The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1906-07-08

made them open "wider and moro
widely STILL" Then followed 1.-The Jun
gle" which is novel with a purpose"
IL ever there was such a thing II Is
Zolaesque in its realism and not agree
able reading. but it bears the impress
Of truth. If 1t had gone the way OF
most novels by comparatively unknown
writers. the Live Stock Exchange and
the packers would have been spared
much inquietude.
But 1t was read. The American pub
lie read it and believed 1t. Suspicion
concerning the methods Of the meat
barons had long been entertained in
various quarters, and the revelations OF
1.-The Jungle" made ii SO like certainty
that the country shuddered and ex-
perienced universal nausea. Among
those who read the book was Theodore
Roosevelt. Its rugged frankness ap-
pealed to the president and he made up
his mind to satisfy himself whether or
not Its story were true. With the d.
RICHNESS and quick initiative that one
has learned to expect of him he sent
experts with commission to learn the
worst. the very worst.
What that worst proved to be is alien
to the purpose of this article. 1t Is
suff1cient to record that 1t was estab-
lished beyond question that the Live
Stock Exchange had overestimated
most unaccountably It's ability to regu-
late the business methods Of the meat
packers. This body of self constitute
champions Of the public interests ac-
-tually knew less of the unappetizins
doings that were going on in the pack
ers' establishments than did the gen
eral public.
Most startling of all was the dis
covery by the presidents searchers that
the governments million dollar a year
inspection service was the most pitiful
sort of failure. Instead OF acting as
check upon the reprehensible practices
OF the packers. 1t served to assist them
in their policy of concealment and dis
regard for decency. 1t gave them the
opportunity to insist that all their work
was conducted under government SUI
pervision and that nothing detrimental
TO the public interest could be done.
With both United States inspectors AMI
those appointed by the state OF Illinois
in constant attendance at the yards
and with heavy fine prescribed for
any commission man who should sell
an unfit animal, the packers and manu-
facturers Of byproducts might pose as
the ideals of industrial virtue.
Having satisfied themselves of the
puerility of the existing provisions for
t-spection. IL did not take ,s,- tsr the
president and his friends in congress %
set on foot movement looking to the
betterment Of the situation. A bill was
framed and introduced into the upper
house by Senator Beverage OF Indiana
which completely reverses the govern
ments policy of meat inspection.
Strange as 1t must appear, the meat
packers have arrayed themselves in the
garb of comparative virtue. without
attempting either to deny the charges
made against them or to Justify ther
conduct they declare that among al
such offenders they are the least; that
their sins against the gustatory appa-
ratus OF the American public are as
nothing compared with those Of dozen
kindred industries-fish curing and
canning, especially the salmon can
ming industry of the Pacific coast
fruit and vegetable canning in tins.
sugar refining, the preparation o.
cereals, and even dairying and cheese
making.
Let the public Judge US" they pro-
pose, after 1t has been told the story
OF the others. When it learns The
truth there will be a stampede to an
exclusive meat diet. Our products WI!
appear then as the most appetiZins
tidbits that can be offered to the hu'
man palate"
GEORGE II. PICARD,