The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-06-08
When bad men combine, the good
must assooiatei else they VIII TAU ono
BY one, an implied sacrifice In con-
temptib!e struggle.
State or Federal Inspection?

Tho demand Tor Federal control OF tire
eult OF the revolving disclosures made
Il in the report Of Messrs. Neil and Rey-
nolds. But this popular solution OF
very unpopular problem is not gunfan-
tced against error by the clanor of its
supporters When the exposures of pack
ing-iouse manners and customs were
first published, The Times Dispatch point
ed out that this condition was ono that
ought to be dealt with first by local au-
thorlty, acting under local law. Further
consideration has only confirmed this
opinion.
If tho instinct for self-preservation we're
as wise as 1t is strong, people would not
jump to death from runaway vehicles
or stampede at the smell of smoke, like
n a lot Of dumb cattle, The same form
z Of hysteria is seen In dealing with Inn
personal laws once political principles.
Take the packers for instance, and ad-
nit every charge that has been made
without qualification, does that disgust
Ing and nnuseating condition necessarily
Imply that the best and only remedy is
Federal inspection?
@ ii so, by all means let US have the
Bcveridge bill III IT'S entirety, whether it
be constitutions! or not. for public safe
~ is the highest law" But-there are
other and equally efficient means for
4 protecting the public health, which at
34 the same time, have the negligible value
of constitutiona!ity. New York apparent
~ has in force reasonably good sys-
ion. OF meat inspection. Virginia has
l,ptl the laws and the will to protect
its citizens from putrid meats and deadly
eyes and drugs. Apparently, therefore.
q in two States al least, Federal inspec-i
non of local industries Is a supertluity.
Consider Illinois. however, with it's
shameful conditions VIII government
officials prod the packers TO cleanliness
any more swiftly than publicity has done
and is doing7 4 vast business, next to
iron and steel the largest In America,
K Is at stake Can It afford to put up for
Sc lie meats that the public will not buy?
= : O. a
and can it cure the wound dealt 1t by
{. publicity In any way save by equal pub
'icity showing that what was once filthy
and ulsanlary, is now clean and whole
some? a
No wonder the hackers have said they
would raise no constitutional questions.
The ve.y thing they most need is for
the pubiic to know that all meats are
PR pared under government Inspection
hut, what Of local self-govcrnmcnt? or
is that juat another piece of impeding
baggage that ia being cast aside In the
mad rush for Capitalization that in
relieving tho individual Of all RESPONSE
Utility, takes away all thance for the
birth and growth OF those personal char
acteristics OF the citizen, upon which the
Federal government In the last analysis
rests? And may Il not prove some day
that loca! selfgovernmcnt Is pr!nci-
plo that cannot be discarded without
striking 4 mortal blow at the very basis
OF our government? II so--und wo OK
press n hesl,ant III" s,nce It does not
coincide with President Rooscvelts view
why no, lot Illinois Inspect its own
packers ana clean UP It's own ynrds2