The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-06-30
FRED WALKER
WAKES WARM
Pure Food Raises a Rue
ton Among Institute
Directors.
Serious Charge Against the
Manufacturers and Pro-
ducers' Association.
DOckery Nearly Makes a Confidence,
New Rules for the Coming
Fair.

The directors of the Mechanics Insti-
tute, at a meeting held last evening,
placed themselves on a pure-food plat
form. The session was diversified and
enlivened by several incidents that evoked
animated discussion. Fred Welker, presi-
dent of the Pacific Coast Syrup Company,
was present to confront Inspector Dockery
and broadly intimate that certain men,
bers of the Manufacturers Association
were inimical TO his company. de &C
omDlished his purpose without losing
| his prese nee of mind. In the first place
ne presented this written statement:
PACIFIC COAsr SYRUP COMPANY.
SAN FRANCISCO. June % 1897
Mr.. Chairman: ] desire TO say that in case
the Producers and Manufacturers Associa-
ton is 10 have the 6rTangem ent and control
~ INC P9Te-looo cNhlolI OF me coming Me-
chanfcs' Fair the Pacific Coast Syrup Com pauy
VIII be inclined TO cancel its agre, ment Tor
space and viii not put IN exhibit We re-
greet to take this step and only do so because
we think we have good reasons for believing
that some person or persons connected with
the Producers and Manufacturers Associa-
ton would eudeavor TO annoy US and would
try to do MS an injury. We have no acqusin-
tsnce with any member of the Producers and
hanuiacturers' Association and have no
doubt 1t is composed OF well meaning and
honorable men.
Some parties, however, who claim to belong
to the Producers and Manufacturers ASCOT
he
iennonslly tried to inJure our business. We
would respectfully request the chairman OF
THIS meeting to appoint committee or Gesig-
nate some one who shall represent the Me-
chauics Institute 10 inquire into the nature
oil our complaint with authority to investigate.
II SAID committee, alter investigation, are sat
lshed that our complaint Is not sustained BY
the facts and evidence produced then we
have nothing more o say and we shall be fee
TO confess Tint we have been Iaboring under
mlsapprehenslon. Respectfully.
FRED WFIKFP
President Pacific Coast syrup company.
The foregoing letter called out a long
discussion, in which Directors Leggett.
Kerr, Lewis and Wilson participated
Messrs Lewis and Kerr admitted that they
were mem bers of the ASSOCIATION. but eacn
denied any completely in the arrest of Mr..
Welker, and expressed the opinion with
some force that the association had
nothing 10 do with the affair.
Director Kerr in reply to Mr.. Welker's
communication said: Il would state that
he, in the letter Jus. read accuses the
Manufacturers and Producers Associa-
ton of having instIgated MS arrest and
further states that he will refuse TO exhibit
if this association has any connection with
The pure-food exhibit at the Mechanics
Fair.
ut would be unbecoming in me as the
president of the Man ufacturers' and Pro-
ducers' Association to allow such state
ments to pass unchallenged. l can truth
fully state that the association has never
indicated 10 the Board OF Health or its
officers who should or who should not be
arrested. Our interest in the pure-food
question arose from the TACT that it was
recognized that the adulteration of food
products prevailed to an alarming extent.
We We're informed by dealers and manu-
facturrrs that they were in favor of the
pure food movement and the enforcement
of the law just as Mr.. Welker states he is
now. Believing we were doing these men
service we supported the BOARD Of
Health in lis action, and were surprised
10 find that many who had professed To be
in favor of the movement were opposing
and do now oppose tle enforcement of the
law.
"Our advice to the Board of Health is
onirecord on the resolution passed at the
general conference called by the Board OF
Health, at which the resolution intro
duced by the Manufacturers and Produc-
ers' Association delegates was adopted as
the rule of operation by the board. Mr..
Welker admits that he is manufacturing
unlawful mixtures which he sells in other
States than California. but the fact that
such are sold on outside territory makes
the act no less hurtful 10 the reputation
and interests OF our State. | will concl ude
by stating that the Manufacturers and
Producers Association stands pledged to
the people of this State 10 work for the en-
lOrcemenJ Oh puTe-lOou laws anu the pro-
lection of honest industry. We have put
our hand 10 the plow and will not turn
back. This is our position.
81 will, however, stale to the president
and board ii the Mechanics Institute feels
self com promised by the presence OF
representative of the Manufacturers and
Producers Association at it's meetings
will cheeriullv withdraw"
Mr.: Welker again stated his grievances
and asserted that he wa, convicted OF sell
ing syrup which was bought in June of
1896. There was nothing on the package
or elsewhere to show that his company
ever saw the syrup. The arrest was made
however, by Inspector Dockery, and con-
| victlon took place before the trial oc-
Cured. 81 wish Mr.. Dockery were here"
said Mr.. Welker, Il would like to ask him
a question" Later along Dockery dropped