The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-06-17
Increasing Paternalista.

N 1,han the f1rst revelations OF tAe
i aud customs OF tho packers
.,ero made. Tho Times-Dispatch joiieu
II the demand for enforced ,'hpioso
rncr,t. In the first comment ms pap
,,,,oda an thnt subject, the attention "
q ma nuplic was called to the impo rtah'
4 and essential part played by local SSH
6.nvernment in preventing and curing such
conditions as those described Dy Mese' e.! =
Neil and Reynolds. Further cons'oerA'
don Hon has only confirmed this opinion ana
q strengthened this papers belief that
III horde OF Federal inspectors Is an un E
aary. unwise and revolutionary prlce 70
s. NAV even for wholesome canned fooos.
ST,hroughout this discussion, 1t must ever
b Id horne In mind that the fresh beef'
,,,,tton and lamb. which constitute nine nine
NV gper cent. Of the entire meat business mess
as admittedly pure, clean and ut io'5
" human use. To condemn oil forms q
81 meat, therefore, In one indiscriminate ana
n fearful raignment Is to work wicked
d ana worse than useless damage to inno-
\ cent and defenseless cattle-raisers ana
Il killers Of beef.
with this thought in view, and with
# aha desire and intention to absolutely
8 rectifyS the conditions reported TO \ the
3 President, tho question of means and
methods still remains. The Norfolk Viz.
Sinian-Pilot holds that It Is illogical Ito FOR
IS this paper to desire the Strengthening OF
a ti1e Federal control over the railroads,
III and ..gag at Federal inspection Of, meats
i. " which are to enter Interstate commerce.
This doubt may be alayed II the Viz
1 rinian.Pilot will inform itself Of the
81 salient and almost unacceptable fact that
the United States courts have decided
fA5,tha Il Federal control over railroads doing
An interstate business was constitutional.
while the statutes recurring Federal IN
~ spection Of tho pncklng-houses have by
s& the same tribunals been declared uncon-
s8sstitntIonal. The sole reason why the
hackers have not refused to allow Fed
cral inspection is because they want the
n stamp Of government approval-that Is
II And, from every instinct Of justice
M and fairness, such PREPARATION as is posi-
bic should be made. and such guarantees
VA as are trustworthy should be given, In
order that the innocent may not perish
1 with the guilty. &
ssj But even this merciful thought should
4 be tempered with the reflection that II
the Federal government is TO inspect and
s85practcally control the preparation Of all
AK canned and fresh meats, because, In the
/ words OF the Virginian-Piot, they are
TO enter interstate commerce." then, by
Il the same reaAontng ,.the Federal govern
,nent5 should appolnt other bureaus and
81 other armies of inspectors to supervise
i the manufacture OF shoes, cotton cloth,
tobacco, pig-iron and practically every
81 product except those breakfast breads Of
h pld Virginia or buclwheat cakes OF New
v England, which must be eaten hot.
II the Yirginian-Pilot believes that ex.
tension OF Federal control over the lives
and works OF individuals is wise and
II helpful. apart from all pollsical untece-
S dents OF Democracy or Republican!sn,-
then our Norfolk contemporary does well
ssss 10 urge insistently the enactment OF such
+ legislation.
aS The Times-D Dispatch desires pure food
also. but In this hys,erical rush for
# extra constitutional remedies the ten
& dency must not be overlooked that 10
follow this course means to supplant In
diyiduality in Initiative and character by
sS,f IA centralized governmental control