The Indiana State sentinel., 1893-08-09

The case is stated none too strongly
when we say that this is an era of food
adulteration. The ingenuity Of man has
been directed toward counterfeiting the
work of nature, and the counterfeits are
In some cases worthless and in many
harmful. Farmers being both producets
and consumers of food, are more deeply
interested in the character and extent of
the frauds being perpetrated than are
any other classes. They not only have
to run the risk Of buying harmful adul-
terations and counterfeits. but as pro-
ducers they find competitors in the field
who can put articles on the market
cheaper than than they can, and prices
are demoralized by the presence Of cheap
substitutes for pure food.
The dairy interests have suffered great
ly from the presence of oleomargarine on
the market. If this product was not
counterfeit, if it sailed under it's own
colors if it was sold as only a substitute
for butter, the farmers would have no
ground for complaint. They might suffer
from the competition, but such competi-
tion is legitimate. Our complaint is that
counterfeit is placed upon the market
used to supply the demand for butter,
and in this way the farmer is wrOnged.
By skillful cOunterfeiting consumers are
lead to buy one thing when they want
another. If oleomargarine can be sold
upon its merits, well and good. Let it
be put up in some such form that no
one can be deceived, and then it will
have right in the markets of the world.
AS it is, it is just such a fraud as any
other counterfeit.
The maker Of maple sugar and sirup
knows that there is a nearly universal
taste for his products, and if people
could get them pure, the demand would
make prices good. But in steps a coun-
terfeiter who makes a so-called maple
sirup that has not one iota of honest
maple in it. 1t is a fraud, unsatisfac-
tory to the palate and often injurious
to the stomach. The people know how
difficult it is to get honest maple sirup,
and so they do without. The counterfeit
is cheap, and honest sirup must be sold
below its worth.
Injurious chemicals are widely used in
the manufacture of alleged "cider vine
gar. The markets are flooded with the
stuff. Orchardists who should have a
good income from the manufacture of
honest cider vinegar find the prices low
by reason of the abundance of a counter
felt that is shipped to nearly every ham,
let in the land. Health is undermined
by its use, and the public is robbed, but
the business goes on. So il is with scores
of articles, the farmer finding that adul-
terations and cOunterfeits have robbed
him Of his market. Even eggs are now
successfully made by machinery
We have viewed this matter from the
standpoint of the producer, but the
farmer is a consumer as well. The cof-
fee he buys is often badly adulterated
There are factories that manufacture
coffee grains out of beans, growing
them nicely and coloring the correct
shade. We know that ground goods are
usually adulterated, but others may be
as bad. Lately gentleman showed
The Sentinel a sample of coffee grains
made of rye flour, colored and favored
with chicory. 1t could be sold for 21a
or cents a pound. Spices are adul-
terated. Drugs are VIGOROUSLY unreii-
able. The family physician lately said
that one brand of glycerine had not a
particle of ycerine in it. The deaths
due to the unwilling use of adul-
terated drugs doubtless number thou
sands in year.
Matters are bad enough when the
farmers see their markets taken from
them by the manufacturers of harmful
counterfeits and they are compelled to
buy harmful adulterants in their table
supplies anu IneQlClIeS. our lawmakers
have given some protection. but more is
needed. No penalty is too severe for
the counterfeiter If he persists in a
work that undermines the public health.
Public sentiment must be aroused to a
higher pitch. Our public officials must
protect the people.
There is somewhat of blame attach
ing to the consumer. This desire to
buy low-priced goods tempts men to fur
nish them. We want our supplies rea-
sonably cheap, but not necessarily low
priced. The best is the cheapest, as a
rule. When dealers offer the goods be-
low the cost of an honest article there
is evidence that they are handling coun-
terfeits, and we should leave them
alone. Let merchants have fair profit
Demand only pure goods. When the
price is a fair one and the goods prove
to be low grade cease to patronize such
a dealer. The merchant who offers a
maple sirup for so or IS cents a gall
lon is a good man TO leave alone. If
he charges a fair price for an honest
/ article, and the quality is lacking, again
leave him alone. We can help to put
down frauds by refusing low-grade
goods at any price. Then agitate the
question. Uphold all officers in enforc-
ing pure-foOd laws. Give back to the
farmer his market and see that counter
feits are driven to the wall Every
true interest demands this.