The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-06-27
ARMOUR DEFENDS PACKERS.
CALLS NEILL-REYNOLD rs REPORT
DAMAGING SENSATIONALISM.
QcfOrmers Aim TO Kin Industry First ana
Then Reform H-An American Prod.
ucts Damaged Abroad The Attacks
Unnecessary Lolita Armour IL We'll.

and their ~ten-year-old daughter Lolita
returned from Europe yesterday evening
on the steamship Kronprinz Wilhelm. They
visited Vienna while away. and DR.. Iorenz,
who performed the bloodless operation for
reduction Of hip disease OF the little girl
two years ago, said that Lolita's health was
all that he had expected. As the ship came
up the bay yesterday Lolita was playin g
about the deck with the other children on
board and entered into the fun with great
zest.
I'VE don't like the publicity, but 80 much
elush has been printed about Lolita that l
feel ii only right that | say she is as healthya
child as could he found anywhere, and DR..
Lorenz says that eventually she will lose
the slight limp she now has. Except for
the limp she is now a perfectly well child,
as you may judge for yourself said Mr..
Armour.
Asked about the beef scandal. Mr.. Armour
smiled.
Speaking for my own firm. | can say
that we have been in business for the past
forty years. II we have been able ia fool
the people all Of that time we have done
more than p. I. Rarnum ever tried TO do,
and disproved the assertion OF Mr.. Lincoln
that you can't fool all the people all the time.
4 can only say that the packers seek
in, estigation-th closer the better-be-
cause we want the public TO know that we
serve them well. Perhaps, as in all bust
1900. .lo.~ l., ,o.,n a,nroutipp hv uhioh
We might benefit, and we want such srig-
gestions."
MIR. Armour said he had not read THE
Jungle" but extracts of the book had been
shown to him. He offered no criticism OF
the book further than to say that If such
literature were circulated it might tend to
injure a big industry on which thousands oil
Americans were dependent.
The Amours went to the st. Regis. AT
the hotel last night Mr.. Armour made a
statement regarding the packing house
scandals:
'on summing up what has been said about
the packers and what has been done to the
packing industry, one naturally inquiries;
What has become of our boosted American
fair play? One Of the largest American
industries has been attacked, and attacked
MItllOub iCd'oiit III u "oy
credited American goods Of all kinds abroad.
All over Europe there is open agitation
for a boycott on American products.
"The entire export trade Of this country
has been badly damaged. To estimate the
total loss now would be merely guesswork.
1t NAV run into hundreds Of millions. When
American industries are slandered by
persons who pretend to speak as Ameri-
cans, 1t is to be expected that foreign COM
petitors will take advantage Of it.
But the American meat industry cannot
be destroyed by Socialist agitators, by
political revolutionists, stump speeches
or by sensational journalism running amuck
1t has existed forty years. It's products
have made their way into every quarter
of the earth on merit. They speak for
themselves. They are as good to-day as
they we're yesterday. If they can be i'm
proved they will be better tomorrow.
SANDER may retard but it cannot stop good
merchandise from finding a market.
The public has been ignorantly or
msliciously misinformed on two Of the most
important phases Of the whole question,
namely, the character Of meat inspection
as it is and has been and the attitude Of
the large packers toward proposed legs-
lation.
The inspection now in force in all the
larger packing houses makes the sale OF
diseased meats from such houses impos-
eible. The Government, which is respon-
sible for the inspection, has failed to state
the facts about it.
"The large packers believe in Govern
ment inspection. They asked for 1t In the
first place. They want 1t continued and
improved, II it can be improved.
ill 49, A-., NAN na~nN-
ton law that may be passed our h~eartiest
cooperation and support. Armour d Co.
have not at any time opposed legislation to
improve meat inspection and to extend 1t.
Ibelieve this can be said too Of all the other
large packing concerns. I have taken this
position from the first. My representatives
In Chica 20 have known this and have acted
accordingly.
Certain minor features OF the proposed
Ieeislation as first presented we're objection
able. They were apparently put into the
bill by persons who had no knowledge OF.
or regard for, the practical side Of any busi-
ness. But Armour a Co. and, l believe.
all the large packers are heartily in favor
of the purpose which the pending bill is In
tended to accomplish. namely:
Thorough inspection of all animals be-
fore slaughter.
Thorough inspection Of all animals after
slaughter.
Thorough inspection Of the sanitary con-
dition Of packing houses.
Thorough inspection Of the products
that 60 to the consumer In forms other thar
In bulk.
@we are able to say with exact truth that
every pound of meat In our plants, for
local use as we'll as for export, is inspected
and passed In accordance with the full regu-
aations Of the Department of Agriculture
and the bureau Of animal industry. IN
prejudiced men and scientists who have
bxaot knowledge will agree that these regu-
aaions are the s~trictest in the world. Every
day oaroasses and meats that would be
passed for food In Germany and other for
bign countries are condemned In our houses
and converted into grease and fertilizer.
Il have seen 1t stated that these scandal
Gus attacks upon the American meat
Industry we're precipitated by the opposi-
hon Of the packers to proposed legislation.