The Grenada sentinel., 1906-07-07
PACKERS AND REPUBLICANS
The Original Muck-Raker Came to
the Front During the War
with Spain.

When the president had sent his
packing house message to congress, ac-
companied by the report of Neill and
Reynolds, showing unsanitary condi-
tions and violations of law, the pack
ers replied:
Every pound of meat in our pack
ing houses comes from animals that
are inspected and passed by trained
veterinary agents Of the department Of
agriculture. This is the absolute fact.
We are not interested in animals con-
demned before slaughtered"
If this statement is true, as 1t may
be, 1t shows either that President
Roosevelt is mistaken or that his ad-
ministration has been conniving at the
very things he now pretends to con-
denim; so that his words have not
been backed up by his acts. The pack
ers' statement is cOrrobOrated officially
Dy the records of the department OF
agriculture, and the war department.
In the bureau of animal industry, of
the agriculture department, there is
in any way on the conduct of the pack
ers; though hundreds of men are paid
by the government Of the United States
to inspect all the processes and prod
ucts OF the packing business, and see
to 1t that none but wholesome and
clean meats were allowed to be sent
out Of the state to consumers. This
has been the case for years; and the
administration, if its present charges
are true, has been deceiving the peo-
pie by means of false white washing
reports ever since the Spanish war be-
gan. And 1t must have done so know
lngly and Systematically. For Gen.
Nelson A Miles fully exposed the
methods of the beef trust seven years
ago, and turned the evidence over to
the war department. Referring to the
presidents sudden spasm of virtue,
and profound indignation on the eve
OF congressional election, Gen. Miles
gave out an interview on June 4, in
which he said:
The disclosures about packing
house products now being exploited
are no news to me- l knew it seven
years ago. l told what | knew then.
Had the matter been taken up at that
time thousands of lives would have
been saved. believe that 5000 United
States soldiers lost their lives because
OF adulterated, impure, poisonous meat. |
There is no way of estimating the |
number of soldiers whose health was
ruined by eating impure food. | have |
barrel OF testimony on the subject in |
the way of affidavits that I collected |
when l made my investigation seven |
years ago. The investigating commit |
tee closed the case and refused to hear |
1000 witnesses whom l had ready.
Il turned the reports over to the
war department., and white washing
Investigation was instituted and sue
;essfully carried out. The official re-
port was that a colossal error had
been made. AS a matter of fact, it
vas a colossal fraud, and the persons
Who perpetrated it and were interest
I'd in it should have been sent to the
)enitentiary"
Under such circumstances the presi-
ient's action is, in any just view of it,
either political feint or a confession
hat his administration is responsible
or the very evils he is now attacking,
~ reason of the incompetency of the
gricultural and war departments and
heir connivance at frauds and other
rlmeS. In either case, it is evident
hat the administration has been on a
evel with the graft system which has
o long prevailed in the police admin
stration of certain cities. 1t is prob
BILE that nothing will come of these
resent spectacular Investigations but
bill in congress which will be held
yer the heads of the packers unit.
hey fill the itching palms of the Re-
ublican campaign managers, as the
orpOrationS in general filled the
.Oosevelt war-chest in 1904.