
ten meat and the conditions under which
ii was imposed on cur soldiers, but into
The conduct OF those who dumped so many
thousand pounds & fl into the sea. Not
those who swiBdled The Government and
the army are TO he investigated. but the
officers who saved tie men from the pois-
onegs effects Of the STUFF. This increases
the suspicion that the Secretary of War
was more than indifferent to the welfare
OF the army.
The suspicion becomes more grave when
d member Of the Alger Relief Commits
sion expresses the purpose of that fraud
ulent body. lie is indignant-not over
the swindling q the Government and the
robbery and poisoning CT our soldiers; he
has not a word 10 say about thst-but
that General Miller should have exposed
the Infamous sgin6ie ana thus inaict an
injury on the meat companies that perpe-
Irated the outage