The Topeka state journal., 1906-06-08

ter received from a most competent
and trustworthy witness in Chicago,
whose name I viii give the committee
If it so desires::
Chicago. Friday, June /
:. On Monday began tour OF all
the great packing houses, going first to
Llbbeys. then Swifts.
. Tuesday all the morning discussed
changes that ought to be made ana
caught glimpse of the awakening at
Armours. In the afternoon visited the
plant with the superintendent WedneS-
day I rested and contemplated the
awakening of packing town" 1t IS
miraculous.
=. Thursday did Nelson Morris, with
the superintendent Nelson Morris mas
the time the next inspecting party ar
rives they viii have still more new Law
atories, toilet rooms, dressing rooms, etc.
Cuspidors everywhere, and signs pro-
hibiting splitting. In most, the awaken
ing seemed to come by force from with
out. There was the slightest indication
that the still small voice" was at work
also.
"sAt Armours, at my suggestion
made no pretense of making an in
vestigatiOn, but frankly announced my
desire to see things for myself and to
get a fresh impression of condition as
I had not seen the plants since Derore
the strike. On every hand there was
indication of an almost humorous
haste to clean, repave and even to plan
for future changes. New toilet rooms,
new dressing rooms, new towels, etc,
etc. SWift'S and Armour's were Dotn
SO cleaned up that I was compelled TO
cheer them on their way by expressing
my pleasure at the changes The
sausage girls were moved upstairs
where they could get sun and light,
they too have dressing rooms, etc.
asked for showers and lockers for the
casing works at Armours and got a
promise that they would put them IN
The canning and stuf1ng room, chip
beef extract at Armour's seemed really
quite good. In all of these rooms the
girls work. At Libbey's the girls are
to be put into a blue calico uniform
which they will buy at half price They
are putting in toilet rooms which they
say are temporary and that when the
building is remodeled they will have
these put in a better place. The haste
towards reform would have been
amusing if it were not so nearly tragic.
. They tried to win my help on the
ground that loss of foreign trade
would mean hardship for the workers
in my neighborhood and I must say l
do not share this fear but L can not
see the wisdom of my coming out pub
licly and saying that I saw indications
of an awakening, for / want the
changes to be radical and permanent
even though we all have to suffer for
the present.
Not Yet Through
Il wish to repeat that my investiga-
tfons are not yet through. 1 am not
prepared to make final statement
either as to SO much of the complaints
as concern the management of the ou-
reau of animal industry or as to certain
of the graver charges in connection
with the adulteration of meat products
as well as other matters But enough
has been developed in my judgment TO
call for immediate thorough going and
radical enlargement of the poweis of
the government in inspecting all meats
which enter into interstate and foreign
commerce. Unfortunately the misdeeds
of those who are responsible for the
abuses we design to cure win bTing
dfscredit and damage not only upon
them, but upon the innocent sock
growers, the ranchmen and farmers cf
the country. The only way permanent
ly to protect and benefit these innocent
stock growers, the farmers and ranch
men is to secure by law the thorough
and adequate inspection for which
have asked Sincerely yours.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
sHon. James W. Wadsworth, chair
man committee on agriculture house Of
Representatives"