The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-04-21
Tinned Cnrrion for the Army,

Presumably under orders from machine
headquarters. the campaign contributions
of the beef packers are TO be earned by
compelling our army in the Philippines TO
eat timed corned beef and roast beef II
is announced that this step has been taken
without consulting the General Command
ing the Army, whose views on the value of
the diet in question are too well known
to require comment
The fact Of the action viii not surprise
the country: but the same cannot be said
OF another fact in the connection. which is
that the Hon. Eiihu Root should consent
10 permit such a thing or fail TO resign
if it is persisted in.
The subject of timed beef is not Sans
krit or Greek to the American public. The
revelations which the malodorous Alger
Relief Commission attempted to suppress
have been sufficient to spread general
knowledge concerning the processes of its
manufacture, the difference between the
commercial article and its pseudotype. the
uninspeeted stuff in differentiated pack
ages prepared for Army use. The COM
niunity at large is under nc Illusions re-
garding the nauseating and CHASTITY joke
of calling the filthy pulp from which
ninety eighS per cent OF nutriment has
been steamed out in making beef extract.
roast beef" In short. there are few
maintenance of the Army upon which
there is so much accurate information On
file in newsRapsE-ofiees. chemical labora-
tories. and -othsr places outside Of the
ICblic records.
1t probably will be said in behalf of the
Administration that the eorned beef and
canned pulp hereafter to be substituted fol-
the fresh meat ration will be purchased
under rigid inspection. That course. how
ever. would reduce the profits Of the pro-
Queer too far below the plane of campaign
exigencies to create any strong conviction
that Il could be vigorously followed with
due reference to uneXpressed objects. II
we were to suppose the inspection to be
all that it should be, it is plain that the
most profitable part Of the transaction
would have 10 be abandoned in advance
II is uncomfortable that an honest inspect
ing officer, or one with any regard for bis
professional standing and reputation
could be induced to pass the boiling tanf
-efuse which. during the Spanish war, was
put up and forced upon our soldiers under
the name of @'rcast beef" Yet, If We are
not very greatly mistaken, il is that pull
which, being a waste product. is almost
entirely profit, that will be found TO form
the cornerstone and major portion OF th'
reintroduced beef horror diet.
1t is stated by well-informed officers tina
the change is not dictated by any militar!
necessity; that cattle can be driven on tn,
hoof to the localities where fresh mea
may be needed, and that there is nothing
to excuse the departure, except it be de
sire on the part OF the Administration 4
revive those intimate relations witt
the beef interest which are par
of our late war history. 1t is notice
able fact that Otis recommendation o
| this cruelty to the troops in the Philip
/ pines is among the closing acts Of hi
/ career as Governor General. But We ar
/ not disposed to give him al the credit 70
I the movement There is another publ
| character at present in this country, VIII
/ perhaps is rs familiar with conditions il
! the archipelago as he is with the beef con
/ tractors. Probably his emollient inhuenc
may have had something to do with tn
] resuscitatiOn OF the timed carTiOu policy.