The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1895-05-21
THE REMEDY FOR FALSE LABELS
Telephone No. So.

There is a question that is every day
forcing itself more and more on the no
tice Of the cannerymen of the Columbia
River, and which has now reached q
point where the demand for immediate
action grows apparent. That such action
shall be taken without q moments de-
lay is the Astorlan's earnest desire, not
alone on behalf Of the cannerymen, but
In the interests of every resident Of this
city. We refer to the false labelling Of
Columbia River salmon.
When Mr.. Cleveland said that good,
but not by any means new thing, 1T is
condition, and not theory that con-
fronts u.s." he described very accurately
the present state of affairs touching this
important question, The camerymen,
unfortunately, cannot start In the the
comparatively easy work of preventa-
tive. 1t Is O cure, and radical cure,
that they Will have to effect, by what
means and through what channels being
the idea we are now about 10 consider.
Our advice, rendered in a most respectful
spirit, to men who have probably thought
deeply in an individual way about this
subject for years, Is based on two sup
positions. The first is that every can
neryman on this river recognizes the
gravity Of the situation under considera-
tion; the second is that the Gamers will
be willing to meet and talk to one an
other on this subject, as matter of self
preservation, when they can by the ex-
ercise Of little business tact steer clear
Of any other question than that of false
labels, and avoid, IL they want to, any
of the pitfalls that have knocked over
80 many combination projects In past
years.
We believe that there is an immediate |
way out of the present state OF affairs |
and a way that will inside OF three |
months not only place Columbia River |
salmon on the markets Of the world 80
that the consumer may buy 1t blindfold |
and be safe from fraud, but also sweep |
every counterfeit out OF existence, leav-
Ing the pure article TO stand on It's
merits, and to once more be quoted at
a price consistent with ITS true value
and Its superiority over every competitor.
Let us suppose for moment that one
day in the coming week the Columbia
River cannerymen meet at a hall In this
city or Portland, and then and there
formulate and agree to be bound by the
following proposition:
We, the undersigned, have this day
formed ourselves into the Cannerymen's
Protective Union, OF the Columbia River.
for the purpose Of protecting Columbia
River salmon against fraudulent counter
felts. In the furtherance Of this object,
we hereby agree to the following course
OF action, which shall be Immediately
carried into effect by an executive COM
mittee, consisting Of ave members Sc
lected for the purpose. consisting Of the
the following Gamers; and
including a secretary
That stamp or seal be hereby agreed
upon, circular In form and one inch In
diameter. which shall be affixed to every
can Of salmon leaving our cannerles on
this river. not In any way interfering
with the regular labels on such cans.
That such stamp shall bear on Its face
the following words, "Thls can of salm-
on Is guaranteed by every salmon packer
on the Columbia River TO contain gem
uine Columbia River salmon" followed
by the fac smile signature OF the Sec
retary.
That such stamp shall be Immediately
copyrighted at Washington, ID. @,
That the duties OF the secretary of the
Union shall be to securely retain possess
sion OF the plate bearing said stamp, and
sheets OF paper specially prepared for
printing the same. That he shall from
time 10 time, aa occasion may require,
order some local printer TO make
stated number OF impressions OF such
plate, and compel such printer to ac-
count Immediately for plate and number
Of sheets given him, That he shall re-
celve reQuisltlons from cannerymen for
stamps, and after having first satisfied
himself by the report OF the inspector
that such stamps are Immediately needed.
will comply with the requisltion taking
the cannerymans receipt for the same
and charging said stamps against his
account. He shall make a regular
monthly report 20 the committee con-
tainlng an account OF the number Of
stamps Issued and left on hand.
@""e eho Nuueo VI the lhapcVtor ehAii
be as Follows; He shall continually and
diligently visit the various cannerles and
ascertain by personal inspection the num-
Der of cans packed and bearing the said
stamp since date OF his last visit He
shall record such Information In his
book for the purpose. and shall make
reports daily 20 the secretary OF the
canneries visited and fhe nunofer NJ cans
stamped with such stamps, such report
20 be credited by the secretary against
ne account Of stamps outstanding and
IN the hands OF each canneryman. The
intervals between the inspectors visits
% each eannery shall be made sufficient
~ short as 70 enable him % keep the
run Of the canner'a pack. and % detect
any imposition BY the importation Of
11Ioisa soods.
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