Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-01-18

earnest as its predecessor. on behalf of
our committee and the delegates from the
Dfstrict, L again bid you welcome.
Pure Food BILL
The president then made his address
which was devoted to the advocacy Of the
Brosius-Foraker bill. now pending in Con-
gress He said that in his opinion It was
time that the many state measures TO pro-
tect the public health and secure purity
in our food should have their principal
features crystallized into a national statute
He added that while all could suggest
changes in the bill which wouli improve
IT, still as IT now stands IL is long. sturdy
step in the right direction, 1t viii render
adulteration difficult, its detection sure its
punishment positive, more effective rem
edy than any which has been proposed
considered or eracted. He urged that the
delegates call upon their representatives. in
Congress and lay before them the import
ance and necessity of the passage OF The
bill at the present session.
Secretary Wilson's Address.
The next speaker. Mr.. James Wilson the
Secretary of the Department of Agricul-
ture, said that he believed the law-making
powers were coming each day nearer 10 the
position taken by the convention. He spoke
Of the Importance of guarding the purity
OF our food, and said that national iegisla-
ton was needed to supplement that of the
states. He went on to speak of the in
jury done to the commerce of the country
by sending abroad impure articles OF food
bearing the name of American dealers. He
stated that he once asked a man who had
a cargo of vinegar condemned by state au-
thorltles as not being proper article for
/ 1000 what he proposed to do.
On, was the reply, I'VE will send ii to
Ireland, where they have no pure food in
spection.'
The Secretary went on to say that IL there
was law prohibiting the placing of spuri-
fhn mn riy,s
would not be sent abroad 10 the injury of
our trade interests. He spoke earnestly
and vigorously against the continuance of q
policy that allows our honest markets
ABROAD TO be destroyed by permitting spuri-
Gus goods with the American labels TO H..
sent to foreign countries
The Secretary pointed out what, in his
opinion, would be the main obstacle to the
passage OF the legislation favored by the
convention, and that WAS the conservative
feeling in this country against placing any
restrictions on commerce. The proposed
legislation, he said, was an exception, as
II was demanded by the entire people In
closing, he assured the delegates of the
entire sympathy of the Department of
Agriculture with the objects of the con-
yeution.
Changes in Recent Years
An address was then made by Mr.. j. II.
Brigham, the assistant secretary of agri-
culture who spoke of the change that had
taken place IN recent times, as no one
could now be sure of the quality of the
food they ate. When he was a boy. he
said, the food might not have been pre-
pared as Well ii is today but IL was
pure. Nowadays, however he said adult
terauon meant large money gains to the
dealers, and so it has come to pass that fl
Is difficult to obtain pure food supplies
He warned the delegates OF the efforts
that would be made by the few who are in
terested in the manufacture and sale of
spurious articles of food to block the work
the representatives of such interests were
influence in Congress. But he said the
great bulk of the people. producers as well
as consumers favored legislation that
would enable them to know what they are
buying, and to enable the makers of honest
goods to continue in business.
Committee Appointed
Upon the conclusion of Mr.. Brigham's adj
dress, which brought to a close that portion
of the program, the president announced
the following as a committee on resolu-
tons: Messrs. Abbott of Missouri Dow of
Ohio, Echols of New York Arnold of Rhode
Island and Matthew Trimble of this city
report from the executive cmmittee
was made by DR.. Freer, which detailed a
portion of the work done since the last ses-
sion.
After some announcements the conven-
10 o'clock.