The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1895-08-08
Telephone No. es.
A WE'LL EARNED DISGRACE.

Thanks to the efforts of the Commercial
Asborlan the trade papers dn the East
have come TO The conclusion that the false
Labelling of Columbia River salmon is not
only fact but that In many cases the
people responsible for such fraudulent
packed the genuine along side of the spu-
rious nrticie. Indeed it Is with shame that
we have been compelled to make these
things clear by giving them publicity,
and such matters have only been venti-
lated In the earnest hope THAT the blind
fo.iy of few evil doers would be check
ed before 1t could do much more harm
The greed for gain ds an all powerful
lever in nearly every kind Of evil doing,
and Ut can be readily understood how i'm
pecuniouH hand unpgilncipaed scoupdrels
are led to pack inferior and even putrid
goods under labels bearing the namo of
a product renowned everywhere for Its
superior excellence. But that such a
froud should be attempted by prosperous
people who themselves owe the very shoes
on their feet to the reputation Of the
nrticle they produce seems absolutely in
credible. Imagine a great painter hiring
hatfItrained, s.ovenly artists to produce
in wholesale quantities rough daubs sign
ed by his name. Think Of Armour, or
Nelson Morris, or Libby, buying up in
ferior packed beef and Labelling 1t with
their trade marks, giving 1t THE protection
and guarantee of their names, and send
irg 1t broadcast into grocery houses all
over the continent to throw a damaging
blight on their regulations, built up after
years OF honorable struggle.
1t rs useless, however, to cry out over
past dealings of the character we refer to.
However stupid and suicidal they have
been. their effects cannot now be check
ed or recalled The future Is open tic
everybody, and 1t remains to be seen II we
will be compelled by even faint suspicion
Ito deal with this evil and Of possible Grad
icate 1t for all time. Without any self
important idea OF our own ability to kill
the efforts of men who become guilty o.
fraudulent practices, and without deSir'
ing TO be understood as in any way utter
ing threat, we say again as we have
stated bef1re, that nobody, least of al
any cannerymen, will be able to Indulge
in this false labefing pastime without
bringing upon himself u storm that will
wipe him and his methods out of the
business world.
The Eastern trade papers, and amons
them the most Influential in the country,
are not silent on this subject. They have
liberaNy come to our assistance in this
matter and show no signs Of forgettthl
TO help in the fight. Here ts an eNtraci
from the Interstate Grocer: 1t is a shame
ana "a Disgrace TO have NO acknowledge
that the sur rs In every way deserved:
''rhe Western Packing Company, az
Lincotn, Oregon, have completed Hhell
abajttolrs and have commenced tht
slaughter of 5000 horses bought by tht
company to thoroughly test the pracu'
cability If the venture, The managers
stale that no horsemeat will be canned
or utilized for food, except the hams
and other choice pieces suitable for pick
ling and smoking. The 5000 horses bought
by the company are 10 be Killed Tor a
thorough test OF the practicabili,y OF
such business being carried out at
profit. The skins hair Of the tails ana
manes, bones and oil will be utilized,
and the hams will be cured. The rest ot
the animals win be made into fertilizers
Eventually I: is possible meat may be
canned for export 10 Asia or other foselsn
han a Z Clnnll1g VIII
he done This will be welcome news TO
consumers OF cerned neS@ 10. the well
known aptitude Of ihe Oregon ami Wash"
ington salmon packers to put Columbia
River labels III Puget Sound Slim1n
misht have led TO ahellng this bee de
filley,' as genuine c.rled beef"
And in The same connection the Ameri-
can Grocer, after quoting some of our
statements on Ghis subject, says;
1.-THE pack of high grade Columbia River
viii be Lght. There Is now good run
az FISH. and the lower river canneries
are liatEe TO wind up in good shape.
m Is astonishing how industrious aome
reople are in framing arguments to sup
MORT the statement that white salmon
ana various other varieties than the Chi
nook are Just as good as the latter. Any
one can test this matter for themselves
add be independent Of any interested
testimony on the subject. We find the
widest variation In the different brands
OF Salmon. as regards color, texture. ma
vor and appearance In the can. some
branis turn out as dry as chips ana as
aawordess as turnip; others are soft
to the touch, oily, full-fiavored, firm ana
fiaky In texture--a morsd TO whet the
appetRe and make one initiate Oliver
Twist In CRYING for more"