The Washington times., 1906-06-27
J. OGDEN ARMOUR
CALLS THE NELL
REPORT UNFAIR
Head of Chicago Pack
ing Firm Home, De-
fendS Packers.
SAYS TALK Is RIDICULOUS
1--WE Could Not Fool the
American People as Long
as Is Said" He Declares.

NEW YORK. June ~. Ogden Arm
our head of the Chicago packing firm.
accompanied by Mrs. Armour and their
daughter Lolita. who has been under
the care of Prof. Lorenz in Vienna. ar
rived here yesterday afternoon on the
Kronprinz Wilhelm, fastening back to
Chicago.
III what has been said OF our bust
ness were true" said Mr.. Armour when
asked about the Packingtown exrOs-
ures. I'VE would have beaten Barnum
for forty years past I doubt that 1 or
my colleagues have the ability TO fool
the = american public as long as that"
Mr.. Armour said at the pier that the
packers would welcome 'any good in
spection law" In fact. they had tried
every year to improve their facilities
and make improvements. Then he ex-
pressed surprise at the heavy fines in
hicted on the packers for rebatng.
Gave Out Statement.
From the pier the Armours went to
the St. Regis Hotel. and there last even
ing Mr.. Armour gave out formal type
written statement. embodying his views
on the meat situation, and again sub
mitted 70 being interviewed
Mr.. Armour at this interview declared
himself in favor Of inspection, "as pro
viced for by the bill now in Congress
so far as IL is feasible" He went on
TO say that the European countries are
wondering why the United States Gov
ernment is impugning one Of its princi-
pal industries He characterized the
agitation over conditions IN Packing
town as ridiculous sensationaIism. the
Neill-Reynolds report as unfair" and
Upton Sinclair's book. 1.-The Jungle" as
the product Of "an idea in the brain OF
some person who wanted to write a SEN
satiOnal book"
Favors Inspection.
- am In favor OF inspection within
reasonable bounds" Mr.. Armour said.
DO not mistake my meaning. There Is
danger that the inspection would involve
so much red tape which somebody
would have to pay for. as to be use
less. I would not have this inspection
But favor reasonable inspection. It IS
10 the interests Of the packers to do so.
II is for our goad 10 sell the best goods
We possibly can
All this present agitation is ridicu-
lous sensationalisr1- II has hurt our in
dustry at home, but not as much as IS
generally supposed. Abroad it has done
Us much harm. European countries are
wondering why our Government Is thus
Gripping its meat industry and foreign
packers have not been slow in teIIine-
their people not to purchase American
goods The harm that can be done in
minute may take long time TO cor
rect"
Does Not Deal With Facts.
The NELL report" said Mr.. Armour.
''is unfair. It does not deal with facts
The charges brought against the pack
ers In Il are not true. 1t is not fair 10
assume that because a man can steal
he is going to steal. and II is not fair
TO assume that the packing houses are
not in good condition because a ride.
ulous agitator says So"
Referring TO the cost OF inspection
Mr.. Armour said:
There is no reason why the Govern.
ment should saddle upon the meat in
dustry the cost of inspection, any more
than 1t would upon any other industry.
The cost should be maintained by the
General Government"
Here is his prepared statement:
Mr.. Armour's Statement.
''On summing up what has been said
about the packers and what has been
done TO the packing industry. one natur-
ally inquiries: What has become of our
bol d American fair play? One of the
largest American industries has been
att-c6ed. and attacked without reason.
in way that has discredited American
goods of all kinds abroad. All over
Europe there is open agitation for
boycott on American products.
The entire export trade of this corn-
try has been badly damaged. To esti-
,,,a
guesswork. 1t may run into hundreds
of millions. When American industries
are slandered by persons who pretend
TO speak as Americans IL is to be ex-
pected that foreign competitors will
take advantage of it.
Can't Destroy Industry.
But the American meat Industry can
not be destroyed by socialist agitators.
political revolutionists, stump speeches,
or sensational Journalism running
amuck. 1t has existed for forty years
Its products have made their way into
every quarter of the earth on merit.
They speak for themselves. They are
as coed today as they were yesterday.
If hey can be improved, they will be
better tomorrow. Slander may retard
but IT cannot stop good merchandise
from finding a market
The public has been ignorantly or
maliciously misinformed on two of the
most important phases OF the whole
question, namely, the character of meat
inspection. as II is and has been. and
the attitude OF the large packers toward
proposed legislation.
The inspection now In force in all
the larger packing houses makes the
sale of diseased meats from such houses
impossible. The Government, which is
responsible for the inspection. has failed
TO state the facts about IL. The large
packers believe In Government inspec-
tion- They asked for II in the first
place. and they want it continued and
improved. If it can be improved"
MAGGIE TRACY ASKS SUPPORT.
Maggie Tracy. who says her husband.
Ora Tracy deserted her June l has