Sinclair’s stated purpose in writing The Jungle had been to spread the message of socialism to the American people. Instead, the Federal Government became a guarantor of the quality of products of private industry at public cost. Rather than the state operating the factories, the capitalists continued to produce their meat unabated. Despite the author’s best efforts, his book did not whet the population’s appetite for a socialist takeover of the meat industry. As Sinclair put it, “I aimed at the public’s heart, and by accident I hit it in the stomach.” To this day—largely due to Sinclair—it is
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