The Washington times., 1909-10-22
Authorities Demanding That
Only Clean Articles Be
Admitted.
FAR EAST AFFECTED
BY THE NEW ORDER
Modern Sanitation and General
Cleaning Up Throughout
Levant.
By 7. c. WELLIVER.

This old planet is just waking up to
the fact that it is in need of a thorough
scrubbing.
And it's getting it. TOO, thanks to the
activities of the authorities charged
with the administration of the pure-food
law
II they want to sell things for the
American public to eat, they must pro
dIce and pack those things in clean,
decent. and sanitary places, with process
and appliances that can be approved
by the rather punctiIious authorities Of
Uncle sam And the first thing the
fnicky old gentleman is insisting upon
is a good scrubbing.
About half the bathing in the world IS
said TO be done by the American people.
1t would seem that about three-quarters
OF the sweeping, busting, and house
cleaning is also confined 10 this cOun-
try, if the reports OF the food invesuga-
tons abroad are reliable. Reports OF
the big cleaning-Up operations that are
going on all over the levant indicate
that the American pure-foOd law Is in
a fair way 10 be a greater blessing 10
other countries than II VIII mere.
Others Benefited.
So it comes about that not only Amer
leans are in the way of getting clean
and healthful foods from the East, but
that other peoples who patronize that
picturesquely indecent region viii enjoy
the blessing. The packer of figs in
Smyrna can't very well diferentiate; he
can't put up figs in decent shape for
the American market, without doing it
for the rest OF his trade. Consequently,
with some muttered invocation Of Al
lah's curse upon these annoying bar
barians Of the West, he is buying Old
Scotch Cleanser, getting introduced TO
the Gold Dust Twins, and calling in the
plumber. He is contemplating the de-
STABILITY of installing modern sewer
age systems m his cities and bringing
his water through modern waterwork
systems Without any intention TO 90
anything so hererOdoX, our Oriental
friends are going 10 catch and immunize
a lot Of the germs OF cholera. typhoid,
and other disorders that nave enjoyed
prodigious popularity in the east
And all because Uncle sam got TO
looking at his imports from the east
through a magnifying glass.
In enforcing such set Of regulations,
against a lot of people 10 whom htthl-
ness IS next TO goodness their is end
less grief For some time past import
ers Of figs. 10 take a particular case,
nave been in trouble because OF the dis
position 70 sCrEtinize their shipments
very closely. A good many invoices
have been rejected at American ports,
all on the strength either OF consular
reports or else of careful investigation
of samples by the department experts.
The prompt result vas chorus Of pro-
test from both the American importers
and the foreign merchants. The depart
menIS nave been WORKING together most
effectively. however, and much good has
already been accomplished.
Consideration For French.
The French makers Of food specisltes,
been treated with especial consideration
By this Government, and there are
sympJOmatic evidences of disposition To
deal more vigorously with them in fu-
ture. Various reasons are advanced for
the dslIcacy displayed toward France;
a delicacy which has by no means been
reciprocated by the French government,
In taking "a leading part in hostility to-
ward American meats and other food
products. one Of these reasons is that
Franco has ia Washington an ambasSa-
dor who IS peculiarly competent and uu-
firing in bis efforts to lngTatiate himself
with high authority Under the last
Administration ne PLAYED tennis on our
most exclusive courts and report IS
5hat under The present he IS developing
golf second Only 10 that of our most
eminent national exponent of the sport
Anyhow. since the French have been
threatening -ariH way some inquiry
has been atcOt about the condition Of
slAt-tt-L-t Lt' ftii-'taF -1- -t-h-a7r
lined French peas, and The like. and be
develops that j. the French want
trouble why, there Is plenty OF ground
FOR barring their food products under
the food law. French wines are persist
endy mishrauded. 10 is alleged. brandIes
are sent here undeE labels that don
tell half the truth. ChampaEnes OF 81
come across 10 us that would cause riot
in The provinces and revolution In Paris.
II the BlnQuuarteT of the iowa bOssy
cow isn't good enough 10 be served by
French chefs, then these little idi0syu-
GRASSES OF commerce VIII have TO be cor
rscted by the petite vendors OF Mar
scules and Paris.