The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-03-19

the wholesalers or manufacturers 10 DC
a fair interpretation OF the law shall
hold to my rulings until they have been
decided wrong by the supreme court.
consider Il a wiser policy to take firm
stand on my rulings so that the trade
may know exactly with what they have
to comply.
l have received copy Of a national
pure food bin which has received the In
dorserent of the National Retail Grocers'
Association, which Will be even more
strict in it's requirements than my rulings.
/ believe that my rulings are not as Sc
we're as the law itself.
In a previous article written by Mr..
Schocken, OF the Seattle and Puget Sound
Packing Company. 1 was criticised for
not condemning certain well known
standard brands Of foods, and IL was
claimed by him that my rulings are In
consistent. That 1 held that coloring In
one case was a violation OF the law.
whereas in other cases held that Il was
not. hold that my position Is sustained
by the supreme court OF the United
States. The supreme court Of the United
States has held that oleomargarlne cam
not be colored 20 resemble butter, and
still holds that it is not unconstitutional
to color butter. The reason Is very
plain--that the natural color of butter Is
yellow, consequently whether II is a little
the value; whereas the color of oleomar-
garine. which is naturally white. would
open the opportunity of fraud by color
ing the oleomargerine to resemble but
ter which Is a product OF greater value.
l hold that to color distilled vinegar to
resemble cider vinegar. TO color apple
jelly to make II appear like raspberry or
strawberry are parallel cases
on or about August l I notified Mr..
Goldsmith, president Of the Jobbers' AS
ISOLATION, that I would hold Coleman's
mustard compound violation Of the law.
He referred the matter 10 Maynard a
Maynard, agents for Coieman's mustard.
and they in turn notified Mr.. Goldsmith
that they would discontinue shipping
their compound mustard into this state
and would hereafter only ship the strictly
pure.
The statement that I have not been en-
forcing the law against imported goods
and goods manufactured In other states
IL absolutely false, as could recite case
after case where manufacturers of other
states have written 10 the retailers to re-
label their products. and in many cases
to ship them back. therefore, the state
ments of Mr.. Schocken are untrue.
| wish further TO correct the statement
of Mr. Porter's In regard to there being
no possibility OF enforcing the law against
manufacturers and wholesalers OF other
states. No manufacturer or wholesaler
OF any state can sell their products in this
state without being subject to the laws
of this state. 1t may be true that II Ia
more difficult to get service on the agent
or some one of the firm than 1t would be
II they lived in the state, but warrant
can be placed In the hands of the proper
officer and the agent or the manufacturer
as the case may be, can be arrested as
soon as he comes within its borders.
Ia nil MO In
the enforcement of this law and are
curing guarantees from the dealers from
whom they purchase, to protect them In
case OF any OF their products being con-
demned by the commissioner. II a grocer
has such a guarantee he has q civil action
against the party who sold him. He can
get Judgment in this state and have the
Judgment sent 10 another state and the
party be prosecuted, therefore. my course
OF procedure IL against tho groceryman,
as he cannot escape II he violates the
law, and he can protect himself by a
sufficient guarantee.
The Retail Grocers' Association, of Sa-
attic. Tacoma, Spokane and WhatcoIn,
have passed such resolutions. and as an
organization will insist on receiving con-
tracts from the tobbers or manufactur-
ers from in and outside the state. The
wholesalers and manufacturers have such
a wholesome respect for the retail gro
live up to their contracts or they Will re-
fuse TO purchase any more goods from
them. This win absolutely destroy the
sale Of their goods IN the state and "
sufficient protection even II there was no
commissioner
again state what have maintained
from the beginning that the pure food
law is one Of tho most important laws
pss<td by the last Legislature I now
maintain that the law has been enforced
and that within six months that rs per
cent. Of the grocers will not have any
thing on their shelves which will be In
violation Of the law. There is law
against stealing. but u IL impossible to
prevent It. I do not claim that there will
not be violations Of the law. hut DO
claim that the standard Of the goods
sold In this state is OF very much high
or grade than before tho passage of the
law. I further claim that adulteration
leads 70 commercial dehasement. destroys
legitimate industry. robs tie producer,
defrauds the consumer and Injuries the
public health.
/ have had travelling men state 60 mo
In humorous Instances that a man would
starve travelling over this state selling
adulterated goods Ne the Krocers refuse
10 buy any goods from them unless they
receive n guarantee. I am accused BY
the wholesalers and manufacturers OF
other states Of favorinE the wholesalers
and manufacturers OF this state ! am
also accused nv the wholesalers and man
ufRcturerH 81 this state Of not enforcing
the law against the wholesalers and man
ufacturers ~ other states. but the facts
are thnt all are being reed 10 live up
20 the law. 7 would be pleased 20 receive
the committee % manufacturers Of this
state and will show them sufficient CORE
spondencc 90 convince them that the law
Is enforced equitahly. ] will alsn. NJ their
Invitation. attend the next meeting 81 the
manufacturers Of this city and take with
me sufficient correspondence from whole
saiers and manufacturers ~ other states
20 suhstanfiate my statements
n - impossible Tor an ofilcer a enforce
q law which r. M complicated 10 the on.
tire satisfaction ~ everybody. but 7 will
continue In the futare, ~ in the past. 20
use common sense and Justice in my
work.
y. 4 M'DONALD.
State Dairy and Food Commissioner.